In the chemical industry, sustainability has evolved from a narrow focus on site‑level environmental protection, safety, and compliance to a broader, strategic concept encompassing production practices, value chains, raw material sourcing, and customer expectations.
At Chemec, sustainability is approached as a continuous process rather than a separate initiative. It plays a key role in operations and long-term decision-making, with a focus on improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and maintaining reliable, high-quality delivery.
As part of this work, Chemec has taken a more structured approach to transparency. The company has published its first group-level sustainability report in accordance with the EU’s voluntary VSME framework, bringing together environmental, social, and governance topics into a single, clearer overview.
From policies to practical actions
Sustainability at Chemec is built on established policies and practical actions across the Group. These include codes of conduct for employees and suppliers, environmental and safety policies, and responsible sourcing practices.
In operational terms, the focus is on improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of fossil-free energy. Most of the Group’s companies utilise renewable energy certificates, which means that their market-based Scope 2 emissions are reported as zero. In practice, this already applies to most of the Group’s operations.
At the same time, it is recognised that the majority of emissions in this type of industry typically come from the value chain rather than direct operations. In Chemec’s case, Scope 3 emissions already represent a significant share, and the calculation is being expanded gradually as more data becomes available.
This is where the biggest impact sits.
And also where visibility is still developing.
A more accurate, data-based view
A key objective of Chemec’s sustainability work is to build a more precise understanding of its environmental impact. This includes monitoring energy consumption, emissions, water use, and material flows across different operations.
The report highlights that emission levels vary significantly between the Group’s companies depending on their production scale and business model. For this reason, emission intensity — emissions relative to turnover — is used as a more meaningful way to track development over time.
At the same time, some areas are still evolving. For example, not all Scope 3 categories are yet fully covered across the Group, but the intention is to broaden the scope step by step as data availability improves.
Beyond emissions: materials, safety and governance
Sustainability at Chemec is not limited to emissions. It also includes how materials are used, how waste is managed, and how operations align with circular economy principles.
In parallel, employee well-being and safety are central. The Group’s companies aim for a safe working environment with a long-term goal of zero accidents, supported by training and clear operational practices.
Responsible governance forms another key element. Codes of conduct, whistleblowing channels, and principles related to anti-corruption and equal working conditions guide how the Group operates both internally and across its value chain.
Building transparency step by step
Chemec’s sustainability work is evolving. The first VSME report provides a structured starting point, but it also highlights areas where processes, data, and reporting will continue to develop.
Rather than presenting sustainability as a finished state, the approach is to improve it continuously — through better data, clearer targets, and more transparent communication.
Explore our VSME report to learn more about our sustainability performance.
