Better Health for All

Orion Engineered Carbons faced an EPA consent decree in December 2017 for Clean Air Act violations at four U.S. facilities

, related to sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter emissions, which contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular problems . The settlement required over $100 million in pollution control technology , an $800,000 civil penalty , and $550,000 for environmental mitigation projects . By 2023, the company reported meeting the consent decree requirements for NOx and SO2 emission reduction , achieving a 50% reduction in SO2 intensity , a 25% reduction in NOx intensity , and a 15% reduction in particulate matter intensity . A massive air emissions control project, started five years prior , was completed in 2022 .

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Orion Engineered Carbons (OEC) is a global supplier of carbon black, not a financial institution. The company's core business does not involve offering lending, deposit services, or other financial products to consumers. Therefore, all KPIs related to financial services, such as customer segments, pricing, fees, financial literacy, data accessibility, and lending compliance, are not applicable to OEC's operations. While the company's oil tank farm project in Coega, South Africa, is associated with the creation of 267 jobs,

this does not directly relate to the financial inclusion or wealth-building outcomes for customers of financial products as defined by the rubric.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

The company reported a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.34 per 200,000 hours in 2023, with zero fatalities in the same year.

Its voluntary employee turnover rate was 3% in 2023. In 2023, 49% of employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. The company had 18 temporary employees in 2023 out of approximately 1,658 total employees. Furthermore, there were no incidents of non-discrimination claims alleged, substantiated, unsubstantiated, claims closed, or corrective actions reported for 2021, 2022, or 2023.

Kind to Animals

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. produces carbon black, and its core business operations do not involve animal husbandry, captive animal operations, or the sourcing of animal products like eggs, meat, or dairy. Some products, such as ECORAX® Nature 200, Nature 205, and PRINTEX® Nature 35, are made from animal-free, bio-based, or plant-based feedstocks, replacing fossil-based inputs.

There is no specific evidence regarding the company's cruelty-free certifications, animal testing policies, volumes, or dedicated investments in animal-free testing alternatives. The company's engagement in public policy and supplier assessments is general to CSR and chemical industry regulations, without specific mention of animal welfare or measurable wildlife conservation impact.

Planet-Friendly Business

In 2024, the company reported total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse-gas emissions of 3.727 million tCO₂e, comprising 2.2 million tCO₂e Scope 1, 0.127 million tCO₂e Scope 2 (location-based), and 1.4 million tCO₂e Scope 3 emissions.

Its near-term climate targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aiming to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 70% by 2030 from a 2023 base year. In 2024, the company's water inflow was 12.9 million m³ against an annual revenue of $1,878 million, resulting in a water use per revenue of approximately 6,869 m³ per $1 million revenue. The company achieved a waste diversion rate of 24.78% in 2024, diverting 5.7 k MT of waste from landfill out of a total of 23.0 k MT. For 2024, the company reported zero environmental non-compliance incidents and zero significant spills. However, it faced a Clean Air Act settlement in 2017 for violations at its US plants, resulting in an $800,000 civil penalty and over $100 million in required emission reduction investments.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

No specific, quantitative evidence was found in the provided articles to assess OEC.US against any of the KPIs for 'Respect for Cultures & Communities'. The articles either explicitly stated a lack of relevant quantitative data

, were inaccessible , or their content was irrelevant to the defined metrics .

Safe & Smart Tech

Orion S.A. incurred a $60 million financial loss in August 2024 due to a business email compromise (BEC) scam involving fraudulent wire transfers

. However, this incident did not result in unauthorized access to data or systems, nor unauthorized data use . The company filed an 8-K report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding this loss, demonstrating compliance with reporting requirements . Orion provides users with the ability to opt-in and unsubscribe from investor email alerts . The company's Code of Conduct prohibits the unauthorized collection, processing, use, and distribution of personal data of employees and business partners .

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Orion has established quantitative waste reduction targets, aiming for 75% reuse of pallets, 95% recycled content for paper bags, and 100% reuse or recycling for packaging bags.

The company is actively engaged in waste reduction initiatives, including an investment in Alpha Carbone to scale up tire pyrolysis oil production for circular carbon black and a Clean Carbon Black Research and Development Project focused on climate-neutral processes using alternative carbon sources. Circular design principles are standard in product development, with the company developing circular solutions and being involved in the EU-funded BlackCycle initiative. Orion maintains a global program to ensure raw material suppliers meet its Code of Conduct and Environmental Health & Safety Guidelines, with performance monitored periodically. The company reports no waste disposal violations in the past three years.