Better Health for All
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Symrise develops health-active solutions for human and animal health, including probiotics, joint health, metabolic health, immune health, skin health, and taste optimization for healthier foods
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. However, no quantitative data is provided on the percentage of its overall product portfolio that delivers substantial health benefits, nor on the nutritional standards of its food product portfolio. The company's products are ingredients, and there is no evidence of revenue from products with established negative health outcomes or addiction potential. For its employees, Symrise acknowledges psychological stress and works to minimize risks, offering specific measures and an occupational health management program
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. The company's Jacksonville site was fined less than USD 10,000 in February 2023 for a Clean Air Act violation, indicating a limited health-harming externality
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. In its Aqua Feed division, product tests for nutritional and health benefits are conducted with protocols validated by independent ethics committees and in compliance with animal welfare laws
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. There is no evidence of user harm from products, specific health data protection, or actions taken during global health crises. Initiatives for vulnerable populations focus on livelihoods and agricultural practices, not direct health access. The company does not hold healthcare-related patents, nor does it engage in public health education.
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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Symrise AG is a global supplier of fragrances, flavorings, and ingredients, and is not a financial institution. As such, it does not offer lending, deposit, or consumer credit products. Consequently, there are no APRs or fee structures to evaluate, no revenue from high-cost financial products, and no customer finance data generated or managed. The company is not regulated as a lender and does not operate financial service access points. Its core business does not directly impact customer credit or savings outcomes, nor does it involve dedicated inclusion programs in the form of a loan/insurance book. While Symrise supports community development, including financial literacy training for 293 pickers and farmers
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and for 1,000 new female-led enterprises
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, these initiatives are not part of a financial services offering, and their outcomes cannot be quantitatively assessed against the rubric's customer-centric metrics.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
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In 2023, the median remuneration of an Executive Board member was approximately 33 times the median total remuneration of Symrise employees worldwide.
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Globally, 52% of the workforce was covered by collective bargaining agreements in 2023.
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The accident frequency (MAQ) was 1.5 in 2024.
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The global gender pay gap was -7.3% in 2024, meaning women earned 92.7% of men's pay.
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An employee engagement survey indicated that 90% of employees were satisfied or very satisfied in their jobs.
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The global turnover rate was 12% in 2024.
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In the past three years (2022-2024), there were 9 substantiated labor law violations, including one OSHA violation in 2022, four labor law sanctions in 2023, and fewer than five employment law sanctions in 2024.
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Fixed-term employees constituted 2.84% of the total workforce in 2024.
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The company has an ambition to pay a living wage to all employees by 2030, with a wage analysis planned for late 2024.
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
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In 2023, Symrise sourced 94.6% of its strategic biological raw materials sustainably.
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The company also directed 76% of its goods and services procurement at its sites to local suppliers during the reporting year.
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Furthermore, 95% of raw material suppliers, in terms of purchasing spending, have received the Supplier Code of Conduct, which new suppliers must pledge to comply with.
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However, 29% of the demand for palm oil and its derivatives was not from certified sustainable sources in 2023.
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Honest & Fair Business
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Symrise has a clean record regarding ethics-related regulatory fines, with the US Department of Justice and UK Competition and Markets Authority closing antitrust investigations against the company in 2026 without finding unlawful conduct.
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The company also reported no significant fines in 2023.
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Symrise received an 'A' grade in the 2023 CDP Supplier Engagement Rating.
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The company maintains a comprehensive whistleblower policy with a global, anonymous Integrity Hotline (also SpeakUp® platform) for employees and external stakeholders.
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Reports are acknowledged within one day, and investigations are initiated, with explicit non-retaliation.
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In 2023, six external reports were concluded within the year, and in 2024, an average of four complaints per month were reported via the hotline.
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Symrise has a robust anti-corruption policy, explicitly prohibiting all forms of corruption, bribery, and money laundering, with strict rules for gifts and political influence.
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Regular mandatory training is provided, and no confirmed cases of corruption were reported in 2023.
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For third-party verification, Symrise's financial statements, management reports, and remuneration reports are audited by external firms (PwC in 2024).
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All sustainability information in 2023 was audited by DQS CFS GmbH (AA1000 Assurance Standard), and a voluntary limited assurance engagement on the 2024 Non-financial Group Report was performed by PwC.
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The company holds numerous ISO certifications and is a member of platforms like SEDEX and EcoVadis, with plans for at least 12 social audits annually by external firms from 2025.
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However, only 50% of the 12-member Supervisory Board are independent, consisting of the 6 shareholder representatives.
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Kind to Animals
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Symrise was legally mandated to test two sunscreen ingredients on 5,500 animals by the European General Court.
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Despite this, Symrise's policy aims to avoid and eliminate animal testing completely, and it publicly challenged the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) request for these tests in court.
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If animal testing is legally mandated, Symrise's policy states animals may not suffer physical or mental cruelty.
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Symrise is a member of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) since 2012
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and the Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration (AFSA), promoting the development and acceptance of alternative methods.
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As Symrise does not operate its own animal agriculture, this KPI is not applicable.
No War, No Weapons
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Symrise states it is not involved in the manufacture or selling of controversial weapons, including anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, chemical, and biological weapons.
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The company also confirms it does not use any conflict minerals.
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Symrise has been subject to the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act since 2023
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and its Integrated Management System is based on the SA 8000 social accountability standard.
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The company actively respects and supports the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
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and has been part of the UN Global Compact since 2012,
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submitting regular Communication on Progress reports.
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Planet-Friendly Business
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The company's sourcing of palm oil contributes to deforestation.
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Total Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions were 2.58 million tCO2e in 2024, representing a 20.71% increase from 2023, with 6 out of 15 Scope 3 categories reported.
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The long-term target to achieve net-zero emissions for Scope 1, 2, and 3 is by 2045, with interim reduction targets published.
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Symrise has a Science Based Target validated by SBTi in February 2022, aimed at a maximum global warming of 1.5°C.
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In 2023, 24.4% of overall energy consumption was sourced from renewables.
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Water withdrawal was 6.9 million cubic meters in 2024, equating to 1326.4 m³ per $1 million revenue, with 9.8% of total water withdrawn from sites in water-stressed areas.
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Around 80% of the waste generated in 2024 was recycled or reused.
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3% of capital expenditure was aligned with the EU Sustainable Taxonomy.
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The Product Sustainability Scorecard covers over 85% of global product volume.
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Circular materials constitute 62% of the assessed raw material volume.
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In February 2023, a site in Jacksonville, USA, was fined less than USD 10,000 for a Clean Air Act violation.
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80% of suppliers report operational GHG emissions, and 42% of suppliers participating in the CDP Supply Chain program have a decarbonization plan aimed at a 1.5-degree scenario.
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The company supports TCFD recommendations and uses a tool to determine the monetary impact of various climate scenarios, integrating them into new investment decisions.
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Respect for Cultures & Communities
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Symrise demonstrates strong engagement with local communities, having direct partnerships with over 7,000 vanilla farmers in Madagascar
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, over 1,200 families in Amazon reforestation
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, and 35 local families in Brazil for fruit and nut cultivation
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. The company sources a significant portion of its goods and services locally, with 76% sourced from local suppliers
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. Symrise reported no cultural appropriation incidents
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. A separate grievance mechanism for external stakeholders and rights holders was established in 2023
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, available worldwide via website, app, and phone
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, with confirmation of report receipt within one day
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. The company also shows strong local employment, with approximately 85% of senior management hired from the local community
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. Language inclusivity is supported through the Integrity Hotline, which ensures employees can communicate in their native language
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, and training is offered in local languages, with employment terms provided in workers' primary languages
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Safe & Smart Tech
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Symrise AG has reported no data breaches in the past three years, although it experienced a significant cybersecurity attack in December 2020.
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The company has no documented incidents of unauthorized data use, supported by a Code of Conduct emphasizing careful data handling
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and a comprehensive risk management system including IT security and data protection.
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Symrise measures the effectiveness of its security training through tests that confirm content understanding.
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The company does not have a bug bounty program. Security testing is performed through internal audits.
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Symrise's privacy policies align with GDPR,
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and it complies with the German Corporate Governance Code 2022,
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German Commercial Code (HGB) requirements,
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and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act since 2023.
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It also reports in reference to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
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and has its sustainability information externally assured by DQS CFS.
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Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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Symrise discontinued the use of single-use plastics at all its sites in 2021.
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In 2024, around 80% of the waste generated by the company was recycled or reused.
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Symrise has set several quantitative waste reduction targets, including reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030 (from a 2016 baseline), increasing the eco-efficiency of sensitive waste by 60% by 2025 (from a 2010 baseline), aiming to recycle over 95% of plastic used by 2025, and using 100% sustainable packaging materials by 2025.
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The company implements numerous waste reduction initiatives, such as the patented SymTrap® process to recover flavor components, composting 2,500-3,000 tons of operational waste and by-products in 2021-2022, and repurposing various by-products into ingredients.
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For hazardous waste, 43.4% was diverted from disposal in 2024, with 13% recycled or reused, and the company complies with all statutory provisions.
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Symrise applies circular economy principles across all levels of its value chain, guided by Cradle to Cradle® and green chemistry, and requires suppliers to manage waste effectively. The company received one minor waste disposal violation in February 2023, resulting in a fine of less than USD 10,000.
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