Clariant achieves A-List recognition from CDP

Why is this CDP A-List recognition such an important milestone?

Because CDP does not reward ambition alone. It rewards proof.

CDP is one of the most widely used environmental disclosure platforms globally, be it by investors, customers, and financial institutions. In recent years, CDP has significantly tightened its criteria. To reach leadership level today, companies must demonstrate progress over time, credible targets, verified data, and clear accountability at the top.

What makes this milestone particularly meaningful is that Clariant improved across all three areas compared to last year – moving from A- to A in Climate Change, from B to A in Forests, and from B to A- in Water Security. That kind of progress reflects a sustainability transformation that is delivering measurable results.

What does this mean in practical terms for Clariant’s customers?

Many customers today face growing pressure to prove the sustainability of their own products – not just what they sell, but what goes into them. That makes the environmental performance of suppliers increasingly important.

Clariant’s CDP scores give customers confidence that our products come with transparent, verified data and are backed by concrete action. This matters for brands behind everyday products like shampoos, detergents, or household cleaners, where consumers expect transparency and responsible sourcing. It also matters for industrial customers looking for solutions that improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, enable low-emission formulations, and provide reliable carbon footprint data.

In short, our CDP performance helps customers reduce environmental risks and meet rising expectations across their value chains.

CDP has raised its expectations significantly. What changed – and how did Clariant respond?

CDP has shifted its focus from intentions to evidence. Today, it is no longer enough to set targets or publish policies. Companies must show progress, quantify risks and opportunities, and demonstrate that sustainability is actively managed at the highest level.

At Clariant, what could easily be treated as a reporting exercise is instead a governance topic. Sustainability oversight sits at Board level, with clear responsibilities and regular performance reviews. Progress on climate targets is directly linked to company remuneration, ensuring accountability and real decision-making impact.

This approach is supported by measurable results. Since 2019, Clariant has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations by 29% and from key parts of its value chain by 19%. Because progress is ahead of plan, climate targets were upgraded to a 46.9% reduction in operational emissions and a 27.5% reduction in value-chain emissions by 2030, aligned with climate science. This combination of governance, verified data, and demonstrated progress is what allowed Clariant to meet CDP’s higher bar.

Why did Clariant achieve an ‘A’ score for Climate Change?

Clariant’s climate score reflects that climate is treated as a strategic business issue, not a side topic. The company has science-based targets covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, a defined roadmap toward net zero, and no exclusions across the organization. Progress is measured annually, independently assured, and assessed against a 1.5°C pathway. Since 2019, emissions reductions have remained on – and in some areas ahead of – the required trajectory.

This level of ambition, transparency, and accountability is what distinguishes leadership performance in CDP’s climate assessment.

What stands behind Clariant’s A- score in Water Security?

CDP’s Water Security score focuses on how companies manage water risks where they matter most. Clariant has time-bound water targets covering withdrawal and pollution from 2019 to 2030, with performance data collected across all production sites. Particular attention is given to sites in water-stressed regions, where the company can demonstrate a clear trend toward reduced water withdrawals.

Water targets are embedded in Clariant’s Sustainability Policy and complemented by commitments to safe water and sanitation under its Human Rights framework. Progress is tracked year over year and independently verified, showing that water stewardship is systematically managed and continuously improved.

Why did Clariant achieve an ‘A’ score in Forests?

In the Forests category, Clariant’s focus is on palm oil – a key renewable raw material used in many everyday products.

Clariant has set clear, time-bound commitments to source palm-based materials sustainably and eliminate deforestation and land conversion from its palm oil supply chain. These commitments are backed by a high level of transparency. By 2026, the company aims to achieve 95% traceability to palm oil mills and continues progressing toward plantation-level traceability.

Supplier requirements, satellite monitoring, third-party audits, and collaboration with initiatives such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil ensure issues are identified and addressed early. In 2024, 64% of palm oil volumes were already verified as deforestation- and conversion-free. This depth of traceability and verification is why CDP awarded Clariant an ‘A’ score in the Forests category.

What comes next after reaching the CDP A-List?

Reaching the CDP A-List is not an endpoint. CDP will continue to raise expectations, and maintaining leadership requires continuous improvement.

Clariant’s focus remains on accelerating its climate transition, strengthening water stewardship, and advancing more nature-positive supply chains. This recognition confirms that the company is on the right path, and reinforces its responsibility to keep delivering measurable impact for customers and society, creating greater chemistry – between people and planet.