»We seek to minimize the
environmental impacts
of our products
and ensure fair business
practices across our
value chains. «
Nicola Comiotto,
Head of Global Function Procurement
»We seek to minimize the
environmental impacts
of our products
and ensure fair business
practices across our
vale chains. «
Nicola Comiotto,
Head of Global Function Procurement
Together for sustainability
A strong example of our commitment to sustainability
Since 2014, Clariant has been a member of Together for Sustainability (TfS), a joint initiative and global network of chemical companies that delivers the global standard for environmental, social and governance performance of chemical supply chains. The mission of the initiative is to drive sustainability (environmental, social, governance) performance evaluations and improvements across our entire supply base. Operating as a member-driven organization and peer-to-peer network, TfS member companies shape the future of the chemical industry together. Participation in TfS, enables Clariant to strengthen its supplier sustainability activities.
The TfS framework, built on two programs, TfS Assessments and TfS Audits, allows TfS member companies to assess the management, governance, environmental, labor and human rights, ethical and sustainable procurement performance of their suppliers and deliver tangible, measurable improvements of their suppliers’ as well as their own sustainability performance. Unique to the TfS concept is that the results of its assessments and audits are shared with all member companies, according to a transparency principle and in compliance with competition laws. The TfS concept benefits both TfS member companies and suppliers. Suppliers receive fewer customer requests, there is less bureaucratic burden, and time and energy can be spent for the improvement of sustainability performance through corrective action plans.
The TfS PCF Guideline enables suppliers and corporations to produce quality carbon footprint data for the first time. Consistency of results can create a high-quality industry baseline, making it simple for businesses to conduct cross-industry comparisons, and to compile and manage their emissions across all three scopes.
Sustainability assessments
A collaborative platform for measuring corporate social responsibility
To evaluate and increase the sustainability profile of its supply chain, Clariant relies on the online Together for Sustainability (TfS) assessments conducted by EcoVadis. EcoVadis is a recognized global provider of online company sustainability assessments, through a collaborative platform for measuring corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and sharing the results with interested customers.
The TfS assessment covers 21 CSR indicators, evaluating a company's performance in four sustainability areas: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. EcoVadis offers an easy-to-read scorecard, that helps our suppliers to understand their sustainability performance, as well as to prioritize improvements via corrective action plans.
Thanks to Together for Sustainability (TfS), the part of Clariant’s direct spend and indirect spend, that goes to sustainability assessed -by EcoVadis- suppliers, has grown to over 80% and 50% respectively. Our vision is to further increase this coverage to over 90% and 60% respectively by 2023.
On-site audits
An integrated approach to supplier sustainability
Our supplier sustainability audits (TfS audits), run by TfS pre-approved audit firms for selected suppliers, take place year-round and are based on several internal criteria. A TfS audit is an on-site examination of a company’s business sites and practices. The scope of a TfS audit typically covers a single or combined business location such as a production site, a warehouse, or an office building.
Within the TfS audit process the supplier’s sustainability performance is verified against a defined set of audit criteria on management, environment, health and safety, labor and human rights, and governance issues. The audit reports are shared between the supplier and all TfS member companies.
Click here to learn more about the Together for Sustainability audit process.
Supplier sustainability journey
Helping our suppliers understand and meet our sustainability requirements
To support our suppliers in monitoring their sustainability performance, via Together for Sustainability (TfS) assessments, Clariant has developed a supplier sustainability journey, which outlines Clariant’s expectations, Together for Sustainability validity standards, and EcoVadis ratings.
Click here to download our infographic and learn more about our suppliers’ sustainability journey.
Based on several criteria, such as spend analysis, strategic business relevance or past sustainability performance, several suppliers are selected on a yearly basis to be invited for a TfS assessment. Clariant invites suppliers to visit its dedicated EcoVadis page for suppliers to understand our sustainability requirements and the TfS assessment process.
Based on the results of the assessment, Clariant’s procurement team actively engages with suppliers. Scores above 45 fulfill Clariant’s supplier sustainability expectations for three years. For suppliers, who do not meet Clariant supplier sustainability expectations (scores below 44), corrective action plans are initiated, and a re-assessment is expected within 12 to 24 months. For selected cases, a TfS audit might also be initiated. A higher sustainability score could be a clear differentiator for a supplier and an investment in a sustainable business relationship with Clariant.
Active supplier communication and engagement is an essential element of Clariant’s sustainability strategy. Standard responsible sourcer and supplier toolkits are updated and published regularly. In addition, Clariant’s procurement organization regularly engages with suppliers in key sourcing markets such as China, Brazil, and India to explain the company’s sustainability efforts, strategy, and expectations via dedicated training webinars.
Supply chain transparency
Striving for increased visibility beyond Tier-1 supply
To strengthen its supplier sustainability program, Clariant aims to extend its approach beyond its own suppliers to include Tier-2 suppliers for selected Tier-1 cases. In 2020, Clariant joined the TfS Tier N project, a pilot program on multi-tier transparency with other TfS member companies and EcoVadis.
Based on their strategic relevance, several Clariant direct suppliers (Tier-1) were nominated to join and invite maximum 10 of their suppliers (Tier-2) to participate in a TfS Assessment. This approach ensures that the next-tier supplier is approached by its direct business partner. It carries the successful method of TfS member companies inviting their direct business partners forward into the supply chain. The proven way of including sustainability requirements into the business relationship will over time enable suppliers of any tier in the supply chain to participate and create transparency and improvements.
Managing risk
A holistic approach
While the fact-based, independent together for Sustainability (TfS) assessment and audit process is state-of-the-art, it is less suitable for smaller suppliers, that do not always have the appropriate resources and capabilities to go through the TfS process. For this reason, Clariant collaborates with specialist auditor IntegrityNext. In doing so, a number of suppliers is selected on a yearly basis to participate in the IntegrityNext compliance assessment which includes sustainability aspects.
Industry standards
The new TfS Guideline for Product Carbon Footprint [PCF] and Corporate Scope 3 emissions reporting provides specific calculation instructions for emissions from ‘cradle-to-gate’ for chemical materials. It harmonizes PCF calculation approaches across the industry and is applicable to the vast majority of chemical products. In the future, this will allow consumers and the wider market to directly compare and assess the climate impact of products.
For Clariant, this marks another milestone in our scope 3 emissions reduction journey. The PCF Guideline will facilitate engagement with our suppliers, by enabling us to give them tangible guidance on how to calculate their product carbon footprints.
Our supplier sustainability journey: partnering for impact
Since 2014, Clariant has been a proud member of Together for Sustainability (TfS)—a global initiative and industry network committed to advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance across chemical supply chains.
TfS is a peer-driven collaboration that sets the global benchmark for supplier sustainability. By joining forces with other chemical companies, we strengthen our ability to assess and improve ESG practices throughout our supply base, shaping a more sustainable industry together.
»We seek to minimize the environmental impacts of our products and ensure fair business practices across our value chains.«
Nicola Comiotto, Head of Global Function Procurement
A collaborative framework for measurable change
This Framework helps member companies evaluate supplier performance in key areas: management systems, environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. TfS assessments and audits result in a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to address shortcomings. This enables suppliers to improve their sustainability performance and therefore increase their commercial appeal to responsible chemical buyers.
What sets TfS apart is its transparency model—assessment and audit results are shared among all member companies in compliance with competition laws, reducing duplication and bureaucracy for suppliers.
This collaborative approach benefits everyone: suppliers receive fewer redundant requests, and Clariant gains greater insight into the sustainability maturity of our partners, helping us to drive targeted improvements together.
Taking responsibility beyond our operations
Our sustainability journey doesn’t stop at Clariant’s gates. We recognize our shared responsibility with suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain.
Scope 3 (upstream) GHG emissions represent the largest portion of a chemical company's carbon footprint and are our key focus area. Clariant set SBTi-approved climate targets in 2021 for absolute reductions in scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 to 2030. To monitor, manage and reduce these emissions requires an industry-wide harmonized approach to calculation. The TfS Scope 3 GHG programme addresses this need. With the GHG programme, Tfs has developed a supplier toolkit fostering decarbonization of supply chains based on PCF Guideline, PCF Exchange solution (SiGREEN) and decarbonization training programme. We encourage our suppliers to adopt the TfS calculation methodology.
Clariant has enhanced this approach by developing our own automated system that is both TÜV-approved and TfS-compliant. This system allows us to efficiently measure, report, and reduce emissions while working collaboratively with our suppliers toward a low-carbon future.
TfS assessments: measuring and improving sustainability performance
Clariant uses EcoVadis, a leading global provider of sustainability ratings, to conduct TfS assessments through a shared digital platform. These evaluations cover 21 CSR criteria across four themes:
- Environment
- Labor & Human rights
- Ethics
- Sustainable procurement
EcoVadis provides suppliers with a clear, easy-to-understand scorecard that helps identify strengths and areas for improvement. Suppliers are encouraged to use these insights to develop corrective action plans, supported by Clariant when needed.
We invite suppliers to visit our EcoVadis portal for further guidance on Clariant’s sustainability requirements and assessment process.
Clariant has developed a supplier sustainability journey, which outlines Clariant’s expectations.
We invite suppliers to visit our EcoVadis portal for further guidance on Clariant’s sustainability requirements and assessment process. Download our infographic and learn more about our suppliers’ sustainability journey.
TfS Audits: verifying responsible practices on site
For selected suppliers, TfS audits are conducted by independent, pre-approved firms. These on-site evaluations examine production facilities, warehouses, or offices, based on internal risk and strategic criteria.
Audits verify practices against a rigorous checklist covering:
- Environmental impact
- Health & safety
- Labor rights
- Governance
- Management systems
TfS audits result in a supplier and site-specific Corrective Action Plan (CAP) addressing areas with scope for improvement. An audited supplier usually has 36 months in which to address all audit findings before a re-audit, though major findings are expected to be resolved within 12 months or immediately in case of critical findings.
Audit results are shared with all TfS members to support shared supplier development and risk mitigation efforts.
PCF Guideline: a new standard for product carbon footprints
Clariant is actively implementing the TfS Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Guideline, which enables suppliers to calculate emissions consistently and accurately across all three scopes.
Taking the first steps in PCF calculation can be challenging. The Supplier Toolkit provides the resources needed, all in one place.
Having robust Product Carbon Footprint data that follows TfS PCF guidelines serves as the essential foundation for joining our Climate Initiative and developing an effective decarbonization roadmap
This breakthrough helps establish a standardized industry baseline for emissions data—simplifying comparisons, improving decision-making, and advancing climate action throughout the supply chain. For Clariant, it marks a pivotal step in reducing Scope 3 emissions and engaging our suppliers in science-based climate solutions.
Support and training: Ensuring continuous training among suppliers and those responsible for sourcing
Active supplier communication and engagement are essential elements of Clariant’s supply chain sustainability strategy. Standard responsible sourcer and supplier toolkits are regularly updated. In addition, Clariant Procurement systematically engages with suppliers in key sourcing markets, such as China, Brazil, and India to explain the company’s sustainability efforts, strategy, and expectations of suppliers via dedicated external training and webinars.
Managing risk with a holistic approach
While TfS assessments are the gold standard, we understand that not all suppliers—particularly smaller ones—have the capacity to participate. For these partners, Clariant collaborates with IntegrityNext, a trusted platform that includes sustainability criteria in its broader compliance assessments.
This dual-track approach ensures we maintain high standards while remaining inclusive and pragmatic in supporting diverse supplier capabilities.
