Impact and dependencies assessment
Bayer has not holistically assessed its impacts or how it depends on nature, including biodiversity. Therefore, the company has an opportunity to start this assessment across its value chains, focused on quantification of its impacts or dependencies. Furthermore, Bayer does not disclose any assessment of its dependencies on nature within its own operations or its upstream business relationships.
Key areas and species
While Bayer discloses the locations that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity within its own operations, it has an opportunity to disclose the locations of its suppliers that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity. The company does not disclose species populations existing in or adjacent to its own locations or its suppliers. Additionally, it does not disclose the status according to national and international conservation lists of species identified in its own locations.
Ecosystem conversion and restoration
Bayer does not have a commitment to ensure zero conversion. Although the company’s efforts to reduce deforestation through sustainable palm oil sourcing practices are recognised, the mass balance supply chain model is insufficient to be considered an effort toward a conversion-free supply chain. The company also does not have time-bound targets to achieve a conversion-free supply chain. The company has a commitment to minimise ecosystem conversion and discloses some related activities. Although Bayer has a general commitment to restore ecosystems, it lacks disclosure on the details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or by its suppliers.
Resource exploitation and circularity
Bayer does not disclose its inputs, including its material footprint, and does not report quantitatively on its group-wide circularity performance. Moreover, while Bayer discloses activities to improve soil health or agrobiodiversity in its production or sourcing practices, it does not have a target to improve soil health in its production or sourcing practices.
Water
Bayer demonstrates it is reducing water withdrawal in its own operations. However, it does not disclose a time-bound target to reduce water withdrawal across its own operations. Similarly, while the company regularly reports on water pollution, it does not disclose targets to reduce water pollution.
Solid and air pollution
The company does not commit to avoid developing or marketing new chemicals or products with SVHC (substance of very high concern) properties. The company is not reducing the production of hazardous waste. Neither is the company reducing plastic use and waste in its own operations, and it does not report on the amount of plastic waste generated and proportions directed from or to disposal. The company reports regularly on air quality parameters of emissions of harmful air pollutants. However, it does not report time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
GHG emissions
Although Bayer is reducing its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and has set time-bound targets, there is an opportunity for the company to align its targets with a 1.5-degree trajectory.
Invasive species
Bayer has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive species in its own operations.