Impact and dependencies assessment
While Solvay reports that its nature impact assessment’s value chain scope is from raw material to distribution, no evidence of upstream impact results was found. The company does not disclose any assessment of its dependencies on nature within its own operations. The company does not disclose any assessment of dependencies on nature of its upstream business relationships.
Key areas and species
Solvay discloses the locations that “55% of Solvay sites are within a 5km radius of a protected area”, however, no evidence of the locations that are in or adjacent to areas important to biodiversity within its own operations could be found. The company does not disclose the locations of its suppliers that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity. While the company discloses the number of species potentially affected by its operations over a five-year period, no evidence that the company discloses the specific species populations existing in or adjacent to its own locations could be found. The company does not disclose species populations existing in or adjacent to the locations of its suppliers. The company does not disclose the status according to national and international conservation lists of species identified in its own locations.
Ecosystem conversion and restoration
Solvay does not disclose a commitment to ensure zero conversion. The company does not disclose activities to achieve conversion-free supply chains. The company does not disclose time-bound targets to achieve conversion-free supply chains. The company does not disclose a commitment to minimise ecosystem conversion. The company does not disclose activities to minimise ecosystem conversion. While the company gives evidence of historical restoration efforts and discloses its ambitions to “develop local restoration projects in partnership with associations and local stakeholders”, no evidence of a clear commitment regarding the restoration of ecosystems could be found. The company discloses details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or by its suppliers.
Resource exploitation and circularity
Solvay does not disclose its inputs, including its material footprint. The company discloses activities to improve soil health or agrobiodiversity in its production or sourcing practices. The company does not disclose a target to improve soil health in its production or sourcing practices.
Water
No evidence that Solvay reduces water withdrawal across the company’s own operations was found. The company reports how much water is withdrawn for its own operations in water-stressed areas. The company does not engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. While the company states “Specifically, we focus on reducing the impact of freshwater withdrawal and Chemical Oxygen Demand releases”, no evidence or examples of activities demonstrating that it reports a decrease in water pollution could be found. The company does not disclose its processes for managing and monitoring discharge water quality. The company regularly reports on water pollution. The company does not disclose targets to reduce water pollution. The company does not disclose a commitment to respect the right to water. The company does not disclose its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.
Solid and air pollution
No evidence that Solvay reduces the production of hazardous substances was found. The company does not disclose a commitment to avoid developing or marketing new chemicals or products with SVHC (substance of very high concern) properties. No evidence that the company is reducing the production of hazardous waste was found. No evidence that the company reduces plastic use and waste in its own operations was found. The company 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. The company does not report time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
GHG emissions
No evidence that Solvay reduces its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions was found. The company has a time-bound target to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions. The company does not report progress against its scope 1 and 2 emissions target. No evidence that the company’s scope 1 and 2 emissions target is aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory was found. The company is reducing its scope 3 emissions. While the company discloses that it is in the process of setting a time-bound target to reduce its scope 3 emissions which will be validated by SBTi, no evidence that the company has yet published such a target could be found. The company does not report progress against its scope 3 emissions target. No evidence that the company’s scope 3 emissions target is aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory was found.
Invasive species
No evidence was found that Solvay identifies the activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive species in its own operations. No evidence was found that the company identifies the activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive species in its value chain.