Our Strategy

Borealis’ Sustainability Strategy

In 2020, Borealis refreshed its Sustainability Strategy to support Borealis’ new Group Strategy and Purpose, and to address the assessed concerns and expectations of its stakeholders. Our sustainability ambition going forward is to create a world where there is no waste of resources, no emissions into the environment and no harm to society, while delivering prosperity for Borealis and our stakeholders.

This ambition will guide decisions we take to ensure the sustainable development of the company. In pursuit of our ambition, we will continue to focus on the Circular Economy, Climate & Energy and Health & Safety to enhance sustainability in our operations and supply chain, and support profitable business growth.

Continuous enhancement of our sustainability capabilities and involving stakeholders will remain the basis for successful delivery of the Sustainability Strategy. For each of our Sustainability focus areas, we have defined certain deliverables based on which we measure our performance.

Enhance sustainability in our operations and supply chain
  • Strive towards Zero Pellet Loss
  • Optimise renewable feedstock for PO and explore chemical recycling of plastics
  • Reduce packaging and waste
  • Increase Borealis’ energy efficiency and reduce flaring
  • Leverage opportunities to use locally produced renewable energy
  • Reduce CO2 emissions in transportation
  • Implement a pro-active strategy for chemicals safety and substitution planning
  • Ensure occupational health & safety and process safety
Support profitable business growth
  • Lead the transformation of the industry to a Circular Economy
  • Enhance PO product portfolio to increase the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions
  • Launch innovations that enhance safety in food packaging, automotive, healthcare, and water, sanitation, energy and communication infrastructure

Our Goals

Sustainability is at the centre of all Borealis activities, supporting OMV Group’s ambition for a net zero business by 2050. Borealis is playing a leading role in the transformation of the plastics industry. To ensure the realisation of the Group’s Strategy and with our Sustainability Ambition clearly in mind, we have set ourselves specific long-term goals to improve the circularity of plastics, protect the climate and care for the health and safety of our communities.

We are fully committed to supporting the European Green Deal by achieving these Goals and enhancing the contribution of our operations and our products to more sustainable living.

To ‘close the loop’ in resources consumption, our Circular Economy goals for 2030 are:

1800

kilotons of circular products and solutions*

*Production capacity. Includes recycled and renewable polymers and chemicals as well as renewable hydrocarbons

To participate in the action against the climate change, our Energy and Climate goals for 2030 are:

<2

million tons of Scope 1 and Scope 2* emissions from 5.1 million tons (from the 2019 base year, and including the Borealis nitrogen business**)

100%

of electricity from renewable sources

0

non-emergency flaring

* Scope 1 are direct GHG emissions that occur at the source and are controlled by Borealis. Scope 2 are GHG emissions stemming from the generation of energy purchased by the company. Scope 3 are indirect GHG emissions that are a consequence of company activities but occur from sources outside or not controlled by the company.

** The divestment process for the Borealis nitrogen business which comprises fertilizers, technical nitrogen, and melamine has been ongoing since February 2021.

This is how we plan to reduce our GHG emissions (in million tons CO2e, Scope 1 & 2 combined) in the upcoming decades to reach net zero in 2050:

*including portfolio changes/divestments

To ensure process and chemicals safety, our Health and Safety goals remain constant from today:

Zero

work-related incidents or accidents

Zero

harmful substances in our products according to REACH*

*Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

Borealis’ Sustainability Strategy and related goals will guide our journey during these critical years for environmental and climate action.

Reducing our environmental footprint is crucial and we also make a positive contribution with our product offerings. To both ends, working in close collaboration with our partners and stakeholders is the key for having the highest impact on the development of more sustainable value chains.

Our purpose for the years ahead, as stated in the Borealis Strategy 2030, is clear: