Environmental Protection

A scientific approach is required to manage our environmental impact.

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of environmental and safety performance through our 2030 Responsible Operations and Climate Change Sustainability Goals. We focus on resource conservation and minimizing our environmental impact across our operations globally, dedicated to reducing emissions, waste and water consumption.

We are committed to continuously improving our company’s performance related to health, safety and the environment. Through collaboration with our Responsible Business Council, Scope 3 Council, and Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) function, along with our EH&S policies, we continue to develop and implement initiatives that protect the communities and environments where we live and work. To learn more about our EH&S procedures, visit our Fiscal Year 2024 Sustainability Report.

Progress on Our Sustainability Goals

Water plays a critical role in the chemical manufacturing industry, and Trinseo facilities use recycled water, where feasible, to reduce freshwater intake. Overall, we have reduced our freshwater intake by 30% since our 2017 base year. 

We are dedicated to reducing our waste generation through a variety of projects, including increasing our recycling and reuse opportunities to divert materials from landfills or incineration. In 2024, we reduced our waste generation by 21% compared to our 2017 base year.

Our facilities continue to actively explore alternative strategies to minimize the use of landfill waste disposal, such as recycling and incineration. In 2024, we reduced our waste disposal to landfill by 12% compared to our 2017 base year.

Our 15 manufacturing sites that handle plastic pellets continue to implement strategies to improve the collection of flakes, pellets and plastic dust and reduce loss to the environment through the Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) program. In 2024, we made significant progress in our EMEA region, with Tessenderlo, Belgium; Terneuzen, Netherlands; Hoek, the Netherlands; Schkopau, Germany; and Saint-Avold, France facilities achieving external OCS certification. Additionally, we advanced our efforts by installing drain filters at our Louisville, U.S. site, and improved dust collection at our Schkopau, Germany, site.

We continue to drive energy efficiency projects, and in 2024, these projects resulted in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reductions of 30% compared to the previous year. Overall, Trinseo has reduced GHG emissions intensity by 37% since our base year of 2017. 

In 2024, we received limited assurance after engaging ERM CVS, an independent third-party assurance provider, to have our 2023 Scope 3 Inventory verified.

In 2024, we advanced non-fossil energy efforts by signing two solar power purchase agreements for our Rheinmünster, Germany, and Tessenderlo, Belgium, sites. Additionally, we installed solar panels at our polycarbonate (PC) dissolution pilot facility in the Netherlands, as well as 1,800 solar panels at our Hamina, Finland, facility. This has resulted in 22% of our company’s share of electricity coming from renewable sources.

Highlights from Our FY2024 Sustainability Report

Scope 1 & 2 Emissions

Trinseo continued its decarbonization strategy by achieving its Scope 2 goal through energy efficiency projects and expanding renewable energy sources like solar installations and power purchase agreements.

Scope 3

In 2024, we established our baseline data and received limited assurance after engaging ERM CVS, an independent third-party assurance provider, to have our 2023 Scope 3 processes and inventory verified.

Product Carbon Footprint

In 2024, we expanded our Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculations. This new tool provides cradle-to-gate PCF and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data for nearly 6,000 of our products, playing a pivotal role in supporting our customers in their transition to embrace more sustainably advantaged solutions. This technology allows us to not only compare the global warming potential between our virgin and sustainably advantaged solutions but also monitor trends in the carbon footprint of those solutions.

Resources

Corporate Water Statement

Ready for a sustainable partnership?

From design to manufacturing, we’ll work hand in hand with you to deliver customized sustainable solutions unique to the needs of your company and customers.