CDP again rates Bayer as one of the leading international companies for water management

Top assessment for 10 years in succession / Bayer only DAX company with best rating both in climate change and water security

Renowned ratings organization CDP (formerly the “Carbon Disclosure Project”) has given Bayer the top rating of “A” in its latest list for water security. On behalf of institutional investors, CDP analyzed data from over 8,400 companies worldwide about their strategic management of water – a limited resource. Less than one percent (71 companies) worldwide and only two companies in Germany achieved an A rating.

“We are delighted that we have received the best ratings from CDP in the water security category as well as in climate change and are therefore the only DAX company to have top assessments in both areas,” said Matthias Berninger, head of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Bayer. “With our commitment to protecting water, the climate and biodiversity, we want to meet both our obligation to society and the raised expectations of the various stakeholder groups – especially investors.”

Professional investors expect to receive information from companies on how they are managing risks arising from extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, which are increasing in frequency due to climate change, and what solutions they are developing. The non-profit organization CDP states that, in 2019, it gathered corporate data relating to water security, climate change and forests on behalf of 525 institutional investors, representing a total asset value of USD 96 trillion.

“Congratulations to the companies that achieved a position on CDP’s A list this year, for leading in environmental performance and transparency,” said Paul Simpson, head of CDP. “The scale of the business risks from the climate emergency, deforestation and water insecurity are vast – as are the opportunities from addressing them – and it’s clear the private sector has a vital role to play at this critical time,” added Simpson. “The A List companies are leading the market in corporate sustainability, tackling environmental risks and setting themselves up to thrive in tomorrow’s economy.”

Bayer solutions for sustainable water usage

Careful water management and protection of waterways are particularly important to Bayer, and it is developing solutions in this area at various levels. In its own production, Bayer uses water in closed circulation as far as possible. Any wastewater is cleaned using state-of-the-art methods before being fed into the surrounding waterways. Furthermore, as part of its risk management program, the company regularly and systematically checks the adequacy of water supplies at its sites and production facilities worldwide that are located in regions where there are water shortages or dry conditions.

Bayer sees enormous potential for more efficient water usage in agriculture, which taps into a significant portion of the world’s water resources. For instance, the company enables farmers to use water and crop protection products with greater precision by employing digital technologies. In addition, Bayer helps farmers use more efficient irrigation techniques. When it comes to product innovation, Bayer is also working on developing seed varieties that thrive on less water, or conversely that continue to grow despite flooding. For example, one type of rice seed is already on the market that delivers reliable yields even in the case of dry conditions, flooding and salination caused by variable, extreme weather conditions.

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About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2018, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of 39.6 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.