Bayer investing Euro1bn on climate measures

Leverkusen, Germany -  Bayer AG is investing Euro1 billion in climate-related R&D and other projects in the next three years. The Bayer Climate Program initiative includes group-wide plans to reduce CO2 emissions from its production facilities and develop new ways of dealing with climate change. 

Under the plan, Bayer said it will pool its expertise as an inventor company in areas such as zero-emission buildings, the development of stress-tolerant plants and systems to encourage the effective use of crops for biofuels, Another focus is the "Bayer Climate Check" system for optimising production processes.

"We are well aware that we are an emitter of greenhouse gases," Bayer chairman Werner Wenning said at a press conference in Leverkusen. "That was why in the past we focused our attention on lowering CO2 emissions". Between 1990 and 2006 the company considerably reduced its absolute global greenhouse gas emissions – by 36% in fact. In addition, specific emissions per product unit had also been lowered as a result of consistent improvements in energy efficiency."

The Bayer leader went on to call on politicians to include major greenhouse gas emitters like the US, China and India in a new international climate agreement: "We need a turnaround with CO2 emissions. The global problem can only be addressed through joint action worldwide, at least by all the major parties responsible for emissions," said Wenning. "Europe and particularly Germany cannot stop the climate change by adopting an isolated pioneering role. In addition, this could seriously endanger industry's competitiveness.”

Bayer has set new emission targets for  2005-2020, with Bayer MaterialScience now aiming to cut its specific greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of sales product by 25% globally. Bayer CropScience, meanwhile, is targeting a reduction of 15% in its absolute global emissions, and Bayer HealthCare of 5%.

Bayer has also developed a new control instrument for increasing energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions from its production plants called the Bayer Climate Check. The innovative aspect of it is that it also includes the upstream stages of production in the assessment, namely raw materials, energy and logistics. The Bayer Climate Check thus provides decision-makers for the first time with a further ecological criterion for designing production processes in addition to the conventional profitability calculation.

Bayer will use the Climate Check around the world to examine the effect of its production plants on the climate. In a first phase, 100 production facilities worldwide covering some 85% of greenhouse gas emissions will be scrutinised, with action to be taken to introduce the improvements identified in the check in order to reduce greenhouse gases and enhance energy efficiency.

Bayer aims to use the programme to extend its present ecological assessment of major new investment projects by also considering the climate protection angle. Bayer Climate Check will be certified at the beginning of 2008 by the technical inspection agency TÜV and will also offer it on the open market to other companies seeking new tools for reducing CO2 emissions, the group added.