Evonik (China) Co., Ltd.

Evonik – leading beyond chemistry

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-orientated innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the levers for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions.

Active in more than 100 countries around the world, the company generated sales of €18.5 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2.49 billion in 2022. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. Around 34,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life, day by day.

Evonik in Greater China
Evonik has been producing specialty chemical products in Greater China since the late 1970’s with wide-ranging trading relations as early as the 1930s. Evonik regards China as one of the driving forces of the global economy and we consequently endeavor to grow our business here. Sales in Greater China reached €1.6 billion in 2022. Today over 2,700 employees work for Evonik in the region out of 15 locations.

Our largest production site in Greater China is located in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) with an accumulated investment of over €700 million. The site houses production plants of isophorone & isophorone diamine, specialty organics, silicone surfactants and other Evonik advanced products.

By providing key answers to the social and economic megatrends such as demographic changes, growing middle class, sustainable development, etc., Evonik is well positioned to capture opportunities in the China markets and continue to drive business growth. We work together with our customers and partners to deliver high quality solutions in booming industries, for example, e-mobility, renewable energy, green manufacturing, new infrastructure, sustainable food production and healthcare.

Innovation is a key growth driver
Evonik Industries—one of the world’s most innovative companies. That is the vision that guides our research and development. Our innovative capability is a key factor in leveraging green and profitable growth. We are continuously working on these strengths by networking and internationalizing our research, through forward-thinking and openness to external ideas, and by continuing to invest in creative minds. R&D expenses totaled €460 million in 2022.

For years, Evonik has been stepping up R&D in the growth markets, aiming to help strengthen the competitiveness of our regional customers through research and applications technology geared specifically to regional megatrends and local needs.

The Evonik Shanghai Innovation Park is one of the six global R&D core sites of the company. It comprises activities of research, product development, process innovation, pilot plant, application technology, analytical services and venture capital investment and covering both regional and global R&D topics.

Evonik is also spurring the competency of specific technologies such as lithium-ion battery materials, high-performance polymers, formulation technology of specialty ingredients for cosmetics and cleansing products so as to better serve strategic growth markets such as e-mobility, green manufacturing, additive manufacturing and consumer goods sector.

Alongside the Shanghai Innovation Park, Evonik has set up applications technology laboratories at several sites in Greater China.

Sustainability fully integrated into all strategic levers
Responsibility and economic success are inseparable at Evonik. That is why sustainability is being integrated fully and systematically into all elements of the strategy.

Through our innovative capability and leading technology positions we empower our customers to offer a broad range of innovative and sustainable solutions. Currently, we generate 43 percent of sales by products and solutions that come with superior sustainability benefits above or well above market reference. These products are called Next Generation Solutions. We will substantially increase the sales share of our Next Generation Solutions to over 50 percent by 2030.

Evonik aims to reduce its footprint by significantly cutting both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from production and processing. We are continuously optimizing our processes and technologies for production so as to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction. Through the digital energy management system, we are able to improve energy efficiency at our plants. We are embracing the energy transition, increasing the share of renewables in our energy supply and using alternative raw materials and biotechnological methods wherever this is possible.

Sound sustainability management does not begin with our own products and production processes. Our purchasing volume has a significant impact on society and the environment. As a founding member of the industry initiative “Together for Sustainability”, we are driving forward transparency and sustainability along the supply chain.

People are our most important assets
Evonik regards people as the most important assets for our sustainable growth. Wherever possible, we aim to fill key positions with highly qualified local managers and offer them attractive career opportunities in the Group.

Evonik has been awarded for 16 times one of “China’s Top Employers” by the international publishing company Top Employers Institute since 2007.