Introducing our First Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report and Impact Goals

This report sets a benchmark for our progress on a range of long-term commitments to people, the planet and profitability. With 13 commercialized molecules, 8 consumer brands and a growing number of partners across Clean Beauty, Health and Wellness and Flavors and Fragrances, we’re building a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Our ESG report provides tangible data to our community of scientists, consumers, business partners, employees and investors on how synthetic biology has made—and will continue to make—a measurable, positive difference.

Our ESG report was developed in accordance with industry-specific standards from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the GRI Standard Topics and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In preparing this report, which covers the 2020 calendar year, we considered the expectations of a range of stakeholders, from customers and partners to investors and employees, and our local communities in which we live and work. This report also covers our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was vital to continuing R&D operations safely. We also formulated and donated Pipette branded hand sanitizer to frontline healthcare workers.

For us, sustainability starts at the molecular level. We believe synthetic biology has the potential to remake the world’s chemistry using nature’s own processes to make what is scarce, abundant for all. Rather than depleting the earth’s natural resources, fermentation is a safe and sustainable way to produce natural, clean and bioidentical molecules. This ESG report documents our belief, responsibilities and contributions toward making people and the planet healthier.

A few highlights from our report:

1. Environmental: The foundation of every molecule and ingredient we develop starts with Bonsucro-certified sugarcane, a rapidly renewable resource. Amyris’ sustainable ingredients can be found in more than 20,000 products, reaching 300 million consumers through both our own consumer brands and our B2B partners. We build sustainable practices directly into our development processes with 90% of our hazardous lab waste in Emeryville, CA being recycled.
2. Social: At Amyris, people come first and innovation requires diversity across ethnicity, gender, education, professional experience, and so much more. In 2020, 54% of employees who identify as female received promotions and in June 2020 we pledged to increase our Black representation by 50% over the next 18 months, and by the end of 2020, increased the percentage of Black employees by approximately 33%. Education is also core to our ethos and last year we pledged $180K to scholarship funds for Black students in an effort to achieve academic equality and we will continue these programs annually.
3. Governance: We understand the importance of robust corporate governance policies and remain committed to proactively putting checks and balances in place through our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. In addition, our Board of Directors and Board committees provide oversight and insight to guide the success of all our employees throughout our operations. Reporting to our CFO and Chief Administration Officer, we also created our first Chief Engagement & Sustainability Officer (CESO) position to recognize the importance of ESG for all our stakeholders and lead us toward implementation of impactful ESG goals to further our mission of Make Good, No Compromise®.

And finally, below are the bold ESG impact goals we’ve set for ourselves that you can expect us to be progressing in the coming years:

1. Environment: Net Zero by 2030
2. Social: 100% Engagement in Community Improvement by 2024
3. Governance: 100% of Amyris Partners Adopt the Amyris “Partnership Pledge to the Planet” by 2023

We are passionately committed to these goals and understand that as Amyris grows, the impact of the work we do with our customers, partners and family of consumer brands does as well. We look forward to addressing these global challenges as a community dedicated to bringing innovative and sustainable solutions to the world, No Compromise®.

Download the full report here, including detail on our methodology.

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