Building a better world today, tomorrow, together.

As a global leader in chemical and ingredient distribution, we work at the intersection of science and technology, helping customers bring forward sustainable solutions to achieve their ESG goals. That means we are more than a distributor: we are a technical innovator and supply chain connector, exploring new ways to take your products to the next level and solve challenges for a better tomorrow.

Why is sustainability important to your bottom line? Sustainability can mean a lot of things depending on your perspective or business imperative and where you are on the sustainability journey. We all want to meet the moment, safeguarding people and the planet, while keeping businesses successful and profitable. Since 2008, we've made substantial progress in sustainability as a responsible company doing just that, and we will continue to lead the way in our commitments to driving a sustainable future in distribution.

Sustainable & Natural Product Portfolio

A framework for sustainability at the product level

Because there is no global definition of sustainability at the product level, we developed a Sustainable & Natural Product Framework to help customers evaluate sustainability for ingredients and raw materials. The Framework is already enabling productive communication on product sustainability and we are just beginning. As innovation and regulations emerge,  our Framework will evolve. Visit here often as we add new Sustainable & Natural Product Skus every week!​ 

Here are the first six sustainable & natural product characteristics. Click on each one for definitions and examples.

Explore sustainable formulations and ingredient innovations for your industry

At Univar Solutions, our formulators, chemists, and engineers formulate sustainability into new product development to meet end market demand. Whether you desire to add sustainable and natural ingredients or update formulations for new regulation and customer demand, we have a sustainable formulation to accelerate your launch. Each market presents unique ways to innovate products within their offerings to address sustainability. 

Learn more about sustainable formulations in your specific market or product family:

We are committed to supporting you on your sustainability journey and helping keep global communities healthy, fed, clean, and safe.

In August 2022, we surveyed our global customer base: 51% of our customers currently report their sustainability goals, and performance remains the #1 reason customers purchase new products. 

Let's lead the way to a more sustainable future, together.​

Sustainability adds value and makes good business sense.

By leveraging our strong portfolio of sustainable products, services, practices and technologies to aid customers and consumers in meeting their sustainability goals, we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and vision for a better world.

Sustainability makes good business sense and aligns with our core values of being serious about safety, a place where people matter, a company that's valuable to others and does what they say so that together, we win. Combined, these sustainability principles illustrate how through common goals, we can work toward a better tomorrow through next-generation solutions.

Kelly Gilroy

VP Sustainable & Natural Products

 “As a company, we believe it is essential to support customers on their sustainability journeys. We are excited to launch our Sustainable & Natural Product Portfolio to provide transparency and clarity as we work together to drive sustainability at the product level.”

Sustainability in Action

Case study: Decarbonization across the supply chain

80% CO2 reduction from supplier to customer delivery

Challenge:  Source products efficiently and with the lowest carbon footprint​

  • Help customers in the Midwest secure supply of essential products and materials using a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation network, while also optimizing to meet sustainability goals such as lower CO2 emissions.​

Solution:  Optimize supply chain by switching form trucks to railcars​

  • Together with leading suppliers of essential chemistries and sustainable solutions, Univar Solutions helped optimize the supplier’s supply chain from trucks to railcars​
  • This solution improved local supply reliability for Midwest customers that were previously served by trucks from the Gulf Coast, and enabled Univar Solutions to package locally and utilize our fleet, which ultimately provided better overall service and a reduction in CO2 emissions​

Results:  80% reduction in CO2 emissions from source to customer​

  • This optimized supply chain solution is expected to bring an 80% CO2 emissions reduction or 57 MT annually, equivalent to removing 12.3 gasoline powered cars from the road for an entire year or the total energy consumption of 7.2 homes for one year

Case study: Innovating vegan substitute formulations

Identified effective ingredients for 100% natural and sustainable wax alternatives​

Challenge:  Confirm sustainability attributes for an alternative option to beeswax

  • A leading wax supplier was bringing to the market a carefully curated blend of three plant-based waxes to replace traditional beeswax but needed lab assistance, performance testing, and analysis to confirm essential attributes for personal care formulators​

Solution:  Specialty ingredient innovation backed by performance data and testing

  • Our ingredients specialists and chemists went to work analyzing and testing blend characteristics such as melting point, congeal point, acid values and rations, and more, producing extensive data to support and confirm performance attributes​

Delivered 100% natural alternative through our Solution Center

    • With beeswax no longer the first choice for a growing number of industrial materials, this viable vegan wax solution meets sustainable claims without sacrificing efficacy or versatility
    • Our global Solutions Centers delivered formulation expertise every step of the way to help customers achieve a 100% natural alternative that meets vegan, halal, and kosher claims
    • Delivered an optimized formula that is palm-free, GMO free, and biodegradable

Case study: Circularity in action with ChemCare

End-to-end sustainable waste management solutions​

Challenge:  Identify sustainable solutions for eye care manufacturer’s waste materials

  • Our customer needed reuse and reclaim options for their spent isopropanol waste to meet their impending ESG goals and to better utilize limited waste disposal capacity​

Solution:  Leverage our supply chain and customer relationships to locate reuse/reclaim options

  • Together with a leading supplier of solvent reclamation services and another customer who can reuse the isopropanol “as is”, Univar Solutions manages over 25 million pounds annually via tanker and railcar for our customer​
  • 500K pounds per month reclaimed and sold back into the chemical market​
  • 1.5M pounds per month reused to manufacture isopropyl acetate​

Results:  Lowered customer cost and supported achievement of ESG goals

This optimized supply chain solutions for the customer’s spent isopropanol waste yields:​

  • Decreased disposal costs, creates a revenue opportunity depending on market index​
  • Exclusion from RCRA when managed for reuse​
  • Supports our customer’s ESG goals

Sustainable services

*NOTICE: All product information is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication based on information received from the supplier and secondary databases.  However, Univar Solutions is not able to verify whether third-party data is accurate, complete, and up-to-date and assumes no responsibility, obligation, or liability for the information provided.  NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SUCH AS THOSE OF MERCHANTABILTIY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED. Customer is solely responsible for determining whether products and/or the information provided are appropriate for Customer’s use, and Customer assumes all risk and liability in acting on the information provided.
 
Our Suppliers also sign our Supplier Code of Conduct so you can be assured that we are working throughout our supply chain to transparently create our Sustainable & Natural Products Portfolio.