Governance
At Avient, governance is a foundation of our commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. Our approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters is deeply integrated into our corporate strategy, reflecting our dedication to ethical conduct and long-term value creation.
Avient’s Board of Directors provides the highest level of governance, as detailed to the right and in the 2025 Proxy Statement. Additionally, Avient formed an internal Sustainability Council in 2019 that is responsible for managing sustainability initiatives at all levels of our organization in support of our long-term business strategy. The Sustainability Council includes representation from business units, functions and regions from across the organization.
Corporate Board Governance
The Board of Directors at Avient is a cornerstone of our corporate governance, emphasizing independence and professional excellence. Comprised of 12 Directors, 11 of whom are independent, the Board ensures effective oversight of management and business operations through a well-defined committee structure. Each committee contributes to our sustainability efforts, with the Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee focusing on integrating corporate responsibility and sustainability into strategic decision-making and business operations. In 2024, the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee oversaw policies and practices related to environmental, health, and safety issues, including the monitoring and mitigation of our carbon footprint and climate change risks. In 2025, the committee will be renamed the Innovation & Sustainability Committee and is expanding its scope to include innovation and sustainability.
The Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines outline its responsibilities and conduct, ensuring a balanced mix of skills, experience, and perspectives.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) process is collaborative across Avient’s business and functions in order to identify Avient’s risks. Once risks are identified, the likelihood of occurrence and potential impact of each risk is evaluated and assessed considering mitigating activity. The prioritized risks are reviewed annually with executive management to ensure our risk identification and responses remain up-to-date, mitigation actions remain effective, and that new and emerging risks are considered. More information regarding risks is available in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Avient’s management presents the ERM analysis to Avient’s Board of Directors regularly. Sustainability-related risks are included and evaluated as part of the ERM process.
Cybersecurity
Avient’s global cybersecurity program is designed to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from threats. This is achieved through regular risk assessments, continuous vulnerability monitoring, and a widely-adopted risk quantification model. All employees are required to complete annual web-based training, and we extend security controls to business partners. Avient undergoes quarterly third-party audits, internal reviews, and penetration testing to enhance our security measures. The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who reports to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), leads a team of certified professionals and collaborates with third-party experts for additional assessments and trend insights. Despite past attacks, no cybersecurity incident has had a material impact on our business. The Board and its Audit Committee actively oversee our enterprise risk assessment, with the Audit Committee receiving regular updates on cybersecurity threats, defense capabilities, incident response plans, and employee training activities.
For more detailed information on cybersecurity, please refer to our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.