AVIENT CORP

Business Overview

We are a premier formulator of specialized and sustainable materials solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Our products include specialty engineered materials, performance fibers, advanced composites and color and additive systems. We are also a highly specialized developer and manufacturer of performance enhancing additives, liquid colorants and fluoropolymer and silicone colorants. When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “we,” “us,” “our," "Avient" and the “Company” mean Avient Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Avient was formed as PolyOne Corporation on August 31, 2000 from the consolidation of The Geon Company (Geon) and M.A. Hanna Company (Hanna). Through a series of acquisitions and divestitures, the Company has transformed into a premier specialty formulator. Effective June 30, 2020, the Company amended its existing Articles of Incorporation to change its name to Avient Corporation and changed its ticker symbol from “POL” to “AVNT”, effective at the start of trading on July 13, 2020.

Avient Corporation is incorporated in Ohio and headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio. We currently have 102 manufacturing sites in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa (EMEA). In 2023, the Company had sales from continuing operations of $3.1 billion, approximately 61% of which were to customers outside the United States. Using our formulation expertise and operational capabilities, we create an essential link between large chemical producers (our raw material suppliers) and designers, assemblers and processors of plastics (our customers). We believe that our role in the value chain continues to become more vital as our customers increasingly need reliable suppliers with a global reach and increasingly effective materials-based solutions to improve their products' sustainability appeal, performance, differentiation, profitability and competitive advantage. Our goal is to provide customers with specialized and sustainable materials and solutions through our global footprint, broad market knowledge, technical expertise, product breadth, manufacturing operations and raw materials procurement leverage. Our end markets include consumer, packaging, defense, healthcare, industrial, transportation, building and construction, telecommunications and energy.

Polymer Industry Overview

Avient is a specialty formulator within the polymer industry. We have the scientific know-how in materials science required to bridge the large, commodity base resin producers and the companies who ultimately manufacture end products utilizing formulated polymer materials.

Polymers are a class of organic materials that are generally produced by converting natural gas or crude oil derivatives into monomers, such as ethylene, propylene, and styrene. These monomers are then polymerized into chains called polymers, or plastic resin, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, in their most basic forms. Avient does not produce commodity base resins. Rather, Avient sources various resins, polymers and additives, then employs additional chemistry in formulating those materials into highly engineered, unique materials for a specific use.

Thermoplastic polymers are characterized by their ability to be reshaped repeatedly into new forms after heat and pressure are applied. Thermoplastics offer versatility and a wide range of applications. The major types of thermoplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester and a range of specialized engineering resins. Each type of thermoplastic has unique qualities and characteristics that make it appropriate for use in a particular application.

Thermoplastic composites include base resins, but are combined with a structural element such as glass, carbon or polymer fibers to enhance strength, rigidity and structure. Further performance can be delivered through an engineered thermoplastic sheet or thick film, which may incorporate more than one resin formulation or composite in multiple layers to impart additional properties such as gas barrier, structural integrity and lightweighting.

Thermoplastics and polymer composites are found in a variety of end-use products and markets, including packaging, defense, building and construction, wire and cable, transportation, medical, furniture and furnishings, durable goods, outdoor high performance equipment, electrical and electronics, adhesives, inks and coatings and fiber. Each type of thermoplastic resin has to ultimately achieve unique characteristics (such as flexibility, strength or durability) suitable for use in a particular end-use application. The formulation science and manufacturing processes required to achieve those characteristics is the specialty role that Avient plays.

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The following are examples, by industry, where Avient solutions address specific market requirements or challenges. In the packaging industry, plastics are required that help keep food fresh and free of contamination while providing a variety of options for product display, and offering advantages in terms of weight and user-friendliness. In wire and cable, thermoplastics and composites serve to protect by providing electrical insulation, flame resistance, durability, water resistance, water swelling and color coding to engineered fibers, yarn products, wire coatings and connectors. In the transportation industry, plastic has proven to be durable, lightweight and corrosion resistant while offering fuel savings, design flexibility and high performance, often replacing traditional materials such as metal and glass. In the medical industry, plastics are used for a vast array of devices and equipment, including blood and intravenous bags, medical tubing, catheters, lead replacement for radiation shielding, clamps and connectors to bed frames, curtains and sheeting, electronic enclosures and equipment housings. In the outdoor high performance industry, plastic applications are used for components and colorants for all terrain vehicles and reinforced polymers are used for various outdoor equipment and gear. In the electronics industry, plastic enclosures and connectors not only enhance safety through electrical insulation, but thermally and electrically conductive plastics provide heat transferring, cooling, anti-static, electrostatic discharge, and electromagnetic shielding performance for critical applications including integrated circuit chip packaging.

Various additives can also be formulated with a base resin and further engineered into a structure to provide them with greater versatility and performance. Polymer formulations and structures have advantages over metals, wood, rubber, glass and other traditional materials, which have resulted in the replacement of these materials across a wide spectrum of applications. These specialized polymers offer sustainability and performance advantages compared to traditional materials, including design freedom, processability, weight reduction, chemical resistance, flame retardance and lower cost. Plastics are renowned for their durability, aesthetics, ease of handling and recyclability. Avient’s strategy and investments are aligned to enable these important benefits, now and in the future.

Avient Segments

We operate in two reportable segments: (1) Color, Additives and Inks and (2) Specialty Engineered Materials. Our segments are further detailed in Note 15, Segment Information, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Competition

The manufacturing of custom and proprietary formulated thermoplastics, polymer composites, and color and additives systems is highly competitive. Competition is based on service, performance, product innovation, product recognition, speed, delivery, quality and price. The relative importance of these factors varies among our products and services. Our competitors range from large international companies with broad product offerings to local independent custom producers whose focus is a specific market niche or product offering. We believe that our four-pillar strategy of Specialization, Globalization, Commercial Excellence and Operational Excellence, along with our focus on putting our customers and their needs first, enables us to successfully compete in the market.

Raw Materials

The primary raw materials used by our manufacturing operations are polyolefin and other thermoplastic resins, titanium oxide, inorganic and organic pigments, specialty additives and ethylene. In general, there is adequate supply and capacity from a variety of suppliers to serve our business. In 2022, we experienced certain supply disruptions, shortages, volume allocations and logistical delays for some of these materials. In 2023, most global supply chains relevant to our business returned to pre-pandemic operational levels, and none of the few disruptions that occurred had a material impact on our business. See the discussion of risks associated with raw material supply and costs in Item 1A, “Risk Factors."

Patents and Trademarks

We own and maintain a number of patents and trademarks in the United States and other key countries that contribute to our competitiveness in the markets we serve because they protect our inventions and product names against infringement by others. Patents may exist for 20 years from filing date, and trademarks may have an indefinite life based upon continued use. While we view our patents and trademarks to be valuable because of the broad scope of our products and services and brand recognition we enjoy, we do not believe that the loss or expiration of any single patent or trademark would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Nevertheless, we have management processes designed to rigorously protect our inventions and trademarks.

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Seasonality

Sales of our products and services are typically seasonal, as demand has historically been slower in the third and fourth calendar quarters of the year.

Working Capital Practices

Our products are generally manufactured with a short turnaround time, and the scheduling of manufacturing activities from customer orders generally includes enough lead time to assure delivery of an adequate supply of raw materials. We agree to payment terms with our customers and suppliers that are competitive.

Significant Customers

No customer accounted for more than 3% of our consolidated revenues in 2023 and we do not believe we would suffer a material adverse effect to our consolidated financial statements if we were to lose any single customer.

Research and Development

We have substantial technology and development capabilities, powered by approximately 1,100 associates serving in technology capacities, approximately 140 of whom have PhD level educations. Our efforts are largely devoted to developing new product formulations to address evolving market and sustainability needs. We do this by providing quality technical services to evaluate alternative raw materials, facilitating the continued success of our products for customer applications, providing technology to improve our products, processes and applications and providing support to our manufacturing plants for cost reduction, productivity and quality improvement programs. We operate research and development centers that support our commercial development activities and manufacturing operations. These facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical, synthesis, polymer characterization and testing equipment, along with pilot plants and polymer manufacturing operations that simulate specific production processes. This allows us to rapidly translate new technologies into new products, helping us advance a more circular economy with reduced carbon footprint. Our investment in product research and development was $90.3 million in 2023, $84.9 million in 2022, and $83.2 million in 2021.

Methods of Distribution

We sell products primarily through direct sales personnel, distributors, and commissioned sales agents. We primarily use truck carriers to transport our products to customers, although some customers pick up product at our manufacturing facilities or warehouses.

Human Capital Resources

“People” is the first of Avient’s four cornerstones of sustainability (People, Products, Planet and Performance), which, together with our core values and our four-pillar strategy, form the framework of our company culture. The success and growth of our business depend in large part on our ability to attract, develop and retain a diverse population of talented and high-performing employees at all levels of our organization, including the individuals who comprise our global workforce as well as our executive officers and other key personnel.

We have developed key recruitment and retention strategies, objectives and measures that guide our human capital management approach as part of the overall management of our business. These strategies, objectives and measures are advanced through a number of programs, policies and initiatives, as described below.

As of December 31, 2023, Avient employed approximately 9,300 people, 34% of which were located in the U.S. and Canada, 34% were located in EMEA, 25% were located in Asia, and 7% were located in Latin America.

Safety and Health

The top priority at Avient is the safety and health of our associates, and our ultimate goal is to operate injury free. Progress toward this goal is measured at the business unit and regional levels, communicated globally, and linked to a number of recognition programs. In 2023, we had a recordable incident rate of 0.58 per 100 full-time workers per year, compared to the Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing industry (NAICS Code 326) average of 3.40 in 2022. Continual improvement and preventative risk reductions are key focus areas and, in 2023, one of our annual incentive plan metrics measured the engagement of our employees in safety activities. We also continue to be recognized as an American Chemistry Counsel Responsible Care® company and set high standards for our operations as we strive to achieve our goal of zero recordable injuries.

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Employee Recruitment

Avient’s success is driven by having the best talent in the right roles. We actively seek collaborative and innovative change-makers who are passionate about our values through numerous channels, including employee referrals, job fairs, talent networks, industry associations, and directly from universities. Our roles provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, while working in an organization focused on solving the most complex challenges for our customers and suppliers, and driving sustainability.

As a key aspect of our talent pipeline, we partner with leading universities around the world to hire associates into full-time, co-op and internship opportunities. These roles include highly-coveted rotational development programs where individuals are able to gain experience in various departments and jobs within or across functions, contributing their skills while also building diverse, well-rounded knowledge of our Company and its many stakeholders. We leverage global processes and systems to create a positive candidate experience, with opportunities for both entry level and experienced hires.

Training and Development

We provide meaningful learning engagements and skill development opportunities to all full- and part-time global associates. Learning is ingrained in our culture and every Avient associate participates in training annually. We manage training and development through global programs and technology, to provide a consistent and high-quality experience for associates. Each year, over 100,000 hours of training is completed through a variety of different training methods, which focus on leadership development, safety, Lean Six Sigma concepts, technical and operational skills, sustainability and ethics and compliance.

Our key development opportunities include nomination-based leadership programs (such as NextGen, Emerging Leaders and Elevate), foundational leadership training for all current or aspiring people managers, called Core Leadership, and Lean Six Sigma training at a variety of levels, where individuals can be certified for job-specific Lean Six Sigma programs, up through Master Black Belt certification. We also focus on development for our production associates in aspects of Lean Six Sigma, safety, continuous improvement, and our ENGAGE program.

Continuous development drives associates to reach their full potential and we strive to fill at least half of all open manager roles and higher with internal promotions. This is completed through regular performance feedback, individual development plans, mentoring programs and nomination-based leadership development programs for key top talent.

Diversity and Inclusion

We recognize the immense benefits that a diverse team brings to our organization, including delivering better business outcomes. Our talented people leverage their diverse backgrounds and skills toward a common goal: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. This spirit of inclusive collaboration can be felt throughout our Company. It drives the innovation that earns us leadership positions in the markets we serve and underpins the high level of respect we show each other every day.

Our commitment to diversity begins at the highest levels of our organization, as evidenced by the fact that 50% of our Board of Directors are female or racially diverse. From a management perspective, 60% of our CEO's direct reports are female, racially or ethnically diverse, which we believe sets the right tone and expectation for diversity and inclusion within the Company.

The vision that guides our collective efforts is consistent and unwavering: to be the Company of choice for all. We leverage Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help educate and inspire our global workforce and fortify strong business practices. Our ERGs include: PRIDE at Avient (which is working to maintain a safe and accepting environment that enables LGBTQ+ associates to perform to their fullest potential and contribute to the success of our Company), HYPE (which stands for Harnessing Young Potential Energy and is building a collaborative network of Avient’s young professionals), LEAD by Women (which promotes inclusion by increasing access to the tools and resources necessary to build leadership skills and accelerate careers), EMBRACE (which focuses on understanding and valuing the many diverse cultures and backgrounds of our associates) and SERVE (which stands for Sustaining Engagement for Returning Veteran Employees and is focusing on our U.S-based veteran community). In 2023, we launched our newest ERG, RAISE, which is focused on supporting associates who are parents and caregivers to connect, learn and empower one another to balance work and home responsibilities. Other initiatives, including Mentoring at Avient and campus partnerships, are vital for progress in our inclusion journey. We require equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws.

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Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance, except where local law requires us to take actions to increase employment opportunities for a specific group. The Avient Ethics Hotline serves as a mechanism for associates to anonymously report any perceived concerns regarding these topics.

Compensation and Benefits Programs

We strive to remain competitive in the global marketplace and provide foundational rewards to attract and retain top talent. In general, our overall philosophy on compensation encompasses the following principles:

•provide all levels of associates with a compensation package that aligns Avient’s and the associates’ interests through the use of base and incentive or bonus programs;

•maintain a competitive pay program that serves to attract, retain, motivate and reward associates; and

•award individual pay commensurate with experience, level of responsibility, and marketability.

Associate Benefits: Awards and Recognition Programs

We celebrate, reward and share our associates’ great work through our recognition programs, including those that all associates can earn for their extra effort and impact, as well as those that are specific to a position or role in the Company, such as excellence in technology, sales, and manufacturing. In addition, we provide our associates an opportunity to support and help create more sustainable communities by giving each associate 16 hours of paid time off each year. In 2023, over 100 of our sites and 3,600 of our associates generously gave over 7,000 volunteer hours and $1.5 million in donations around the world.

A Great Place to Work®

Our ongoing associate feedback is highly valued, discussed, and most importantly, acted upon, to make improvements. In addition to holding action planning sessions, new manager assimilations, and 360 reviews, we also conduct annual employee engagement surveys. Last year, employees in over 40 countries, and more than 130 locations participated, providing actionable feedback to support our ongoing employee engagement efforts. We are proud to share that our associates feel we are a Great Place to Work® and, in 2023, we received our fifth certification. Understanding how our associates feel about their experiences at Avient and our culture is critical and helps us ensure that the right competencies and behaviors are developed across the organization.

Environmental, Health and Safety and Other Regulation

We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations that apply to the production, use and sale of chemicals, emissions into the air, discharges into waterways and other releases of materials into the environment, and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials. We strive for the safe and lawful operation of our facilities in the manufacture and distribution of products, and we believe we are in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We maintain a disciplined environmental and occupational safety and health compliance program and conduct periodic internal and external regulatory audits at our facilities to identify and prevent potential environmental exposures, including compliance matters and operational risk reduction opportunities. This effort can result in process or operational modifications, the installation of pollution control devices or cleaning up grounds or facilities. We believe that we are in material compliance with all applicable requirements.

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We are strongly committed to safety as evidenced by our low injury incidence rate of 0.58 per 100 full-time workers per year in 2023 and 0.51 in 2022. The 2022 average injury incidence rate for our NAICS Code (326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing) was 3.40. We hold the American Chemistry Council's certification as a Responsible Care Management System®(RCMS) company. Certification was granted based on Avient's conformance to the RCMS's comprehensive environmental health, safety and security requirements. The RCMS certification affirms the importance Avient places on having world-class environmental, health, safety and security performance. In our operations, we must comply with product-related governmental law and regulations affecting the plastics industry generally and also with content-specific law, regulations and non-governmental standards. We believe that compliance with current governmental laws and regulations and with non-governmental content-specific standards will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The risk of additional costs and liabilities, however, is inherent in certain plant operations and certain products produced at these plants, as is the case with other companies in the plastics industry. Therefore, we may incur additional costs or liabilities in the future. Other developments, such as increasingly strict environmental, safety and health laws, regulations and related enforcement policies, including those under the European Union Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (covering Conflict Minerals), and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the implementation of additional content-specific standards, discovery of unknown conditions, and claims for damages to property, persons or natural resources resulting from plant emissions or products, could also result in additional costs or liabilities.

Refer to Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for discussion of environmental investigation and remediation matters and Item 1A. "Risk Factors" for discussion of matters pertaining to other regulation.

International Operations

Our international operations are subject to a variety of risks, including currency fluctuations and devaluations, exchange controls, currency restrictions and changes in local economic conditions. While the impact of these risks is difficult to predict, any one or more of them could adversely affect our future operations. For more information about the noted risks, see Item 1A. "Risk Factors." For more information about our international operations, see Note 15, Segment Information, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Where You Can Find Additional Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 33587 Walker Road, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, and our telephone number is +1 (440) 930-1000. We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), and, in accordance with these requirements, we file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC relating to our business, financial results and other matters.

Our internet address iswww.avient.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available, free of charge, on our website (select Investors and then SEC Filings) or upon written request, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish them to the SEC. The contents of our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the reference to our website does not constitute incorporation by reference into this Form 10-K of the information contained at that site.

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