Half of Evonik’s sales are generated with products for resource-efficient applications
Essen/Singapore—Evonik already generates around half of its sales with products for resource-efficient applications. That is shown by the Sustainability Report 2015, which was published recently. “Our customers want products and solutions that balance economic, ecological and social factors. We take account of that in our sustainability strategy,” stresses Thomas Wessel, the member of Evonik’s Executive Board responsible for sustainability. “Foresighted action is a prerequisite for profitable growth and a successful business performance, and we are aware of our responsibility.”
In 2015 Evonik extended its sustainability analysis to all 22 business lines in its three chemical segments, so it covered around 94 percent of Group sales. The analysis, which included energy savings, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and the use of raw materials, shows the extensive contribution made by the Group’s products to improving the resource efficiency of applications.
For example Evonik’s PROTECTOSIL®, a functional silane that helps to protect building facades, is one of the products that can ensure the sustainability in buildings. For tropical South East Asia countries, the hot and humid climate might affect the facades or even the stability and safety of the buildings. To prevent this from happening and increase the service life of the buildings, Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge in Thailand had decided to use PROTECTOSIL® from the beginning of its construction in 2012, with the project completed last year, the beauty of the bridge has been well maintained, and most importantly, provides suitable and sustained protection for the bridge. Evonik intends to step up sustainability analysis of its businesses this year.
Further progress towards environmental targets
Evonik aims to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. emissions per metric ton output) by 12 percent between 2013 and 2020. There was a considerable reduction of 3 percentage points in specific greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 as a result of measures to raise energy efficiency and a change in the energy mix at the site in Marl (Germany). Evonik has thus already reduced specific greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent since 2012.
The company aims to reduce specific water intake by 10 percent in the same period. Following a slight rise in 2014, specific water intake also fell by 3 percentage points in 2015 and is now back at the 2012 level. This positive development was mainly attributable to saving measures, the start-up of further closed cooling water circuits, and site-specific factors affecting the intake of surface water.
In Singapore, the DL-methionine production plant on Jurong Island has been awarded three of the highest quality standard systems in the industry: ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management and FAMI QS for specialty feed ingredients industry’s quality and safety system after 10 months of operation in 2015, proven that Evonik has always been committed to increase productivity, minimize wastage, promote environmental production and reduce emissions.
While the 2 production plants in Thailand, Evonik Thai Aerosil Co. Ltd (ETAC) and Evonik United Silica (Siam) Ltd (EUSSL) received the “Gold Star” and “Green Star” awards last year from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), for their efforts in maintaining high standards for environmental performance in 2015. This is EUSSL’s 6th year and ETAC’s 5th year in receiving such environmental awards since 2010.
More transparency and sustainability in the supply chain
Evonik is strengthening transparency and sustainability along the supply chain—beyond its own operations. “We apply our high requirements in the areas of safety, health, environmental protection, labor standards and other key aspects of sustainability to our suppliers,” explains Wessel. Evonik is a founding member of the “Together for Sustainability” (TfS) initiative set up by chemical companies to drive forward common sector standards for sustainable procurement and regularly takes part in the assessments and audits specified by this initiative. At the start of 2016 it was awarded a gold rating for the third time in succession, ranking it in the top 2 percent of the companies covered.
The Evonik Sustainability Report 2015 can be downloaded from the internet at www.evonik.com/responsiblity.
