LANXESS raises sustainability profile
-- Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is raising its sustainability profile and joining the world's biggest and most rapidly growing initiative for corporate social responsibility (CSR), the United Nations Global Compact.
"We are delighted to now belong to the group of signatories that are promoting the sustainability of the global economy through their entrepreneurial responsibility," said Axel C. Heitmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.
The Global Compact initiative was launched in 2000 by the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. With its established principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption, the pact now numbers more than 8,000 participants from over 135 nations. More than 150 German companies, including 20 DAX companies and numerous small to mid-sized businesses, are members of this global CSR initiative.
Heitmann stated that LANXESS has set itself clear targets in climate protection, among other areas. Between 2007 and 2009, the specialty chemicals company cut its direct greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent worldwide. LANXESS also achieved its climate target for Germany ahead of schedule. The set target of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2007 levels, initially to be met by 2012, was actually achieved in 2009.
Now the company is going a step further. It aims to deliver a 10 percent reduction in specific CO2 emissions and specific energy consumption for each business segment by 2015. Moreover, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also to be cut by 30 percent worldwide by 2015. "These measures will help us remain competitive in the global market in the long term," added Heitmann.
These sustainability initiatives have also led to good rankings in the Corporate Responsibility Rating. The renowned Munich-based agency oekom research recently raised LANXESS' Corporate Responsibility Rating to C+. This improved level applies to both the "social" and "environmental" areas.
LANXESS recently also met the criteria for inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index. The index lists companies that have performed particularly well in the areas of environmental protection, human rights and social standards. The FTSE4Good Index was created in 2001 by the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange. It provides investors around the world with a basis for evaluating companies with regard to their management responsibility, and is thus a criterion for decisions about sustainable investment. Companies listed in FTSE4Good must meet stringent ethical, social and ecological criteria. Among these criteria are sustainable environmental management, positive dialogue with stakeholder groups, and observation of and support for universal human rights.
Notes to Editor
About LANXESS
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.06 billion in 2009 and currently around 14,400 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 42 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
Mumbai, July 20, 2011
Information for editors:
100 years of synthetic rubber - interesting information about the anniversary and the numerous areas of application can be found at http://www.worldrubberday.com/.
Information on chemical products from LANXESS can also be found in our Web Magazine at http://webmagazine.lanxess.com/
All LANXESS news releases and accompanying photo, video and audio material can be found on http://press.lanxess.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.