Geneva, October 17, 2012 The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today announced that Eastman Chemical Company has joined its membership. The company will be closely involved with the WBCSDs new Chemical Sector, Reaching Full Potential project.
Eastman produces a broad range of advanced materials, additives and functional products, specialty chemicals, and fibers, and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Sustainability is essential to Eastman, as the company strives to do business by creating value through environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic growth, now and for future generations.
Peter Bakker, President, WBCSD said: I am thrilled that we can launch our new project with one of the global leaders in the chemicals sector. Having Eastman on board will greatly benefit and enrich the work we do. Their sustainability program is robust and extensive, taking in the three pillars of sustainability.
Eastmans growth depends on integrating sustainability across everything we do, from product development and process improvement, to strategic acquisitions and our continued stewardship of the earths valuable resources, said Jim Rogers, Eastmans Chairman and CEO. Through WBCSD membership, we will be collaborating with other leading corporations to advance sustainability across our value chains and the world.
Eastman will be represented at the WBCSD by its Senior Vice President and Chief Regional and Sustainability Officer, Godefroy Motte. The WBCSD Liaison Delegate is Anne Kilgore, Director of Sustainability.
We are proud to be joining WBCSD, the leading organization for advocating corporate sustainability, said Motte. Our vision at Eastman is to be recognized for a deep rooted commitment to sustainability and our collaboration with WBCSD will meaningfully enhance that commitment. We look forward to contributing our thinking and ideas, while learning from others through the partnership.
One of its first areas of focus as a WBCSD member is the Chemical Sector projects Avoided Emissions work, which Eastman has joined. WBCSD, in conjunction with the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), will develop case studies applying best-practices to account for and report on emissions avoided through the use of chemical products. For the chemical industry, this will be an important demonstration of the positive contribution of its solutions to solving the climate change challenge.
About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a CEO-led organization of forward-thinking companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. Together with its members, the Council applies its respected thought leadership and effective advocacy to generate constructive solutions and take shared action. Leveraging its strong relationships with stakeholders as the leading advocate for business, the council helps drive debate and policy change in favor of sustainable development solutions.
The WBCSD provides a forum for its 200 member companies - who represent all business sectors, all continents and a combined revenue of more than $7 trillion - to share best practices on sustainable development issues and to develop innovative tools that change the status quo. The Council also benefits from a network of 60 national and regional business councils and partner organizations, a majority of which are based in developing countries. www.wbcsd.org
