Lanxess joins UN social responsibility initiative

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Leverkusen, Germany - Speciality chemicals company Lanxess has joined the United Nations Global Compact, which the speciality chemicals company called “the world's biggest initiative for corporate social responsibility.”

“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 Heitmann, board chairman of Lanxess AG.

Lanxess claimed in a 19 July statement that it had cut its direct greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent worldwide. And the company said it had achieved its climate target of reducing emissions by 80 percent from 2007 levels ahead of schedule. The target, initially to be met, by 2012, was achieved in 2009, Lanxess said.

The company now aims to reduce specific CO₂ emissions and energy consumption for each business segment by 10 percent in 2015. Moreover, Lanxess said 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," commented Heitmann.

Lanxess said in the statement that these sustainability initiatives have led to good rankings in the corporate responsibility rating.

The UN Global Compact initiative was launched in 2000. With established principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption, the pact now numbers more than 8000 participants from over 135 nations.

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Press release from Lanxess