The Global Agenda of Sustainability & The Green Movement

Kaye Lim, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific of specialty global chemicals group, Lanxess, discusses the green movement and sustainability with the CSR Digest.

CSRD: What are your thoughts on the recent Copenhagen Summit? What, in your opinion, are the beneficial results and what are the detrimental? How does this, if at all, affect Lanxess?

Kaye Lim: Lanxess expressly welcomes the efforts being made by the countries.

As a global specialty chemicals group, we have continually affirmed our responsibility to protect the climate and environment. Scarce resources, climate change and demographic change, growing urbanization and increasing mobility are topics Lanxess has been researching for years. We support sustainable solutions and invest in climate-friendly technologies and processes around the world.

Lanxess has declared 2010 the “Lanxess Water Year”. With a greater sense of urgency, we will commit our expertise and resources to help resolve water issues and provide clean water, especially for those in need. More information on our product solutions and social involvements can be found at: http://lanxess.de/en/water/

CSRD: What do you think of the many green networks and their corresponding guidelines available worldwide? Are there too many? Should there be just one unified guideline?

KL: Sustainability and the green movement are global agendas, with diverse topics that are complex and sensitive in many cases. It is possible that a certain body could set the pace for a particular area.  One example is the introduction of tire-labelling in Europe that will raise the bar for eco-friendly products and solutions from the chemical and tire industries around the world.

In November 2009, the European Union approved a new regulation, which stipulates that by November 2012 new tires sold in Europe have to be labeled for fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise. The aim of the legislation is to reduce CO2 and noise emissions by promoting green tires that do not compromise on safety. In addition, the labels will provide more transparency to consumers and aid them in their purchase decisions. Tire makers in Japan are voluntarily introducing tire labels from the beginning of 2010, while the USA is also evaluating similar labeling regulations.

CSRD: How has being a member of the Singapore Compact affected Lanxess’ presence in the country?

KL: In 2009, we took up membership with Singapore Compact, and that has helped us stay abreast of the CSR activities locally. Before this, corporate responsibility has always been a fundamental part of the Lanxess corporate culture.

Our CSR efforts are focused on providing educational support, promoting intercultural exchange and environmental protection. In Singapore, we were the exclusive sponsor of the Singapore Chemistry Olympiad team for 2008 and 2009. This year, we established the Lanxess SNYO Classic, a three-year mentorship and cultural exchange programme which enables young musicians from the Singapore National Youth Orchestra to learn from and perform with world-renowned classical artists. More details can be found at: http://www.lanxess.sg/en/sustainability/cr-projects/lanxess-snyo-classic-singapore/detail/

Lanxess is strengthening our presence in Singapore with the building of a new butyl rubber plant in Singapore, which will be the largest of its type in Asia. Between 10 and 15 percent of the total sum will be invested in modern technologies engineered to protect the environment. The plant’s manufacturing process will require significantly less steam, thus lowering the plant’s overall energy consumption. The plant’s state-of-the-art waste air incinerators will help to greatly reduce pollutant emissions. In addition, with a modern wastewater treatment plant and closed circuits, significantly less wastewater will be produced in the future in comparison to existing technology.

CSRD: What are the most recent green initiatives Lanxess would like to highlight? What matters more – internal greening or external assistance?

KL: The starting point is for companies to act responsibly, and contribute in practical ways to help and enrich the community depending on one’s expertise and resources. Lanxess practices both approaches and carefully adapts our corporate responsibility programmes according to local cultures and needs.

From 2007 to 2009, Lanxess had cut its direct greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent throughout the world. During this period, annual emissions from the group’s plants were cut from 3.5 million to 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents.

Significantly, two nitrous oxide reduction facilities at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site in Germany will enable Lanxess to annually reduce five to 10 million tons of CO2 equivalents, depending on requirements. Nitrous oxide is produced during the manufacture of adipic acid, a precursor for plastics. Although the gas is completely safe for humans, it is over 300 times more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide. With its two facilities the specialty chemicals group will be the world’s only adipic acid producer able to fully neutralize all of the climate-unfriendly gas N2O it generates.

In Brazil, Lanxess has started up a new on-site power plant at its iron oxide pigments production site. With the new power plant, annual climate gas emissions at the site will be reduced by 44,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents compared to 2002.

In Australia, Lanxess has partnered with the Taronga Conservation Society Australia as a Champion Sponsor of the Small-clawed Otters at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The two-year sponsorship will go toward conserving the Small-clawed Otter’s freshwater habitat and educating the public on conserving water and our environment.

Lanxess and the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) are partnering to provide around 10,000 students in Tanzania with sufficient water supply and new sanitary facilities as well as education in health and personal hygiene.

CSRD: What are your thoughts on Green Building rating tools? (Is Lanxess housed in a Greenmark rated building?)

KL: We fully support the implementation of the Green Building rating tools as it enforces the discipline to quantify the impact facilities are making on the environment.

We are pleased that Lanxess’ office in Singapore is located at ICON@IBP building, which has been awarded the Green Mark GoldPLUS certification at the BCA Awards 2009 ceremony organized by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority. The recognition is the second highest category in the awards programme.

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