Press release
China
June 29, 2012

CR Report 2011: Evonik significantly improves its environmental efficiency

  • Evonik reduces its energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and water consumption by 17 to 27 percent in relation to production output
  • Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board: “Accepting responsibility is a matter of attitude.”
  • Report again meets highest transparency requirements: Global Reporting Initiative confirms successful application of Level A+ throughout the Evonik Corporate Responsibility Report

 

Evonik Industries AG, one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals, has significantly improved its environmental efficiency. This is highlighted in the company’s 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report, which attests that Evonik reduced its specific, i.e. emissions relative to output, energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent in the time from 2004 to 2011. During the same period, specific production waste fell by 18 percent and specific water consumption by 27 percent.

"Responsible conduct and financial success cannot be separated from each other. They need each other. As one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals, we consider accepting economic, ecological and social responsibility a question of attitude,” notes Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik.

Evonik is well on its way to meeting its self-imposed goal for the year 2014 of reducing the key performance indicators for its greenhouse gas emissions, production waste, and water consumption by 20 percent compared to 2004. For this purpose, the company has implemented a large number of efficiency improving measures. Thus, at its largest site, which is in Marl, Germany, the company reduced the power needs for its own cooling water supply of a power plant, optimized a turbo compressor in refrigeration, and used more efficient pumps in the re-cooling plants. Overall, the Group intensified its commitment to Corporate Responsibility (CR) with a multitude of activities that are tracked in the Evonik CR program and described in this year’s CR Report.

For the second time in a row, the 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report of Evonik has met the requirements for the successful application of level A+ of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in compliance with the new GRI 3.1 reporting guidelines. GRI is the internationally recognized standard for comprehensive sustainability reporting and has confirmed the A+ reporting level for Evonik. An auditing firm subjected large parts of the report to an assurance review.

The Corporate Responsibility Report 2011can be downloaded from the Internet at www.evonik.com/responsibility.

About Evonik

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. In 2010 about 80 percent of the Group’s chemicals sales came from activities where it ranks among the market leaders. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2010 more than 34,000 employees generated sales of around €13.3 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of about €2.4 billion.

Evonik Industries has been producing specialty chemical products in the Greater China region (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) since the late1970’s; with wide-ranging trading relations already in place prior to this in the region. Evonik regards Greater China as one of the driving forces of the global economy and we consequently endeavour to grow our business in the region. The company now has around 3,500 employees in the Greater China region, the regional sales reached over 1.2 billion in 2011.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.