• Clariant Southern Africa is devoted to creating value with innovative and sustainable solutions for customers
• Clariant is committed to a sustainable and ethical way of doing business
• The world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, Clariant is No.2 in the Europe index and top 4th sustainable chemical sector company in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)
Johannesburg, Friday 20th October 2017 – According to the Global Reporting Initiative, an international NGO producing the most widely used standards for sustainability reporting, 93 percent of the world’s 250 largest companies report on their sustainability performance. While currently most companies still publish these voluntary reports as separate supplements to their annual financial reports, there is an emerging trend among businesses to switch to “integrated reporting”. Chemical companies around the globe are increasingly coming to recognize not just the costs, but also the opportunities of steering their business towards greater overall sustainability – creating solid long-term value for themselves and their stakeholders across the entire triple bottom line.
As one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, sustainability is a prerequisite for Clariant’s growth in the long term. While financial performance is important, Clariant believes it can only have true and lasting value when achieved in harmony with the world – the planet we live on and the people the company works with or who expect a better life from what the company does. By deeply ingraining sustainability issues throughout its corporate reporting suite, the company strives to communicate openly and transparently with all stakeholders.
“Clariant Southern Africa is committed to creating value for its stakeholders by addressing global trends and tailoring them to suit the challenges presented in the South African economy to provide sustainable and innovative products and solutions while maintaining high levels of performance,” says Ravi Chetty, Clariant Southern Africa/ Head of Site and Country Environmental, Safety and Health Affairs (ESHA).
Devoted to creating value with innovative and sustainable solutions for customers from various sectors and industries as well as for society, Clariant applies a holistic approach to integrating sustainability into the company within both its processes and its governance. With customers increasingly demanding sustainable solutions, it has become even more pressing for companies to offer sustainable innovations that are competitive on economic as well as sustainability performance for clients. With this approach, Clariant aims to set an example as a global leader in specialty chemicals and to stand out through above-average value creation for all stakeholders.
At the core of its strategy of responsible procurement of renewable raw materials is the increased use of renewable raw materials in products, as well as the development and production of innovative bio-based chemicals and biofuels.
“While limited fossil resources make up a huge part of feedstock in the chemical industry currently and in the foreseeable future, it is important for chemical companies to investigate alternative resources that support high-quality products,” says Ravi Chetty, Clariant Southern Africa/ Head of Site and Country Environmental, Safety and Health Affairs (ESHA).
By progressively screening its entire range of products and services and evaluating them for sustainability, Clariant has also systemized its search for innovative, future-oriented solutions and is asking its suppliers apply the same methodology to their input materials. Sustainable processes that use renewable raw materials to produce bio-based chemicals and biofuels will be key to moving forward, and Clariant embraces this insight by staying competitive and innovative while reducing its carbon footprint and offering the highest possible performance to continue offering customers sustainable bio-based solutions.
Additionally, Clariant collaborates with the suppliers in its value chain to commit to sustainably sourced resources. To further foster relationships with suppliers centered on a mutual commitment to sustainability, Clariant has made the search for more sustainable products and the increased use of renewable raw materials a key concern of its procurement policy.
Already one of the few chemical companies in the world to follow the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) on a comprehensive scale, Clariant was one of the first companies to adhere to the latest version of these guidelines in 2014. The company has also agreed to take strategic actions to advance broader social goals, such as the forthcoming UN sustainable development goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.
“Clariant Southern Africa is committed to creating value for all stakeholders by addressing the trend to manufacture sustainable, economic, and energy-saving products without compromising on innovation and performance,” concludes Ravi Chetty, Clariant Southern Africa/ Head of Site and Country Environmental, Safety and Health Affairs (ESHA).
Since September 2013, Clariant has been listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) Europe. The world-renowned sustainability index has ranked Clariant in the top four percent globally in its sector. Clariant is one of seven European chemical companies in the DJSI Europe and one of 13 global chemical companies that are part of the DJSI World.
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