LANXESS raises sustainability profile

Group joins UN Global Compact initiative
• Program to lower energy consumption

Singapore – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is raising its sustainability profile and joining the world's biggest and most rapidly growing initiative for corporate social responsibility (CSR), the United Nations Global Compact.

“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 C. Heitmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.

The Global Compact initiative was launched in 2000 by the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. With its established principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption, the pact now numbers more than 8,000 participants from over 135 nations. More than 150 German companies, including 20 DAX companies and numerous small to mid-sized businesses, are members of this global CSR initiative.

Heitmann stated that LANXESS has set itself clear targets in climate protection, among other areas. Between 2007 and 2009, the specialty chemicals company cut its direct greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent worldwide. LANXESS also achieved its climate target for Germany ahead of schedule. The set target of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2007 levels, initially to be met by 2012, was actually achieved in 2009.

Now the company is going a step further. It aims to deliver a 10 percent reduction in specific CO2 emissions and specific energy consumption for each business segment by 2015. Moreover, 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," added Heitmann.

These sustainability initiatives have also led to good rankings in the Corporate Responsibility Rating. The renowned Munich-based agency oekom research recently raised LANXESS's Corporate Responsibility Rating to C+. This improved level applies to both the "social" and "environmental" areas.

LANXESS recently also met the criteria for inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index. The index lists companies that have performed particularly well in the areas of environmental protection, human rights and social standards. The FTSE4Good Index was created in 2001 by the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange. It provides investors around the world with a basis for evaluating companies with regard to their management responsibility, and is thus a criterion for decisions about sustainable investment. Companies listed in FTSE4Good must meet stringent ethical, social and ecological criteria. Among these criteria are sustainable environmental management, positive dialogue with stakeholder groups, and observation of and support for universal human rights.

For more information about LANXESS' Corporate Responsibility initiatives please go to:
http://corporate.lanxess.com/en/sustainability-home/

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 15,500 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.

Singapore, July 20, 2011

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 15,500 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.

Neethiya Sadagopal
Manager, Corporate Communications
LANXESS Pte. Ltd.
Corporate Communications
3A International Business Park
#07-10/18 ICON@IBP Tower B
Singapore 609935
Tel:      (65) 6725 5888
Direct: (65) 6725 5839
Fax:    (65) 6725 4839
Email:   Neethiya.Sadagopal@lanxess.com

This release was published on openPR.