Solvay sets ambitious goals for its Sustainable Development
Quantified Targets to Curb the Environmental Impact of the Group’s Activities and Products
As sustainable development is an essential element of Solvay’s long-term growth strategy, the international chemical and pharmaceutical Group has set 25 ambitious goals to take up the social, economical and environmental challenges of today and tomorrow. These goals are detailed in “Towards Sustainable Development”, Solvay’s eighth Report on Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development. They include a substantial increase of energy efficiency of Solvay’s production plants and processes. Being equipped with cogenerations, which simultaneously produce steam and electricity, Solvay’s production plants are already energy-efficient. The cogenerations reduce the yearly emissions of carbon dioxide by 4 millions metric tonnes, compared to the emissions of separate installations to produce electricity and steam.
For 2020 Solvay targets a 20% reduction of the emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, a decrease of 20% of the transported volumes by road and a decrease by 20% of its air and water emission index. Solvay has also set targets among others for the development of new products, which are more energy-efficient, such as improved materials for fuel cells or organic electronic components. Targets also include the application of new analytical tools to assess the sustainability of business opportunities in the future. Reaching these targets will strengthen Solvay’s competitive position.
“Sustainable development has become a major challenge for mankind. Solvay is committed to respond consistently to this challenge, which comprises various complex but fundamental issues. These issues relate to our role as a large consumer and converter of natural resources (such as limestone, salt, water and fossil fuels), to the direction being taken by our portfolio of products and services, and to our geographical expansion and the associated socio-economic implications”, said Christian Jourquin, CEO.
The strategy of the Solvay Group is to achieve sustainable & profitable growth in selected areas of Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals & Plastics, innovation & geographic expansion and reach highly competitive positions through vertical integration, pro-active energy management and portfolio management. Solvay’s strategy is elaborated in its eighth Report on Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development, whose title is “Towards Sustainable Development”.
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