The Sustainability Initiative Chemie 3

Transcription

1 The Sustainability Initiative Chemie 3 Summer School on Sustainable Chemistry, Luneburg, September 15, 2015 Dr. Eckhard Koch, Senior Advisor LISTENING. UNDERSTANDING. TAKING ACTION EMPLOYERS. EMPLOYEES. SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP FOR GERMANY. FOR EUROPE. FOR THE WORLD ECONOMY. ENVIRONMENT. SOCIAL AFFAIRS TODAY. TOMORROW. AND THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW BUSINESS. POLITICS. SOCIETY

2 Chemistry Major Contributions to Sustainable Development Chemie³ - The Sustainability Initiative of the German Chemical Industry 2

3 Chemie³ - Our Understanding of Sustainability Sustainable development is the kind of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Economy Our common future Brundtland-Commission, 1987 Society Environment 3

4 Global Megatrends Growing Population Limited Resources Urbanization Environmental Pollution 4

5 Chemistry - Major Contributions to Sustainable Development Megatrends Growing Population Limited Resources Urbanization Environmental Pollution Our Contributions Food Production (Fertilizers, Crop Protection, Genetic Engineering) Renewable Energy (Wind Power, Solar Energy) Drugs (Vaccination, Cure, Diagnostics) Energy Efficiency (Insulation, Illumination, Lightweight Construction) 5

6 A Changing World Changing societal values (in industrialized countries) Consumers want sustainable products. This concerns the chemical industry as part of the supply chain. The social dimension of entrepreneurial action is gaining in importance due to fiercer competition between companies for scarcer manpower. Non-sustainable action by companies is seen as a risk factor in the capital markets. Changing political framework conditions Key words: resource efficiency, green procurement, transparency Sustainability is a highly important topic for the chemical industry 6

7 Chemistry Major Contributions to Sustainable Development Chemie³ - The Sustainability Initiative of the German Chemical Industry 7

8 Chemie³: An alliance of three partners VCI Verband der Chemischen Industrie (German Chemical Industry Association) Represents the politico-economic interests of over 1,650 member companies in Germany Stands for over 90 percent of the German chemical industry IG BCE Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union) 680,000 members from the sectors of mining, chemicals, gas, glass, rubber, ceramics, plastics, leather, mineral oil, paper and pulp, environmental matters/recycling, coal and the water industry BAVC Bundesarbeitgeberverband Chemie (German Federation of Chemical Employers Associations) Umbrella organisation in charge of collective bargaining and social policies within the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and large parts of the plastics processing and rubber industries Represents the interests of 10 regional member associations with 1,900 companies 8

9 Goals of the Joint Sustainability Initiative Chemie 3 1. Strengthen the chemical industry s position as a key industry for sustainable development 2. Offer attractive jobs and working conditions in the chemical industry now and in the future 3. Create a climate of transparency and trust by way of an active and open dialogue with politicians, business and society 9

10 Launch of Chemie³ in May 2013 Adoption of the guidelines after an intensive dialogue with the members, politicians and stakeholder Mailing of a sector report and guidelines to over 12,000 stakeholder Press conference to present the initiative on 29 May 2013 Launch of the website 10

11 Guidelines on sustainability for the chemical industry in Germany Our guidelines at a glance Strategy Integrating sustainability into the 1. corporate strategy Achieving sustainable investments 2. and value creation Promoting economic stability and 3. global cooperation Driving sustainability through 4. innovation Operational side / Operationalisation Implementing sustainability in 5. operational processes Securing decent work and an active 6. social partnership Managing demographic change and 7. securing skills Protecting people, the environment 8. and biodiversity Promoting resource efficiency and 9. climate protection Communication / Dialogue Engaging with communities as good 10. citizens Creating transparency and showing 11. integrity Fostering a dialogue and enhancing 12. participation 11

12 Interim goals ( milestones ) of the initiative until 2017 The steering committee and the competent bodies of the alliance partners laid down the following goals to be realised from 2014 until 2017: Goal 1: The companies have achieved substantial and visible progress in the application of the guidelines. Goal 2: Chemie³ is known among the stakeholder and recognised as a credible dialogue partner. Goal 3: Equal consideration should be given to each of the three dimensions of sustainability this manner of thinking is strengthened in the formation of the political will. Goal 4: The success of Chemie³ is demonstrable. Goal 5: Chemie³ is networking with the sustainability activities at European and international levels. In 2014/2015 the focus is on goals 1 and 2. 12

13 Goal 1: Application of the guidelines The Chemie 3 -Sustainability-Check The Concept Companies conduct a self-assessment of their sustainability performance and decide on a concrete improvement program within the scope of a workshop. Self-Assessment Workshop Invitation from the CEO Participants: senior management + workers council/employee representation Support by an external moderator Standardized process with the help of an Excel tool that contains 31 fields of action relevant to the chemical and pharmaceutical industry 13

14 Goal 1: Application of the guidelines The Chemie 3 -Sustainability-Check The feedback from the companies was highly positive 5 good reasons for the Chemie 3 -Sustainability-Check Identify potentials for improvements Optimise the use of resources Understand the expectations and concerns of external stakeholder Make corporate goals transparent to internal stakeholder Enhance employee identification with the companies Dr. Annegret Vester, CHT R. BEITLICH GMBH I would not want to miss the participation in the Chemie 3 -Sustainability-Check. This instrument has enabled us to identify our very own sustainability topics and to define fields for action where we want to seek improvements. 14

15 Goal 1: Application of the guidelines Exclusively for members Further offers of information and support for the application of the guidelines Password-protected members section at (online service platform) The Chemie 3 -Sustainability-Check with a guidance document for implementation of the check Information series Background documents on the guidelines one document per guideline Sustainability barometer: enables companies to rapidly assess where they stand Guidance documents and instruments / tools Good Practice examples from our companies Sustainability barometer for a rapid and non-binding self-assessment Background document Sustainability barometer (Evaluation anonymized in relation to the other participants) 15

16 Goal 2: Chemie³ is known among the stakeholder and recognised as a credible dialogue partner Continue the stakeholder dialogue What we are expecting from the dialogue Building credibility through an open exchange Getting feedback on the approach taken by the chemical industry for example, regarding the overall strategy, how to measure progress or reporting Learning about expectations and concerns Our concrete course of action regarding the dialogue A small stakeholder circle with selected participants Confidential talks about the progress of the initiative The group was set up in March 2014 Conferences with an extended stakeholder circle Multi-stakeholder conference Chemistry and sustainability achievements, solutions and challenges on 22 May 2014 in Nauen; documentation of the event at (in German only) On 12th of November 2014 Chemie³ and the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) organized a multi-stakeholder conference in Berlin; documentation of the event at (in German only) 16

17 Thank you for your attention! Questions? 17

18 The Sustainability Initiative of the German Chemical Industry Eine Initiative von: An initiative of: