Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at Brenntag

As the global market leader in chemical and ingredients distribution, we connect chemical manufacturers and users in a value-creating partnership. Brenntag’s key role in the value chain offers huge potential – but also entails an obligation to contribute towards greater sustainability in the industry.

For us, responsible corporate behavior entails more than just commercial success. We also aim to achieve sustainable value creation. For this reason, we also consider the effects of our business activities on the environment and factor in social issues when making strategic decisions.

The importance of sustainability and responsible business practices has continuously increased in recent years. Today, it is global issues that are on the agendas of multinational organizations such as the United Nations, national governments and also internationally operating companies. At the same time, these issues affect every person individually. Treating natural resources with care, protecting the climate, upholding human rights and fostering social communities – to name just a few examples of sustainability issues – are a shared concern, as they safeguard the existence and income of people and companies beyond the present. There is a general consensus that all areas of politics, business and society must play an active part in efforts to achieve sustainable, forward-looking development.

Sustainability issues such as health, safety and environmental protection, resource efficiency and full compliance with laws and regulations are deeply embedded within our company. They determine how we interact with our employees, suppliers, customers and society in general, and have a direct influence on our commercial success.

We aim to factor in the effects of our business practices on the environment and society in our day-to-day activities when making strategic decisions. To this end, we have established corresponding standards and processes in our international corporate structures. We continuously encourage a sense of awareness among its employees for this issue and provide them with suitable training. Sustainability is therefore a basic principle that is applied in our day-to-day work. We also support sustainable development through our membership in various organizations and initiatives and discuss sustainability issues with other players in our industry.

In order to ensure transparency on our sustainability performance and activities, we take the standards of the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) as a basis.

Environmental Sustainability

Protecting the environment has always been of important to us. As part of our business activities, we consume water, electricity and different types of fuel, while simultaneously producing waste, wastewater and various air emissions. As a chemical distributor, we also deal with products that could damage the environment if they are handled incorrectly. We aim to protect resources and use them optimally around the world, and to minimize the impact that our business activities have on the soil, water and air.

In 2014, we were the first-ever chemicals distributor to sign up for the UN Global Compact (UNGC). The UNGC is a strategic initiative for companies committing to align their business activities and strategies with ten universally recognized principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and fighting corruption. As the world’s largest joint initiative of socially committed companies and other stakeholders, joining the UNGC was a conscious and logical step for us.

As members of the UNGC, we have further been involved with the chemical industry’s “Together for Sustainability” initiative (TfS) since October 2014. In October 2016, we became a full member when we achieved EcoVadis gold status – the first and, to date, only chemical distributor to do so.

Community Impact and Philanthropy

WATER FOR PEOPLE
Water is our most important resource, and we understand that not everyone in the world has access to clean and safe water. As a part of our sustainability efforts, we have chosen to work alongside Water For People as an opportunity to help provide safe water and sanitation to those who need it the most.

It's not just about building wells, installing toilets, and setting up pumps, but about creating long-term, sustainable change. Water For People talks to community members, governments, and business owners to find out what they need to feel healthy, safe, and empowered.

YOU BE THE CHEMIST
We help promote the future of chemistry through our active involvement over the past several years with the Chemical Education Foundation (CEF) and their You Be the Chemist® (YBTC) Challenge. The Chemical Education Foundation, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Arlington, VA, is a nationally recognized, award-winning non-profit organization committed to enhancing science education among every generation.

The YBTC Challenge is designed as a question-and-answer competition similar in format to a spelling bee, to encourage interest in chemistry among students at a young age. Students in grades 5 through 8 answer questions about important chemistry concepts, historical discoveries, and safety awareness.