Sunday, June 9, 2013

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL...Sustainability is a core element of Wacker’s corporate strategy



Sustainability is a core element
 of Wacker’s corporate strategy

Dr. Rudolf Staudigl, Wacker Chemie’s CEO attributes the long-term
business success of the chemical firm to the constant efforts taken to achieve
the right balance in economic, environmental and social factors.
The emphasis on sustainability in Wacker’s operations was the key
highlight of a workshop organised for international media persons by the
company at Munich recently. Wacker executives made presentations on how
the company implements and manages sustainability in their production
processes, product developments and interactions with employees and
society. The theme of sustainability was highlighted in work being done
by Wacker in delivering solutions for energy efficient products (silicone solutions
for LED lighting), renewable energy sector (silicone films for use
in wave power converters), and safer buildings (solutions for fire resistant
coatings).
“Companies can only be profitable in the long term by taking their environmental
and societal responsibilities seriously. Sustainability has been firmly embedded
as a core element in the corporate strategy for business processes at Wacker,”
emphasised Dr. Jutta Matreux, Vice President – Corporate Services and Sustainability
 Wacker’s Burghausen site in Germany.
According to Dr. Matreux, profitable products and the efficient use of
resources along the entire supply chain are cornerstones of successful sustainability
practices. Wacker has been focussing on developing starting materials for
energyefficient products for construction and automobiles, as well as for promoting
the use of renewable energy. In the  construction sector, silicone sealants,
silicone masonry protection agents and dispersible polymer powders as
component parts of exterior insulation & finish systems insulate buildings efficiently
and help lower heating & operating costs. In automotive engineering,
silicone potting materials, gaskets, turbocharger hoses and engine mounts
are helping make vehicles lighter and more fuel-efficient. Wacker products Report
are also proving indispensable in the field of renewable energies, whether in
the field of photovoltaics, wind power or future maritime sea-wave converters.
Dr. Matreux also highlighted the prudent use of scarce energy resources
in Wacker’s operations, especially at the Burghausen site. By-products and
waste heat are fed back into production via highly complex material and energy
loops. “Around 45% of the power used in our German sites has been produced by
Wacker itself in 2012,” she said. The company has set itself a target of 33%
reduction of specific energy use from 2007 to 2022.
Meanwhile, environmental compatibility of the company’s products is ensured
by eco-assessment measurement tools developed by the company.
It measures and compares Wacker products in terms of material and energy
input, eco-toxicity and water. The results are used for assessing the product
portfolio and for making product improvements and innovations.
Chemical Weekly April 2, 2013

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