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