Azelis, a service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, has published its second sustainability report, covering the group-wide sustainability performance in 2020. 

In 2015, the company defined the fundamentals of its sustainability program, following the Paris Agreement on climate change and the release of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations. The program consists of four pillars, each with goals and KPIs, within which Azelis also contributes to a number of United Nations sustainable development goals (UNSDGs). 

In 2020, the company laid the grounds for an updated sustainability strategy, Action 2025. Throughout the year, it made several advances across each of its four pillars: people, products, governance and environment. 

Another edition of the company-wide employee satisfaction survey, which has been in place since 2014, was conducted. The company succeeded in reaching its 2025 goals for loyalty and working conditions and is very close to its goal for engagement, it says. It intends to raise the bar of the 2025 goals by the end of 2021. 

The company continued with the identification of sustainable products and intensified sustainable formulation work. For this, it focused on products that minimise or eliminate the use of hazardous substances. Progress was also made on the sustainable sourcing due diligence procedure in 2020. This was reinforced by the company’s membership to Together for Sustainability, a joint sustainability initiative and global network of 31 chemical companies. 

Regarding governance, the company launched its SpeakUp! Policy and SpeakUp! Line, which are available to employees and any third-party stakeholder for reporting malpractices. The lines are designed to ensure a culture wher employees are encouraged to speak up in a safe environment, and wher they will not feel victimised or retaliated against. 

Finally, the company is committed to a carbon intensity reduction target of 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030. It also set targets of using 100% of electricity in its offices and sites from renewable sources as well as decarbonisation in its operations and supply chain. 

Dr Hans Joachim Müller, Azelis Chief Executive Officer, said: “Perhaps the most important lesson of 2020 was that we cannot and must not continue as before the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the responsibility of all of us, as businesses, as consumers, as human beings, to act more sustainably and responsibly. Despite the turmoil 2020 brought, it has been yet another pivotal year of progress for Azelis. 

“More than ever, sustainability is a driver of innovation for Azelis and innovation is a driver of sustainability. Across all market segments, our formulation experts are helping customers reduce their environmental impact by developing innovations that minimize or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. They are also creating formulations and practices that deliver enhanced performance while protecting human health and the environment. Our innovations catalyze sustainability in the market segments we serve and their value chains, and will help realize concepts such as circular economy.” 

Maria J. Almenar Martin, Group Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) and Sustainability Director, said: “As Group Sustainability Director I look back at our 2020 sustainability achievements proudly and with excitement and confidence to the years to come to reach our 2025 sustainability targets. With our recently awarded Platinum rating from EcoVadis and this latest edition of the sustainability report, we confirm to all our partners the proven track record of our sustainability efforts and commitments since we started our journey back in 2015. We are in a resolute course of action to be catalyst of cha

nge when it comes to sustainable business models and become the benchmark for the industry.” 

The company has identified “digitalisation, innovation and sustainability” as growth drivers. With its redefined sustainability strategy, Azelis is aiming to build a resilient, thriving and responsible business.