Sustainability in the supply chain - Successful audit of Evonik’s site in Herne

It’s there in black and white for Evonik: The company shows "transparency as regards the sustainability of suppliers" and strives for "continuous improvement of sustainability standards throughout the supply chain." This was certified by independent auditors from SGS following their audit as part of the Together for Sustainability (TfS) initiative, of which nearly 20 international chemical corporations are now members.

Evonik celebrated the pan-European certificate première at its site in Herne. "Nowadays, suppliers are no longer assessed solely on the basis of price, quality, and timely delivery. Health and safety as well as conditions in the workplace and environmental issues also have a bearing on the business relationship," stressed Dr. Alfred Schmidt-Steffen, plant manager at Herne. "We increasingly see it as our duty not only to do business ourselves on a sustainable basis, but also to make the sustainability of our suppliers transparent and commit ourselves to improving this."

On the subject of the environment, the focus was, for example, on the systems for the safe handling and disposal of chemicals. "In the area of health and safety, the question is whether there are guidelines on the use of personal protective equipment, contingency plans, and regular fire drills," Schmidt-Steffen explains. "And in connection with labor standards and human rights, the practices relating to working hours and discrimination are evaluated, for instance."

Evonik is a founding member of the TfS initiative. The aim of this initiative is to continue to improve sustainability in the value chain. One of the instruments TfS uses for this is on-the-spot checks. As part of the supplier chain, Evonik also submits itself to such site audits.

You can find more information on the topic "Together for Sustainability" at www.tfs-initiative.com.

At Evonik’s site in Herne, some 200 employees from the Crosslinkers Business Line predominantly produce raw materials that excel in a large number of different applications. These include brilliant paints, scratch-proof and weather-resistant automotive coatings, high-quality car interior parts, and solvent-free coatings for industrial floors. The products made in Herne also provide corrosion protection for bridges, scaffolding or water locks and ensure high strength in rotor blades for wind turbines.