A Message from our President and CEO – JP Aucoin
Looking back on the last few years, I am proud of Bakelite’s journey to become a successful and thriving company. While meeting the many changing needs of our customers – and doing so safely – we also made great progress towards our sustainability goals.
Our success comes from the collective strategic vision set forth by our board and leadership, guiding our actions and decisions to align closely with the core values that define us.
As we seek to deliver innovative and sustainable products that meet the world’s most challenging demands, we expanded our global footprint and reach with the acquisition and integration of LRGB’s Longueuil site in Canada in 2023. Everything points to a strengthening of our position as a global leader in the chemical resins industry, dedicated to making a difference in the world today and in the future.
JEAN-PAUL AUCOIN
PRESIDENT & CEO, BAKELITE SYNTHETICS
2023 Sustainability Report
This report outlines the most significant environmental, social and governance operations and activities of Bakelite Synthetics for the calendar year 2023, key sustainability initiatives for 2024, and our aspirations for 2030
Our objective is to ensure transparency in our management and measurement of progress towards meeting our sustainability objectives and fulfilling stakeholder expectations. This report also contains forward-looking and aspirational statements regarding targets, plans, strategies, and objectives.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Our 2030 Sustainability Goals
During 2023, we completed the baseline analyses of our global operations that allowed us to set our 2030 goals. Our sustainability strategy remains focused on energy, water, waste, safety, and governance, which provide a comprehensive framework to prioritize actions and initiatives.
Energy and Emissions
As a company that develops environmentally responsible technologies, we understand our role in reducing our environmental impact.
To accomplish this, we have integrated sustainability into our business strategy, operations, and risk management. We have implemented initiatives to harness renewable energy, including identifying opportunities to reduce the total energy we consume through site-level energy assessments, sharing best practices, and sourcing low-carbon energy. We will continue to track our share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through GHG inventories.
Bakelite Synthetics has been recognized as a partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR program. As a result, we have pledged to rigorously monitor energy performance and implement energy management strategies based on ENERGY STAR guidelines.
Bakelite’s 2024 Solar initiatives include installing solar photovoltaic systems at 2 sites and supplying solar energy through a power purchase agreement at a third location. This will reduce GHG emissions by 18-22% per site.
In Botlek, the Netherlands, Bakelite is installing a steam turbine to generate electricity from waste steam covering up to 65% of the plant’s energy needs – aiming to reduce emissions by 3,600 tons CO2e annually.
Occupational Health and Safety
To promote our employees’ health and safety, we have an EHS (Environmental, Health and Safety) Policy that lays out our guiding principles and leadership expectations around EHS.
This policy is the foundation of our EHS Standards and Programs that guide our actions and track key indicators to drive enhancement of EHS performance. Creating and maintaining EHS awareness is crucial to ensure our associates and contractors understand risks and adopt safe behaviors. These programs promote a culture of safety, where everyone is engaged and accountable for safe work practices and responsible environmental behaviors.
Our Key Focus Areas
We have numerous programs to support and educate our employees including:
- Both corporate and local, tailored safety training
- Job Risk Analysis (JRA) and Last Minute Risk Analysis (LMRA) tools and training
- Life Saving Rules which support EHS awareness and engagement
- Recognition, Observations, and Concerns (ROC)
- Job Stop Trigger
- EHS Calls and EHS Alerts
- EHS Dialogues
Community Engagement
Our charitable initiatives reflect our core values of community, compassion, and social commitment.
By supporting our local communities, we are investing in the well-being of the people and places that support us, fostering positive relationships and contributing to a better future for all. Our efforts are diverse and range from organizing food drives to volunteering at local organizations.
Italy
Our Bakelite Italian team runs a food drive to support their community.
United States Of America
Our Louisville associates volunteer at the Shively Area Ministries (SAM), an organization that provides a sanctuary for people in need in the area.
United Kingdom
Our UK team supports the UK Hospice Garden in Barry, which provides a calming outdoor space for patients and their families.
Chile
Our Chile team has been supporting the Bernardita Serrano Children’s Home in San Pedro de la Paz, Concepción, Chile for 15 years, provinding a safe and nurturing enviroment for children in vulnerable conditions, until they can return to their families or are adopted.
Our Sustainability Aspirations
We believe in continuous improvement and have a longstanding history of viewing our work with a critical lens and striving to get better every day. It’s simply part of our DNA. This mindset extends to sustainability, which is not just a strategy or initiative, but a core part of our identity and purpose. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in various aspects of our operations, including:
Certifications
In 2023, Bakelite was awarded Ecovadis Bronze Certification
EcoVadis provides third party assessment and certification for monitoring sustainability in global supply chains. EcoVadis awarded Bakelite Synthetics with a bronze certification for exceeding the industry average with our scores, particularly in the areas of environment, and labor and human rights.
“As we move forward in our journey, Bakelite Synthetics is viewing the future through a new lens with sustainability.
We made substantial progress in our sustainability journey during 2023. We continue to make improvements to every part of the business, everything we do, when we look through the sustainability lens.
For Bakelite Synthetics, our prioritization can be distilled into three main focus areas: curious exploration, sustainability infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement. We are empowering associates to explore what sustainability means for them, and letting their passionate curiosity uncover new value opportunities in our business. We’re empowering and trusting our teams, allowing us to make fast strides in sustainable improvements.”
ANDREA CROSLYN
EVP, Business Process And Sustainability
We Support
As a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Bakelite Synthetics is committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals.
Responsible Care (RC) is a voluntary initiative of the chemical industry. The objective: continuous improvement in the areas of environmental protection, health and safety (EHS).
Our Reach is Global
NORTH AMERICA
Atlanta, GA (HQ)
Beaver Creek, MI
Columbus, OH
Conway, NC
Crossett, AR
Decatur, GA
Longueuil, QC
Louisville, KY
Lufkin, TX
Riegelwood, NC
Taylorsville, MS
SOUTH AMERICA
EUROPE
Botlek, The Netherlands
Cowie, United Kingdom
Frielendorf, Germany
Kitee, Finland
Lantaron, Spain
Solbiate, Italy
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