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Corporate citizenship at LANXESS
What do students from China, schoolgirls from South Africa, high school graduates from Germany and young musicians from Japan have in common? All four of them have extraordinary talents, which under normal circumstances could perhaps have gone unnoticed.
LANXESS has given them the opportunity to take part in exciting projects and develop their talents. For many years, the specialty chemicals company has been championing projects, initiatives and competitions around the globe that make a positive contribution to society – known as corporate citizenship. This is LANXESS’s way of taking responsibility for socially relevant topics such as education, climate protection, water and culture – including well beyond the company’s daily areas of business. In 2018, LANXESS again funded 175 local activities and projects worldwide having a total volume in the region of €1.3 million.
At LANXESS, sustainability and responsibility are important factors for success. Which is why the company is committed to establishing partnerships with customers, enhancing quality of life for people all over the world and protecting the environment. LANXESS groups together all initiatives that support these aims under the umbrella of corporate responsibility. In keeping with the mission statement “good for the company, good for the community,” the company aspires to instigate effective initiatives that generate added value not only for the company, but also for wider society and the environment. The same applies to corporate citizenship, which extends beyond the company’s core business areas.
Driven by purpose and a sense of commitment
Our efforts are aimed at mobilizing resources and people for social causes and generating a positive impact for the company, the environment and wider society. Our involvement in social projects and sponsorship of initiatives at our locations also marks the fact that we want to be a good and reliable partner that is committed to the sustainable development of the surrounding communities.
Involvement, investment and impact
In 2018, LANXESS got involved in 175 corporate citizenship projects worldwide, donating around €1.3 million in investments. The question of which projects are sponsored hinges on several factors. Whether education, culture, climate protection or water, the projects have to relate to one of these core topic areas and aim to improve existing conditions. The type of investment is also assessed – from charitable donations and investment in the wider communities of our production locations right through to commercial initiatives that serve the company’s objectives such as image, sales or earnings. It is important to LANXESS that this sponsorship generates a lasting impact rather than pursuing a scattergun approach. Impact assessment determines whether a project has achieved the aim that was set.
Important factors here include information about the type and amount of investment, feedback from participants and the actual recorded impact. If a project improves quality of life, well-being or people’s skills, this means it has had a positive impact on the surrounding community. If it benefits nature or direct environmental effects are measured, it has had a positive impact on the environment. If a project increases LANXESS’s attractiveness and improves customer relations or brand awareness, the project has been beneficial to the company. The idea is for every project that LANXESS supports to have a positive impact on the company and society.
Clean water for a better life
2018 was another year in which we embarked on a diverse range of corporate citizenship projects. LANXESS sponsored the “Clean water for a better life” project in China, a national student competition geared toward protecting precious water resources, in 2018 for the fourth time. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness on water pollution and develop innovative solutions to protect the environment, bodies of water and drinking water. LANXESS not only sponsored the project financially, but also devoted the time of its experts to support the teams – and to train and mentor them.
“The water competition witnessed the creativity of students in the innovation and development of technologies for water resources management. It also showcased their humanistic care of the younger generation in their concern for drinking water of the underprivileged.”
“Participating in LANXESS water competition renewed my understanding of the current water resource status in our country. As younger generation, I realized the responsibility we should undertake for improving the present situation. What LANXESS also taught me is the difference between theory and practice. How to apply what we learnt in school into reality became the core topic during our social research.”
Music is educational
LANXESS believes that it is important to foster young people’s talents – not just in scientific areas, but also in the artistic and cultural spheres. Which is why 2018 saw LANXESS renew its sponsorship of the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga (OICMA) in Japan, one of Asia’s most prestigious academies for talented young musicians. Since 2011, LANXESS has been offering a basic scholarship to give talented future musicians access to a high-caliber education. They are taught by top professional musicians and world-renowned conductor and composer Seiji Ozawa.
“I am science”
“The first day was tough and intimidating, but the ‘I am science’ team’s patience made me push myself harder. The white laboratory coats we received made me see myself as a future scientist. When I got home, I couldn’t contain my excitement and shared my day’s experiences with my family. I proudly wore my white coat with a broad smile on my face. My teary mother took a picture of me using her cellphone and uploaded it as her profile picture, writing, ‘My future scientist.’ This was a stamp of approval and confirmation that I will one day have a career in the science field.”
LANXESS is aspiring to be a champion of education for young girls and get them interested in scientific professions with its “I am science” project in South Africa. The project, which was founded by the Goethe Institut, encourages girls from 10th grade onward to take an interest in science, giving them practical introductions to chemistry and physics. So far, “I am science” has allowed over 200 female pupils to delve into the world of science via experiments and obtain new experiences.
Chemistry is fun: At Dedangifunde High School in Madadeni, Newcastle, South Africa, young female pupils were given an opportunity to conduct experiments under professional guidance.
“DNA up close”
Conducting research in schools is a cause close to LANXESS’s heart. Protein biosynthesis, polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing are topics that all German secondary schools cover in biology lessons. To help prepare pupils more effectively and more intensively for their school-leaving exams, LANXESS is supporting the project “DNA profiling as a way of establishing a genetic fingerprint” at Berufskolleg Uerdingen in Krefeld. The project gives them the opportunity not just to learn about DNA from their text books, but also to carry out hands-on research with experiments at a molecular level.
“Now we were not only able to work on the topic of DNA via books and the Internet, but we were also able to investigate genetic engineering first-hand in experiments at the molecular level – an impressive experience.”
Four good examples that show how LANXESS is targeting its efforts to support young people in a wide array of areas. “For us, there is a small personal success story behind nearly every initiative,” says Sebastian Röhrig, Head of Corporate Responsibility. “This is excellent motivation for our work.”
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