Essenscia: Sustainability Report 2015

The world is facing countless challenges: rising energy needs, the sustainable use of natural resources, the provision of food, water and health services to a growing population.
The chemical, plastics & life sciences industry provides sustainable solutions for these global challenges.
Products
In our industry innovation is key in developing new products, applications and services.
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry aims at improving everyone’s quality of life by inventing tomorrow’s solutions in order to:
- provide comfortable living
- build a better and longer life
- support sustainable food production
- guarantee better water quality
- be a frontrunner in innovation
- and avoid risks both for mankind and for the environment
People
Our sector strongly believes in human capital by
- providing qualitative jobs
- welcoming young talents
- relying on a highly skilled workforce
- embracing diversity and gender equality
- and investing in permanent training
- in a safe work environment
Planet
Our industry is leading the way in energy efficiency and environmental care.
Since 1990 the total production of the Belgian chemical and life sciences industry has tripled. In the meantime energy efficiency has grown considerably.
Moreover, the industry has been producing more, with fewer resources,
And has managed a significant decrease of greenhouse gasses per production volume unit,
and of acidifying emissions to barely 3% of the total for Belgium.
Prosperity
Belgium is the world champion for chemicals, plastics and biopharmaceuticals on a per capita basis. Here’s why our industry is one of the main pillars of the Belgian economy.
We are number 1 in Belgium for export
Our highly qualified employees have the highest labour productivity in the manufacturing industry
We keep attracting forward–looking industrial investments, year after year
And we are the most innovative sector in Belgium with more than 3 billion euro spent on R&D, covering more than half of all industrial R&D-expenditures.
Breaktrough research leads to almost ‘a patent per working day’.
Conclusion
By continuously focussing on sustainability, we believe chemistry and life sciences can improve the lives of everyone.
That’s why we support the UN sustainable development goals.
Discover the full report on our website.