The TfS framework – TfS Assessments and TfS Audits – allows TfS member companies to assess the environmental, labor and human rights, ethical and sustainable procurement performance of their suppliers and drive and deliver tangible, measurable improvements of their suppliers’ as well as their own sustainability performance. TfS introduced this globally applicable framework and tools to create transparency of the sustainability performance of chemical companies and their suppliers and to collaborate to continuously improve performance. Unique to the TfS concept is that the results of TfS Assessments and TfS Audits are shared with all member companies, following the consent of the supplier.

Dr. Hans Joachim Müller, Azelis CEO, said, “Our dedication to CSR and sustainable business models has been at the core of our business decisions for a while now. That dedication has been recognized twice by EcoVadis’ Gold rating so joining TfS was a next logical step for us. The TfS concept benefits both TfS member companies and suppliers, taking away bureaucratic burden from us so that time and energy can be spent on the improvement of sustainability performance. As a global business, with operations across EMEA, the Americas and Asia Pacific, Azelis takes its responsibilities very seriously, always looking for new ways to make a positive impact on society and minimize its footprint, whilst delivering the best possible products and services.”

TfS works with three of its own KPIs that take TfS to a new sustainability level and greatly increases its impact. Each individual TfS member company defines its own targets based on the company sustainability strategy, which is shared within TfS. The TfS KPIs are the aggregate of the individual numbers of the TfS member companies and form the basis for TfS to increase sustainability impact in the chemical supply chain.

Maria Almenar, Group SHEQ Director at Azelis and CSR Program Leader, said, “We have put a lot of effort, expertise and passion in our CSR program for the past four years, but now is the time to take it all one step further. In line with UN SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals), Azelis is ready to build strong partnerships and join global chemical industry initiatives that contribute to sustainability. We see many benefits in joining TfS: EcoVadis assessment & methodology, third-party evaluation, possibility of developing action plans with suppliers, onsite audits, access to results through sharing principle of TfS, active participation in TfS activities and best practice sharing, improved management of risks, to name only some. In one word, this was the right and logical next step, and we are very excited about what lies ahead.”

Bertrand Conquéret, TfS President, said, “My colleagues and I warmly welcome Azelis to the Together for Sustainability Initiative. The arrival of Azelis marks an important step for TfS as it will enable the initiative to further deliver on its mission and core strategy to drive and improve the sustainability impact of global chemical supply chains. By joining TfS, Azelis will fully benefit from the TfS innovative framework, collaborative mindset and robust tools to assess and improve the sustainability performance of its supplying companies, while increasing its own responsible sourcing program. As TfS operates as a unique member-driven organization, Azelis together with the other 24 TfS member companies will contribute to shaping the future of the chemical industry.”

Azelis deployed its CSR strategy worldwide in December 2016. It is based on ISO 26000 and linked with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Responsible Care & Responsible Distribution as well as membership to the UN’s Global Compact Initiative. The company has internally defined 26 KPIs that measure the progress of its CSR program.