WAALWIJK, the Netherlands – Stahl announced that the company has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and workplace accidents while increasing its commitment to chemical compliance. More such facts and figures are available in the Stahl 2019 Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) report. The report covers Stahl’s key activities over the year and corresponds to the company’s strategy and the desire among stakeholders for transparency regarding its environmental, social responsibility and governance commitments. The report is available in two digital versions (full report and highlights) and a limited-run print version.

For the report, Stahl has, for the first time, adopted the commonly used ESG terminology to assess the specific actions that it has taken on corporate social responsibility. Stahl’s ESG activities are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and throughout the report Stahl provides updates on those SDGs on which it believes it can make the greatest impact.

2019 also saw Stahl launch its Responsible Chemistry initiative. By using low-impact manufacturing chemicals, biotechnology to replace non-renewable resources, and by contributing to circularity, Stahl aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its supply chains.

Environment – CO₂ Emissions Reduced by 25%

Since 2015, Stahl has reduced its CO₂ emissions by 25%. Switching to renewable energy at European sites and investing in long-term energy efficiency equipment have been key contributors in this achievement. The reduction is in line with the Paris Climate Agreement – an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), relative to greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation, adaption and finance.

Social – Road to Zero Campaign

As a supplier of chemical products, Stahl considers the health and safety of its employees to be its primary responsibility. In 2019, the company introduced the Road to Zero (R20) safety awareness campaign and recorded a drop in the frequency of total recorded injuries

Governance – ZDHC Gateway Certification for Leather Chemicals Portfolio

A significant ESG highlight in 2019 was the certification of Stahl’s global leather portfolio in the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Gateway. The certification of over 1,200 products, from both the company’s wet-end and leather finishing portfolios, underlines Stahl’s commitment to transparency in the complex world of chemical substance compliance.

To download the full digital report, visit Stahl's website or read Stahl's online highlight report.