Corporate Responsibility Report 2012 - Hempel

Introduction to the Hempel Corporate
Responsibility Report 2012
“Being a good corporate citizen is about more than just how we work – we also have a
responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves.”
At Hempel, we have long been aware of our responsibilities to the communities in which we operate.
Our customers, suppliers and employees recognise our efforts within corporate responsibility. I am proud of
our work in this area and I would like to thank all our employees for their commitment. This report highlights
some of our most important achievements and developments in corporate responsibility during 2012.
I am pleased to include Crown Paints in this report. Following its integration, Crown Paints is now our
Decorative organisation in the UK, which confirms that Crown is now aligned with our principles, values
and ways of working.
In 2012, we began many supplementary initiatives to ensure that our employees continue to follow the
same Hempel values wherever they work. This included conducting comprehensive training programmes
in our Code of Conduct for our managers and office employees. Our Code of Conduct plays an important
role in ensuring we conduct our business ethically and professionally – and the training will ensure that
we continue to work with the same high standards everywhere on the globe.
We believe that our company can and should contribute to a better environment – and we continuously
focus on reducing waste, emissions and consumption. Our newest factory in Pilar, Argentina, is
an example of how the latest technology can optimise production,
improve the working environment and reduce waste and emissions.
And while we know that our coatings contribute to a better world
by extending product lifetimes and increasing fuel efficiency, we also
acknowledge that our work involves chemicals. Therefore, we have
made reducing the environmental impact of the chemicals we use
a key focus area in recent years. In 2012, we introduced many new
low-solvent solutions and low-solvent versions of existing products.
We are now documenting our efforts in this area and will continue to
measure the results.
Being a good corporate citizen is about more than just how we work – we
also have a responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves. That is why the Hempel Foundation,
the owner of Hempel A/S, supports schools and education programmes in poor areas around the world.
We now support 18 different projects, working with others to give more than 30,000 children the opportunity
to get a good education and the chance to build a better future for themselves and their families.
I hope you find this review of our current and future corporate responsibility initiatives interesting.
Pierre-Yves Jullien
Group President and CEO
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