Together for Sustainability

Together for Sustainability AISBL (TfS)[1] is a joint initiative of chemical companies, founded in 2011. It focuses on the promotion of sustainability practices in the chemical industry's supply chain, currently gathering 23 companies around a single standard of auditing and assessment.

Together for Sustainability
Membership organization
IndustryChemical Industry
Founded2011 (2011)
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Key people
  • Rüdiger Eberhard (President (2015-2019)
  • Bertrand Conquéret (President (2019-...))
  • Gabriele Unger (General Manager)
Websitehttps://tfs-initiative.com/

Sustainability in chemical supply chains

Over the past few years sustainability aspects in the chemical industry have become more important and holistic. Nowadays, chemical companies’ measures focusing sustainability include apart from ecological aspects also social concerns and collaborative issues.

Today, it has been well accepted that the creation of sustainable chemical supply chains requires a joint effort beyond individual businesses. These efforts should integrate chemical companies, suppliers, customers as well as consumers.[2]

Prof. Dr Wolfgang Stolze and Marc Müller of the University of St. Gallen summarize the development in the chemical industry in recent years as follows: “The scope of sustainability in the chemical industry has evolved from a firm-level construct with a strong focus on green aspects to a chain-level approach attempting to address the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental elements.”[3]

History

The Together for Sustainability initiative was founded in 2011 by BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel, Lanxess, and Solvay. The objective was to develop a global supplier engagement program and improve their own sustainability sourcing practices in line with the United Nations Global Compact. Since January 2015, the TfS initiative is incorporated as an international non-profit association according to the Belgian law.

Since June 2012, TfS conducts assessments and audits by independent experts, as well as the early partnership with the French company EcoVadis, which provided with sustainability scorecards and benchmarks.[4]

In May of 2019 Bertrand Conquéret, CPO of Henkel, was elected as president of the TFS.[5]

Objectives

TfS has developed and implemented a global supplier engagement program that assesses sustainability sourcing practices, including ecological and social aspects. The focus in the supply chain of the member companies seeks to reduce inefficiencies and share best practices among the members' suppliers.[6] Moreover TfS provides the framework for conducting assessments and audits across the chemical industry supply chain, organizes workshops, and provides e-learning tools.

The TfS approach consists of two core elements:

  • TfS Assessments conducted by the French company EcoVadis, who provides scorecard on its shared, web-based collaborative platform[7], and
  • TfS Audits, conducted by independent audit companies approved by TfS

Structure

The TfS is governed by two main organs, the General Assembly and the Steering Committee. The General Assembly is formed by all the Chief Procurement Officers of the member companies, and holds power over the direction and structure of the organization, as well as approving the decisions of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee, formed by six elected members of the General Assembly as well as the TfS president, is the executive council of the organization and decides upon its activities and projects.

Additionally, TfS has several Regional Operating Committees (Asia, United States and South America) as well as, currently, four mission-specific work streams led and staffed by participants from the TfS member companies:

  • Work Stream 1: Governance and Mutual recognition
  • Work Stream 2: Supplier Sustainability Assessments
  • Work Stream 3: Supplier Sustainability Audits
  • Work Stream 4: Communication and Awareness Raising

TfS’ headquarter is in Brussels. It manages the day-to-day affairs of the organization and stays in close contact with the representatives and coordinators of the member companies.

TfS is working towards partnership with several other chemical industry associations: American Chemistry Council (ACC), European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), German Chemistry Council (VCI), China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), Indian Chemical Council (ICC)[8], and the Associação Brasileira da Indústria Química (ABIQUIM).

Members

Membership in the TfS is open to all companies in the chemical industry who subscribe to the United Nations Global Compact, Responsible Care, and show a commitment to sustainability. TfS membership has been growing steadily since its founding, and in May 2018 its members had a joint global turnover of € 313 Billion.[9]

As of November 2018, TfS has 23 member companies.

Company Headquarters Year of membership
AkzoNobel Amsterdam, Netherlands 2013
Arkema Colombes, France 2014
BASF Ludwigshafen, Germany 2011
Bayer Leverkusen, Germany 2011
Borealis Vienna, Austria 2017
Brenntag Essen, Germany 2017
Clariant Muttenz, Switzerland 2014
Covestro Leverkusen, Germany 2015
DSM Heerlen, Netherlands 2015
DuPont Wilmington, Delaware, United States 2017
Eastman Kingsport, Tennessee, United States 2015
Evonik Essen, Germany 2011
Henkel Düsseldorf, Germany 2011
ICL Tel-Aviv, Israel 2018
IFF New York City, United States 2015
Lanxess Cologne, Germany 2011
Merck Darmstadt, Germany 2014
Sanofi Paris, France 2016
Solvay Brussels, Belgium 2011
Syngenta Basel, Switzerland 2015
UPM Helsinki, finland 2018
Wacker Munich, Germany 2015
Wanhua Yantai, China 2019

Recognition
  • 2015 - Highly Commended at the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Award 2015[10]
  • 2016 - Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Market Transformation Award[11]
  • 2018 - Best Third Sector/Not-for-profit Procurement Project at CIPS Supply Management Awards[12]
  • 2018 - Finalist for international Responsible Business Awards[13]
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See also

Notes

    References
    1. "TOGETHER FOR SUSTAINABILITY – The chemical initiative for sustainable supply chains". Retrieved 10 October 2019.
    2. Guide to Corporate Sustainability (PDF) (Report). United Nations Global Compact. 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
    3. Prof. Dr. Martin Müller (23 September 2016). Nachhaltige Lieferketten – Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze (Sustainable supply chains - challenges and solutions) (PDF) (Report) (in German). Ulm University. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
    4. "BASF, Bayer Among Chemical Firms Pushing Supply Chain Sustainability". Environmental Leader. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    5. "Bertrand Conquéret (Henkel) elected as new President of the Together for Sustainability initiative" (PDF). Together for Sustainability. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
    6. "New in Sustainability: Megatrends Driving Opportunity for Change". Supply and Demand Chain Executive. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    7. "The necessity of sustainable supply chains". Supply Chain Digital. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    8. "Together for Sustainability Initiative launched in India for Chemical Industry". Sustainable Brands. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    9. "Together for Sustainability: The Chemical Industry Initiative for Sustainable Supply Chains". Essenscia for Sustainability. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    10. "Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Award 2015". Ethical Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    11. "PRESS RELEASE: 2016 Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Award Winners Announced". Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Market Transformation Award. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    12. "CIPS SM Awards Results 2018". CIPS Awards. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    13. "Finalists for the international Responsible Business Awards have been revealed". Ethical Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
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