Azelis strengthens CSR by joining global initiative for sustainable supply chains

27 Feb 2020 --- Azelis, a global distributor of speciality chemicals and food ingredients, has joined Together for Sustainability (TfS), a global initiative for sustainable supply chains. This membership follows on Azelis’ membership to United Nations (UN) Global Compact and Gold rating from EcoVadis, further strengthening the  company’s commitment to be catalyst of change when it comes to sustainable business models and become benchmark for the industry.

Azelis is now part of the global network of 25 TfS member companies who represent a global turnover in the chemical industry of €422 billion (US461.4 billion) and a global spend of €281 billion (US$307.2 billion).

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.

“Our dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility (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 the next logical step for us,” says Dr. Hans Joachim Müller, Azelis CEO. 

“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,” he continues. Azelis takes its responsibilities very seriously, Müller notes that the company is “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. 

“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,” explains Maria Almenar, Group SHEQ Director at Azelis and CSR program leader. 

“We see many benefits in joining TfS: EcoVadis assessment and 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,” she adds. 

“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,” comments Bertrand Conquéret, TfS President. 

Edited by Elizabeth Green

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