Clariant launched Open Day at Daya Bay site at Huizhou, China

Shanghai, September 28, 2015 – Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, hosted an Open Day at its production site located in Daya Bay, Huizhou of China to communicate the message of sustainability under the theme of "Better Chemicals, Better Life". As part of the company's HOPES community program, which supports educational development in local communities in China, school students in the neighbourhood, as well as members of the media took part in Open Day event today.

With sustainability as one of the corporate strategic pillars at Clariant, ongoing efforts are made to support sustainable development of the chemical industry in various parts of its operation. In 2009, Clariant's headquarters signed the Responsible Care® Global Charter, reaffirming its commitment in continuously improving its safety, health and environmental performance. By rolling out its own HOPES program last year in China, Clariant has been able to raise community awareness on its commitment to sustainability in China, which is an important aspect of the Responsible Care initiative.

Under the theme of "Better Chemicals, Better Life", the Open Day at the Daya Bay site featured presentation and video show on elements related to sustainability at Clariant. Participants were taken through a site tour at the facility. For the student visitors, they got a taste of their own chemistry by working alongside Clariant staff to make hand wash produced from Clariant’s products.

“It is a prerequisite for us to maintain good relationship with the local authority and community. The Open Day at our plant gave us a very good opportunity to demonstrate to the community at Daya Bay how much importance we attach to sustainability,” said Eric Liao, General Manager of Clariant's Daya Bay plant. “It also strengthens the motivation and pride of our employees when they were participating the event as volunteers.” Eric added.

The event is under the umbrella theme: Chemistry – A Way to Better Life, of Open to public day organized by the Association of International Chemical Manufacturers (AICM), an industry body advocating sustainable development of the chemical industry in China.

Being an active member in the Responsible Care community, which organize regularly sustainability initiatives that are endorsed by multinational chemical companies in China, Clariant was awarded the Responsible Care (RC) Chairman’s Award in June this year by the AICM for the second consecutive time. In 2014, the Responsible Care Beijing manifesto was re-signed by Clariant Greater China to show their continued commitment to the initiative. In September 2015, Clariant was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the third consecutive time.

The analysts at RobecoSAM confirmed that Clariant is among the top 4 percent of companies in the global chemical industry when it comes to the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability.

The organization of the Open Day was supported by HOPES volunteers who are based in the Daya Bay site. The HOPES organization has just successfully organized a school carnival for the Zhenjiang Xuefu Road Primary School in April, which saw over 700 students participating actively.