Melbourne, Australia, April 15, 2008 – Basell Australia Pty Ltd, a company of LyondellBasell Industries, has become the first plastics manufacturer in Australia to sign a Sustainability Covenant with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA Victoria) and the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association Inc. (PACIA).
The covenant calls for the parties to collectively explore how sustainable business growth principles can be incorporated into the company’s business processes and management systems in Australia. It will also support product innovation for greater resource efficiency by developing life cycle approaches in the Australian polypropylene (PP) market. LyondellBasell operates two PP plants in Australia – one at Geelong in Victoria and another at Clyde in New South Wales.
“Through this agreement, we have committed to incorporate societal considerations into the economic and environmental impact scenarios used for our business planning and strategies in Australia,” said Barry Kelly, Managing Director of Basell Australia.
“As the first plastics raw material producer in Australia to enter into such an agreement, LyondellBasell has taken a leadership role in the plastics industry toward a more sustainable Victoria. This will be a three-year pilot program for LyondellBasell, and it provides an excellent opportunity for industry collaboration by applying our business knowledge of sound science in support of the public’s desire for sustainable business growth,” Kelly said.
“The program will help LyondellBasell collaborate with customers along the value chain to make informed decisions on product development based upon life cycle principles and sustainable development criteria,” Kelly added.
“LyondellBasell in Australia has taken their commitment to sustainability to a new level, signing a Sustainability Covenant with PACIA and EPA Victoria. We are very pleased to support this new initiative, which will help to embed sustainability strategies and support product innovation. LyondellBasell is, without a doubt, setting a precedent for other PACIA Members. It is my hope that other PACIA members will consider the benefits of such a partnership and to actively engage in PACIA’s growing range of sustainability programs and opportunities to implement the initiatives being identified through the Sustainability Leadership Framework,” said PACIA CEO Margaret Donnan.
“This sustainability covenant, our first with a plastics manufacturer, is an exciting opportunity for EPA to work with LyondellBasell and PACIA to explore how business planning and strategy can deliver more sustainable manufacturing plus product innovation,” said EPA Victoria Chairman Mick Bourke.
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LyondellBasell Industries is one of the world’s largest polymers, petrochemicals and fuels companies. We are the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in propylene oxide and derivatives; and a significant producer of fuels and refined products, including bio-fuels. Through research and development, LyondellBasell develops innovative materials and technologies that deliver exceptional customer value and products that improve quality of life for people around the world. Headquartered in The Netherlands, LyondellBasell (www.lyondellbasell.com) is privately owned by Access Industries.
LyondellBasell in Australia signs Sustainability Covenant with EPA Victoria and PACIA
For information, contact:
Media – Kathy Chan, +852 2585 0103
or kathy.chan@lyondellbasell.com
