Together for Sustainability

Together for Sustainability (TfS) is a joint initiative of chemical companies, founded in 2011. Since its conception it has focused its efforts in the promotion of sustainability practices in the chemical industry's supply chain, currently gathering 21 companies around a single standard of auditing and assessment.

Together for Sustainability
Membership organization
Industry Chemical Industry
Founded 2011 (2011)
Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Key people
  • Rüdiger Eberhard (President)
  • Gabriele Unger (General Manager)
Website https://tfs-initiative.com/

Objectives

TfS has developed and implemented a global supplier engagement program that assesses and aims to improve 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 [1]. To that end the organization provides the framework for conducting TfS 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 with a scorecard on its shared, web-based collaborative platform[2], and
  • TfS Audits, conducted by independent audit companies approved by TfS.

Structure

The TfS is governed by two main organs, the General Assembly (GA) and the Steering Committee (SC). The GA 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 SC. The SC, formed by six elected members of the GA as well as the TfS president, plays the role of executive council and decides upon the activities and projects. The GA meets once per year, while the SC does so at least three times per year. In order to keep on with its objectives, the TfS has several Regional Operating Committees (Asia, United States and South America) as well as, currently, four mission-specific work streams [3] 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

The TfS also counts with an office in Brussels that manages the day-to-day affairs of the organization and stays in close contact with the representatives and coordinators of the member companies. This office, under the General Manager, is also responsible for the maintenance and updating of the TfS' online platform.

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)[4], and the Associação Brasileira da Indústria Química (ABIQUIM). And out of all those organizations, the closest relationship of TfS is with the CEFIC, with whom it keeps strategic as well as practical cooperation thanks to the support of the latter's Responsible Care by the former [5]. .

History

TfS was founded in 2011 as an initiative by the companies BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel, Lanxess, and Solvay with the objective of developing a global supplier engagement program and improving their own sustainability sourcing practices in line with the United Nations Global Compact objectives. Since the beginning the organization was based in assessments and audits by independent experts, as well as the early partnership with the French company EcoVadis, which provided with sustainability scorecards and benchmarks.[6]

In January 2015 the TfS initiative is incorporated as an International non-profit association according to the Belgian law.

In September of 2016 and 2017 TfS, in cooperation with the CPCIF, organized a training workshop on sustainability in Shanghai with the participation of more than 200 Chinese suppliers. It has also hosted several global conferences with the objective of putting suppliers in contact and foster the dialogue and sharing of good sustainability practices: São Paulo 2015, Mumbai 2016[7]...

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.[8]

Company Headquarters Year of membership
AkzoNobel Amsterdam, Netherlands 2013/14
Arkema Colombes, France 2013/14
BASF Ludwigshafen, Germany 2011
Bayer Leverkusen, Germany 2011
Borealis Vienna, Austria 2016/17
Brenntag Essen, Germany 2016/17
Clariant Muttenz, Switzerland 2013/14
Covestro Leverkusen, Germany 2015
DSM Heerlen, Netherlands 2015
DuPont Wilmington, Delaware, United States 2016/17
Eastman Kingsport, Tennessee, United States 2015
Evonik Essen, Germany 2011
Henkel Düsseldorf, Germany 2011
IFF New York City, United States 2015
Lanxess Cologne, Germany 2011
Merck Darmstadt, Germany 2013/14
Sanofi Paris, France 2016/17
Solvay Brussels, Belgium 2011
Syngenta Basel, Switzerland 2015
UPM Helsinki, finland 2018
Wacker Munich, Germany 2015

Recognition

  • 2015 - Highly Commended at the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Award 2015 [9]
  • 2016 - Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Market Transformation Award [10]
  • 2018 - Best Third Sector/Not-for-profit Procurement Project at CIPS Supply Management Awards [11]
  • 2018 - Finalist for international Responsible Business Awards [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New in Sustainability: Megatrends Driving Opportunity for Change". Supply and Demand Chain Executive. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "The necessity of sustainable supply chains". Supply Chain Digital. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "List of frequently asked questions (FAQ) for suppliers" (PDF). TfS.
  4. ↑ "Together for Sustainability Initiative launched in India for Chemical Industry". Sustainable Brands. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "TfS Annual Activity Report 2017" (PDF). TfS. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "BASF, Bayer Among Chemical Firms Pushing Supply Chain Sustainability". Environmental Leader. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "BASF Indian subsidiary set to turn its manufacturing units energy efficient by 2020". The Economic Times. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Together for Sustainability: The Chemical Industry Initiative for Sustainable Supply Chains". Essenscia for Sustainability. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Award 2015". Ethical Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "PRESS RELEASE: 2016 Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Award Winners Announced". Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Market Transformation Award. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "CIPS SM Awards Results 2018". CIPS Awards. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Finalists for the international Responsible Business Awards have been revealed". Ethical Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.