Social Engagement

Our social commitment is based on our corporate expertise and objectives and focused on education, climate protection, water and culture. Our goals in all these areas are identical:: 

• Mobilizing resources and people for social commitment
• Achieving positive impacts on the company, the environment and society

As a company, we aim to play a positive part in improving living conditions, education, training and equal opportunities as well as health and safety. In addition, we are working to attract talented persons, engage in extensive dialog with our stakeholders, have a positive influence on employee motivation and constantly improve our reputation.

We provided around €1.3 million globally for our projects in 2022 (previous year: around €1.5 million). The regional focal points of our activities in the reporting year were the EMEA and USMCA regions.

In decisions on social commitment, we assess our projects according to whether they pursue purely charitable ends (“charitable gift”), whether we are investing in the social environment of our sites (“community investment”) or whether we are investing in corporate objectives such as image, sales and income while also generating social value (“commercial initiative”).

In total, roughly 1.5 million (previous year: roughly 885,000) people benefited from our projects in 2022. We use a system of performance indicators to measure the social impact of our activities above and beyond the number of people who benefit. In 2022, we performed an impact assessment for 100 % of the projects we carried out, taking into account positive effects in the area around the site and positive environmental effects and impacts on our business. Specific feedback from people who benefit from our projects is a key factor in this context. We regard these indicators as important benchmarks, with which we manage our measures in an impact-oriented manner. We provided 1,244,786 EUR of support in the form of monetary contributions, while 26,419 EUR was accounted for in-kind giving.

Commitment to education, climate protection, water and culture

Under the LANXESS education initiative, starting in 2008, we have initiated more than 500 projects at our sites worldwide to get young people interested in the natural sciences at an early age. In 2022, we supported a preparatory seminar for 20 schoolchildren from North Rhine-Westphalia, who had qualified to take part in the 54th International Chemistry Olympiad in China, with a sum of €10,000. In Brazil, we implemented the “Formare 2022” program together with the Iochpe Foundation, which prepares young people from low-income backgrounds for the world of work and helps them look for their first job. The program is conducted in partnership with companies that provide their employees as volunteer educators. For example, ten young people from Porto Feliz were chosen to be prepared for vocational training for the role of “Production Operator in the Chemical Industry.” 

In another project, LANXESS helped municipal schools in Nagda, India, to set up digital classrooms with interactive e-learning tool and a digital library. The schoolchildren also have access to a chemistry lab complete with instruments. In Japan, we strove to educate schoolchildren about climate change and its impact. Our newly developed “Climate Class and Science Experiment Workshop” program started in 2022, providing opportunities to learn about the environment and the fight against climate change. In the reporting year, we offered three workshop for children in grades one through six. In Brazil, the “Juntos pelo clima 2022/Together for the Climate 2022” project saw elementary schoolers learn about ecological challenges and how they can help to solve them on an environmental activity trail. 

In 2022, LANXESS India also assisted the local community in Jhagadia, in the state of Gujarat, and the surrounding villages with the installation of solar-powered streetlights. They not only illuminate the villages but also help to make the roads safer. 

In order to meet the demand for water in the arid Nagda region in Madhya Pradesh, India, our Indian company implemented a rainwater-collection project aimed at raising the water table. A similar project was also carried out in Jhagadia. Moreover, the eighth “Clean Water for Better Life” research competition was held for students in China.
As part of our cultural commitment, we have been sponsoring the international literature festival lit.Cologne as a lead partner since 2010 and the Kölner Philharmonie for several years. The Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy in Japan, which we have likewise supported for more than twelve years, gives talented young musicians from all over Asia the opportunity of first-class musical training.

Ukraine war: LANXESS donates €200,000 
In light of the dramatic events in Ukraine, LANXESS has supported humanitarian aid. In the reporting year, the company donated €200,000 to “Aktion Deutschland Hilft,” a grouping of more than 20 aid organizations. The alliance is currently active in Ukraine and its neighboring countries. It has links to local organizations and supports families fleeing the war – in Ukraine and at the stops on their journey.

You can find out more about our social engagement here>>