Together for Sustainability

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Together for Sustainability AISBL (TfS)[1] is a joint initiative of chemical companies, founded in 2011. It focuses on the promotion of sustainability practices in the chemical industry's supply chain, currently gathering chemical companies around a single standard of auditing and assessment.

Together for Sustainability

Company type| Membership organization
Industry| Chemical Industry
Founded| 2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Headquarters| Brussels, Belgium

Key people

* Rüdiger Eberhard (President (2015-2019)
* Bertrand Conquéret (President (2019-2023)
* Jennifer Jewson (President (2023-20..)
* Gabriele Unger (General Manager)

Website| https://tfs-initiative.com/

## Sustainability in chemical supply chains

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Over the past few years sustainability aspects in the chemical industry have become more important and holistic. Nowadays, chemical companies' measures focusing sustainability include apart from ecological aspects also social concerns and collaborative issues.

Today, it has been well accepted that the creation of sustainable chemical supply chains requires a joint effort beyond individual businesses. These efforts should integrate chemical companies, suppliers, customers as well as consumers.[2]

Prof. Dr Wolfgang Stolze and Marc Müller of the University of St. Gallen summarize the development in the chemical industry in recent years as follows: "The scope of sustainability in the chemical industry has evolved from a firm-level construct with a strong focus on green aspects to a chain-level approach attempting to address the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental elements."[3]

## History

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The Together for Sustainability initiative was founded in 2011 by BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel, Lanxess, and Solvay. The objective was to develop a global supplier engagement program and improve their own sustainability sourcing practices in line with the United Nations Global Compact. Since January 2015, the TfS initiative is incorporated as an international non-profit association according to the Belgian law.

Since June 2012, TfS conducts assessments and audits by independent experts, as well as the early partnership with the French company EcoVadis, which provided with sustainability scorecards and benchmarks.[4]

In June 2023, Jennifer Jewson, CPO of LyondellBasell, was elected as president of the TfS.[5]

## Structure

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The TfS is governed by two main organs, the General Assembly and the Steering Committee. The General Assembly 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 Steering Committee. The Steering Committee, formed by six elected members of the General Assembly as well as the TfS president, is the executive council of the organization and decides upon its activities and projects.

Additionally, TfS has several Regional Operating Committees (Asia, North America and South America) as well as, currently, five mission-specific work streams led and staffed by participants from the TfS member companies:

* Work Stream 1: Governance and Partnerships
* Work Stream 2: TfS Assessments
* Work Stream 3: TfS Audits
* Work Stream 4: TfS Communications and Capability Building
* Work Stream 5: Scope 3 GHG Emissions

TfS' headquarter is in Brussels. It manages the day-to-day affairs of the organization and stays in close contact with the representatives and coordinators of the member companies.

TfS has a 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),[6] and the Associação Brasileira da Indústria Química (ABIQUIM).

## Members

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TfS Membership 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 April 2022 its members have a joint global turnover of over €500 billion.[7]

As of October 2024, TfS has 54 member companies.

Company  | Headquarters  | Year of membership

|
|

Advansix | Parsippany, New Jersey | 2021
AkzoNobel | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 2013
Allnex | Frankfurt, Germany | 2022
Altana | Wesel, Germany | 2024
Archroma | Reinach, Switzerland | 2021
Arkema | Colombes, France | 2014
Azelis | Antwerp, Belgium | 2020
BASF | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 2011
Bayer | Leverkusen, Germany | 2011
Brenntag | Essen, Germany | 2017
CABB | Sulzbach am Taunus, Germany | 2022
Chemours | Wilmington, Delaware | 2021
Clariant | Muttenz, Switzerland | 2014
Corteva | Wilmington, United States | 2020
Covestro | Leverkusen, Germany | 2015
Croda | Snaith, United Kingdom | 2021
Dow | Midland, United States | 2021
DSM-Firmenich | Heerlen, Netherlands | 2015
Eastman | Kingsport, Tennessee, United States | 2015
Evonik | Essen, Germany | 2011
Givaudan | Vernier, Switzerland | 2021
HA Group | Düsseldorf, Germany | 2023
Henkel | Düsseldorf, Germany | 2011
ICL | Tel-Aviv, Israel | 2018
IFF | New York City, United States | 2015
IMCD  | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 2022
Indorama | Bangkok, Thailand | 2023
Johnson Matthey | London, United Kingdom | 2023
Kraton | Houston, United States | 2020
Lanxess | Cologne, Germany | 2011
Lenzing AG | Lenzing, Austria | 2022
Lonza | Basel, Switzerland | 2022
LyondellBasell | Houston, Texas | 2021
Merck | Darmstadt, Germany | 2014
Mitsui & Co. | Japan, Tokyo | 2022
Momentive Performance Materials | Niskayuna, United States | 2023
Nouryon | Houston, United States | 2023
Oleon NV | Ertvelde, Belgium | 2023
OMV | Vienna, Austria | 2021
Sabic | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2023
Semperit | Vienna, Austria | 2021
Sennics | Shanghai, China | 2022
Sika | Baar, Switzerland | 2020
Solvay | Brussels, Belgium | 2011
Syensqo | Brussels, Belgium | 2024
Symrise | Holzminden, Germany | 2024
Syngenta | Basel, Switzerland | 2015
Synthomer | London, United Kingdom | 2023
Tricon | Houston, United States | 2023
Univar Solutions | Downers Grove, United States | 2024
UPM | Helsinki, Finland | 2018
Wacker | Munich, Germany | 2015
Wanhua | Yantai, China | 2019
Yara | Oslo, Norway | 2023

## Recognition

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* 2015 - Highly Commended at the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Award 2015[8]
* 2016 - Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Market Transformation Award[9]
* 2018 - Best Third Sector/Not-for-profit Procurement Project at CIPS Supply Management Awards[10]
* 2018 - Finalist for international Responsible Business Awards[11]

## See also

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* ISO 26000
* Corporate social responsibility
* United Nations Global Compact
* Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative

## Notes

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## References

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1. ^ "TOGETHER FOR SUSTAINABILITY – The chemical initiative for sustainable supply chains". Retrieved 10 October 2019.
2. ^ Guide to Corporate Sustainability (PDF) (Report). United Nations Global Compact. 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
3. ^ Prof. Dr. Martin Müller (23 September 2016). Nachhaltige Lieferketten – Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze (Sustainable supply chains - challenges and solutions) (PDF) (Report) (in German). Ulm University. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
4. ^ "BASF, Bayer Among Chemical Firms Pushing Supply Chain Sustainability". Environmental Leader. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
5. ^ "TfS General Assembly elects new President and Steering Committee". 14 June 2023.
6. ^ "Together for Sustainability Initiative launched in India for Chemical Industry". Sustainable Brands. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
7. ^ "Together for Sustainability: The Chemical Industry Initiative for Sustainable Supply Chains". Essenscia for Sustainability. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
8. ^ "Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Award 2015". Ethical Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
9. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: 2016 Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Award Winners Announced". Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Market Transformation Award. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
10. ^ "CIPS SM Awards Results 2018". CIPS Awards. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
11. ^ "Finalists for the international Responsible Business Awards have been revealed". Ethical Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.

## External links

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* TfS Initiative website