Despite the challenging scenario, the company has strengthened its commitment to building an industry that is more accountable to people, society, and the environment.
Oxiteno has just published its 2020 Sustainability Report. The fully digital publication highlights the company’s core Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Despite the challenging scenario caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company ended 2020 with net revenue of R$ 5.22 billion, its best performance in five years, and 22% up year on year. Other highlights include the number of women in directors positions (57%); the structuring of a digital laboratory (XLab); the launch of the new education portal (OxiEducation); participation in the acceleration program, Inova 2030 – Young Innovators in SDS, run by the UN Global Compact and Dom Cabral Foundation, with the Laboratory 4.0 project; recognition of Oxiteno’s management of climate change and water resource issues in the Carbon Disclosure Project; and the establishment of a partnership with EcoVadis to evaluate suppliers concerning sustainability.
“The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact. The crisis and consequent economic instability have led to a review of goals and practices. One of Oxiteno’s main challenges has been to safeguard employees and maintain operational continuity, given its essential role in society. Oxiteno products are indispensable raw materials for food, pharmaceuticals, hygiene, cleaning and sanitization products, among others. In this adverse scenario, we have reinforced our commitment to building a company that is more responsible to society and the environment—making sustainability central to the strategy. The result has been very positive,” says the CEO of Oxiteno, Joao Parolin.
Sales increased in 2020 by 13% in the Hygiene and Cleaning sector and by 14% in agriculture solutions, compared with 2019. This resulted from the dedication displayed by qualified professionals who worked strategically in the management of activities, such as the review of the maintenance shutdown schedule. Supply chain management and collaboration with commercial partners made operational continuity feasible at its 11 industrial units. Sales volume was 753,000 tons in 2020, up by 6% on 2019. In addition, 48 new products developed in co-creation with customers were launched—reinforcing the strategic pillar of innovation.
With sustainability incorporated into the business strategy and development and innovation processes, Oxiteno also advanced in 2020 in efforts such as working from home; restructuring its quality-of-life program; improving the supplier evaluation process, and new measures to further improve performance in safety and the environment. As a result of its efforts in more sustainable practices, the company achieved an EcoVadis Sustainability Rating of Platinum, which is achieved by only 1% of the companies evaluated worldwide. Oxiteno is only the second Brazilian company to be so recognized by this platform that evaluates corporate sustainability.
“In 2019, we set out our objectives in the 2030 Strategic Sustainability Plan. And in 2020, we mobilized the entire company to evolve in the eight pillars that will make us a benchmark in the sector’s sustainable development. The use of water and energy, the treatment of waste and effluent, and levels of greenhouse gas emissions are closely monitored,” says Sustainability Manager, Juliana Maria da Silva.
Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) remained prominent. One initiative was the launch of the TOGETHER program, promoting gender, race, ethnicity, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community, expanding the company’s range of opinion and thought. Among the action taken, people with autism were included; breastfeeding rooms were opened, and diversity in the dress code was encouraged with the campaign, “Style Chemistry.”
“In a year of challenges, the organizational culture and initiatives involving the various pillars of our sustainability plan were essential to the business’s growth. Our purpose is to contribute to people’s well-being through chemistry, and, aware of that, we strive to reinforce a sense of belonging, pride, and connection with the business. We develop essential solutions in people’s daily lives and help society to get through moments like this. We made progress in 2020, but we know there’s still a lot to do and a lot of opportunities on this journey,” says Parolin.
Oxiteno’s portfolio has more than 700 products and 3,000 applications in the Crop Solutions, Home Care and I&I, Personal Care, Coatings, Oil & Gas, Industrial Applications, Functional Fluids, and Nutrition & Health segments which are exported to more than 50 countries. The 2020 Sustainability Report can be consulted in full here. In addition to the data included, the document presents Oxiteno’s initiatives in supporting society’s tackling of the pandemic and reducing environmental and social impacts.
About the 2030 Strategic Sustainability Plan
Oxiteno’s 2030 Strategic Sustainability Plan, which was drawn up in 2019, is built on eight pillars representing the material themes for its business, with objectives and goals aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This strategy guides all the company’s decision-making practices and processes.
