DuPont presents Safety Award to Borealis

04.11.2009

Borealis has won the 2009 DuPont Safety Award in the category "Sustainable Business Impact". The Austrian provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions received the award for the successful implementation of the group-wide safety standards during integration of former Agrolinz Melamine International. DuPont presented the 2009 Safety Awards today as part of the international A+A trade fair for safety, security and health at work held in Düsseldorf.

"With the DuPont Safety Awards we reward groundbreaking projects and initiatives both in the world of work and in the society", states Koen van Neyghen, President DuPont Safety Resources, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "After taking over Agrolinz Melamine International, Borealis defined the implementation of its own safety philosophy as a core aspect of the integration process and has been able to achieve excellent results in less than two years. The concept therefore does not solely concentrate on increasing process safety, but above all on anchoring safety awareness in the consciousness of all employees", van Neyghen comments as a reason for the decision.

Sustainable improvements by anchoring the safety philosophy
Following its takeover of Agrolinz Melamine International, Borealis applied an internal programme called "Step Change in Safety" in 2007 in order that improvements in safety performance be taken into consideration in the integration process. The significant measures in this programme included intensive training courses and increased commitment on the part of executives, the setting up of a new organisational structure as well as the introduction of new key figures, measuring instruments and systems. As a result the company was able to achieve almost the same safety performance as the entire Borealis Group by the end of 2008. In addition, the Executive Board initiated a second project called the "Way Forward Programme" which was intended to anchor the safety philosophy in the consciousness of employees, thereby sustainably improving the safety level.

"We are very proud to receive this DuPont safety award", says Ismo Pentti, Borealis Vice President Safety, Health and Environment. "It recognises that Borealis has successfully managed to transfer the principle 'safety is our first priority' to our new family member. I gladly accept this honour on behalf of all employees and contractors at Borealis, especially our colleagues in Linz and Piesteritz, who have achieved a true step-change in safety in a very short period of time and with great personal effort and involvement. We will carry on working according to the highest health, safety and environmental standards to further strengthen our position as industry leader."

For further information please contact:

Kerstin Meckler
Head of Communications, Borealis
Vienna, Austria
+43 1 22 400 389
kerstin.meckler@borealisgroup.com

Sebastion Hinz
Leader Public Affairs, Du Pont Deutschland
+49 (0)202 529 3631
sebastian.hinz@deu.dupontholding.com

Borealis is a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions that create value for society. With sales of EUR 6.6 billion in 2008, customers in over 120 countries, and 5,400 employees worldwide, Borealis is owned 64% by the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi and 36% by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt. Borealis is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has production locations, innovation centers and customer service centers across Europe and the Americas. Through Borouge, a joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil companies, the company's footprint reaches out to the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the Indian sub-continent and Africa. Established in 1998, Borouge employs approximately 1,400 people, has customers in more than 50 countries and its headquarters are in Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Singapore.

Building on the unique Borstar® technology and their experience in polyolefins for more than 50 years, Borealis and Borouge provide innovative, value creating plastics solutions for the infrastructure (pipe systems and power and communication cables), automotive and advanced packaging markets. In addition, Borealis offers a wide range of base chemicals from melamine and plant nutrients to phenol and acetone.

Today Borealis and Borouge manufacture 4.4 million tonnes of polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) per year. Borouge is currently tripling its polyolefins manufacturing capacity to 2 million tonnes per year (t/y) by mid-2010 and an additional 2.5 million t/y is scheduled for 2013. The companies continue to invest to ensure that their customers throughout the value chain, across the globe, can always rely on product quality, consistency and security of supply.

Borouge and Borealis are committed to the principles of Responsible Care® and proactively contribute to addressing the world's water and sanitation challenges through their Water for the World™ initiative.

For more information visit:
Borealis: www.borealisgroup.com
Borouge: www.borouge.com
Water for the World: www.waterfortheworld.net

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Since 2001, DuPont has been promoting the Safety Awards in order to stimulate safety initiatives in companies around Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as to promote safety in all walks of life.

DuPont is the authority on safe workplaces, with a proven track record in consulting and training in workplace safety and operational excellence. Leveraging the Company's 200 year history of safety knowledge and experience, DuPont helps leading-edge companies gain sustainable improvement in insurance and operating costs, security, productivity, product quality, public image and employee morale.

For more information please visit the Internet:
DuPont: www.dupont.com or www.europeanmediacenter.dupont.com

For more information on Borealis and Borouge, a joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, visit www. borelisgroup.com and www.borouge.com.

Sharing our views on plastics

Downloads & Support

See our Financial Performance