We also made significant progress in the implementation of our Keep Changing Agenda.
For example, we successfully completed the action field “Take the lead in sustain-
ability.” Today, sustainability is becoming increasingly important as a competitive factor.
The prerequisite for this is that sustainability is no longer viewed solely as environmental
protection but, in keeping with our conviction, as a triad of economy, ecology, and social
responsibility. To leverage the opportunities resulting from sustainability for ALTANA, we
decisively strengthened the sustainability management at our sites by establishing systematic
sustainability criteria in relevant decision-making processes and with the help of
many lighthouse projects around the globe. As a result, sustainability is no longer only an
ambitious goal for us, but a fixed component of our business and working life. The
importance of sustainability in our corporate action is also illustrated by the fact that as
a member of the UN Global Compact ALTANA actively supports the objectives of this
important initiative for company management.
Our environmental key performance indicators almost all underwent a positive development
in the period under review. In terms of key accident figures, ALTANA also
improved over the previous year. However, the targets we set ourselves for the reporting
year could only be partially achieved. In order to further improve the results, in the
future we will make the safety culture a stronger focus of our action.
In the spirit of “We are ALTANA,” in 2018 we as the ALTANA Group once again did everything
possible to create added value for our customers and employees, for our owner
and society as a whole. This is shown by the articles in the magazine section of our
corporate report. This time the spectrum of examples ranges from innovative solutions
and unique effect pigments for the automotive and consumer goods industry, to investments
in sustainable growth at our sites and sophisticated solutions for e-mobility,
to systematic talent management concepts and educational mentorships for socially disadvantaged
children. They all illustrate our aim to promote cooperation with each
other and the interaction of different talents, gifts, and abilities in the best possible way
for first-class customer loyalty, innovative top performances, and sustainable solutions.
For in the end it is the people at ALTANA who make the difference, and they are therefore
the most important recipe for success for our company.
Letter from the Management Board 3