Memberships

Brenntag is a member of a wide variety of initiatives, supporting organizations and associations that demonstrate a commitment to our planet and its society.

Supporting this selected network of communities of interest is a further step for us in fulfilling our responsibility as a global market leader on many levels in the environmental and social spheres.

UN Global Compact and its 10 principles

At Brenntag, safety, responsibility and sustainability are fundamental aspects of the corporate strategy. So, joining the UN Global Compact (UNGC) in October 2014 was a conscious and logical step for us, through which we officially signed up to the initiative’s ten principles. They now complement the standards which we apply in evaluating all of our business activities.

UNGC is a strategic initiative for companies committing to align their business activities and strategies with ten universally recognized principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and fighting corruption. The UNGC is the world’s largest joint initiative of socially committed companies and other stakeholders.

In 2014, Brenntag was the first-ever chemicals distributor to sign up to the UNGC.

Human rights

Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
Businesses should ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour standards

Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
Businesses should commit themselves to eliminating all forms of forced labour.
Businesses should commit themselves to abolishing child labour.
Businesses should commit themselves to eliminating discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environmental protection

Businesses should take a precautionary approach to dealing with environmental challenges.
Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental awareness.
Businesses should encourage the development and distribution of environmentally friendly technologies.

Fighting corruption

Businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.

More about UN Global Compact

Together for Sustainability (TFS)

Brenntag has been involved in the chemical industry’s “Together for Sustainability” initiative (TfS) since October 2014 and became a full member in October 2016 when we achieved EcoVadis gold status – as the first chemical distributor. In December 2022, we were awarded EcoVadis platinum status for the first time.

TfS's goal is to establish a uniform global programme for the responsible procurement of goods and services in the chemical industry, to achieve transparency in relation to sustainability performance throughout the supply chain and to make further improvements to its suppliers’ ecological and social standards. For this purpose, all TfS members regularly evaluate and review their suppliers with assessments and audits. This information is shared confidentially and used jointly within the network, which provides efficiency benefits for every participant.

More about TFS

RE 100

The RE100 initiative aims to unite the world's largest and most successful companies in their mission to switch to 100% renewable electricity. This goal is to be fully achieved by 2040 - Brenntag aims to have this goal in place by 2025. Among other things, the initiative addresses political and regulatory barriers and advocates for a transparent system to create a level playing field for partners from a wide range of industries and all regions of the world. Brenntag committed to this goal in June 2021 and joined the initiative.

The initiative is led by the international non-profit Climate Group in partnership with CDP.

More about RE100

The Valuable 500

The initiative The Valuable 500 units 500 companies and leaders who have committed to putting disability inclusion on their business leadership agenda. Brenntag joined the initiative in September 2020.

Variety is a part of Brenntag. We embrace a great richness, as it gives us strength and makes our business thrive even more. We promote an open-minded working culture that bring people’s talents to shine. That commitment is expressed in our employer brand “Embrace.Engage.Empower”. Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee ensures that diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion are firmly anchored not only in our business strategy and goals, but also in our culture. The committee is made up of eight senior representatives from different areas across all regions and is committed to raising awareness of diversity and inclusion in everyday life and at all levels of our organization.

More about The Valuable 500

Responsible Care

"Voluntarily doing more than is required by laws and regulations. This is documented by the chemical industry with its globally unique Responsible Care initiative - in Germany for more than 30 years now," reads the website of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI).

Having joined the association in February 1997, we as a chemical distributor demonstrate with Responsible Care that safe and environmentally friendly handling of products is important to us, both internally and externally at the customer's site, from storage through use to disposal. Unlike quality management, Responsible Care does not have a standard, but a program of principles that includes seven main elements: Hazard prevention, communication with our partners and employees, product responsibility, environment, organization, occupational safety and transport safety. With the Responsible Care initiative, we commit ourselves to continuous improvement and report on this annually. Since the start of our Responsible Care activities, many projects have already been implemented.

More about Responsible Care

Water For People

Water For People is an international non-profit organization working on several continents to bring clean water and sanitation to four million people. Water For People is committed to the development of quality drinking water and sanitation that is accessible to all and supported by strong communities, businesses and governments.

Brenntag has been a member of Water For People since 2018. In June 2021, the company was honoured twice by the organization: Lars Schneider was appointed to the Water For People Leadership Council and Erin Sedlak was awarded the Kenneth J. Miller Founders' Award for outstanding volunteer work.

More about Water For People

Further memberships

Brenntag attaches importance to association work as in a joint approach more can be achieved. That's why we maintain an active dialogue concerning industry-specific issues as a member of relevant technical and industry associations at a local, regional and international level.