Corporate Social Responsibility: our approach

In a world facing countless economic, environmental and social challenges, Arkema is committed to sustainable growth. The Group has put in place a global Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. As an integral part of its strategy and its activities, it involves all Arkema stakeholders, in particular its customers, employees and suppliers.
Committing to sustainable growth
As a global player in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, Arkema aims to rank with the best in the chemical industry in CSR and sustainability.
In line with this approach and its endorsement of the principles of the Global Compact and the Responsible Care® program, the Group's CSR policy has been structured around five core commitments:
- Rank with the best-in-class in the chemical industry for safety
- Shrink the environmental footprint of our activities
- Make sustainable development a centerpiece of our innovation policy and our product lines
- Fostering the personal and collective development of our people
- Keeping open the lines of communication with all stakeholders
Keep getting better, with indicators and ojectives to back us up
Arkema put in place a management process and indicators to track the results across all our activities.
Safety: three 2025 targets
Workplace accidents
Reduce the TRIR* to less than 1.2
2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2025 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TRIR | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
Peer observation
implement the peer observation program at all sites
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2025 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
56 | 59 | 64 | 62 | 100 |
Site audits
conduct an AIMS** audit at all sites by 2025
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2025 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
63 | 69 | 74 | 80 | 100 |
* Recordable injury rate per million hours worked.
** All-in-one audit to confirm progress on safety, the environment and quality.
Environmental footprint: four 2030 targets
Arkema set three environmental targets that are measured by Environmental Footprint Performance Indicators. EFPI are not impacted by changes in scope, allowing us to better track the Groupe's performance and to measure its CSR performance.
The greenhouse gas emission target is measured in absolute emissions.
Water
cut COD by 60%
2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2030 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EFPI COD | 1.00 | 0.70 | 0.59 | 0.50 | 0.40 |
* Chemical oxygen demand
Air
reduce VOC emissions by 65%
2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2030 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EFPI VOC | 1.00 | 0.66 | 0.62 | 0.60 | 0.35 |
* Volatil organic compound
Energy
cut net energy purchases by 20% a year
2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2030 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EFPI Energy | 1.00 | 0.89 | 0.88 | 0.91 | 0.80 |
Innovation policy: one indicator
Number of sustainability related
patents filed
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
patents filed | 121 | 116 | 150 | 154 | 149 |
Individual and collective development: two 2025 diversity targets
Women as a percentage
of senior managers and executives
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2025 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
Non-French nationals
as a percentage of senior managers and executives
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Obj. 2025 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
37 | 39 | 40 | 42 |
Communication with all stakeholders: one indicator
Number of Common Ground®
initiatives carried out worldwide
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1044 | 900 | 1011 | 1064 | 990 |
A CSR initiative recognized by specialized rating agencies
The Group's approach to CSR is regularly assessed by external stakeholders, in particular by customers and non-financial rating agencies (CDP, EcoVadis, Vigeo, RobecoSAM, Oekom, Sustainalytics).
Furthermore, in 2015 Arkema was included in the FTSE4Good non-financial global index which lists exemplary companies around the world, and so reflects the Group's sound performance in CSR matters.
Operating ethically

United Nations Global Compact
Arkema is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, a program addressing such issues as respect for human rights and international labor standards, environmental protection, and the fight against corruption.
In addition to the principles of the Global Compact, the Group's values also extend to those of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and those expressed by the International Labour Organization and in the OECD's Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises.

Responsible Care®
Arkema endorses the Responsible Care® program. Launched under the auspices of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), this initiative reflects the voluntary commitment of the world’s chemical industries to safeguarding health and the environment, in particular through the product stewardship approach.