Germany’s Cognis to maintain green targets

28 November 2008 12:33  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Sustainability and green targets will not fall by the wayside in the soaps and detergents sector despite the global credit crunch, an executive from the German specialty chemicals company Cognis said on Friday.
 
Discerning consumers continue to demand green products, and innovation remains integral to Cognis’s plans, said Rita Koester, global marketing director for home care chemicals.
 
“We’re convinced that the green message is not fading away,” she said.

“It’s been a key driver for Cognis from the beginning and we’re still concentrating on this. The demand for green products will not disappear.”
 
This is underlined by the commitment from the industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, she said.

To meet such stringent targets, soap producers must continue to focus on minimising packaging, reducing transport costs, optimising raw materials use and looking to natural-based oleochemicals.
 
“Everyone is serious about these obligations,” said Koester. “As a raw materials and ingredients supplier, we can contribute through innovation, where we always look to anticipate market demand.”

Koester admitted that the current volatility meant predicting what could happen in the months ahead was difficult.

Although consumption is still relatively stable and the sector is performing well – particularly the home and personal care segment – Koester said there might be a time lag, and therefore a dip, in demand in the months ahead.

“Obviously in these tough times, nobody knows for sure where the market is going but everyday life, and the use of our product, continues,” she said.

For more on Cognis visit ICIS company intelligence
Doris de Guzman’s Green Chemicals Blog looks at sustainability
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Andy Brice
+44 20 8652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly