Turning the chemical business green

Turning the chemical business green

By Julie Yoon Hussey | Jul 1, 2010

Green Channel: Could you give a brief overview of Rhodia?
Kenneth Goh: Rhodia is in the special chemicals industry. In terms of business, we are cut across global business units, each specializes in its own product lines. Most of the products that we have are typically in the top three leadership position. In fact, we’ve revamped ourselves to where we are right now five years ago to be leading players in any field that we're in. That was a total transformation that we made. In terms of our profitability, we seem to be now a leading player in at least that particular space within the chemical industry where we can quite safely say, in terms of margins, in terms of topline, we're somewhere at the leading position. 
 
Your role in the company, is shared services for information systems across Asia Pacific, across business. Do you have a role in the green area for the company?
Yes. As part and parcel of the Rhodia way – basically our sustainability program that on a corporate-wide basis we have embarked upon – it is deemed upon as one of key value drivers within the organization. Green IT is part and parcel of this Rhodia way and I do lead the green IT movement within Rhodia itself on a worldwide basis. We report publicly on the sustainable activities that we embark upon.  
 
You have six business divisions including eco services and energy services. Is that part of sustainable development or something separate?
It's two separate businesses actually. Eco services is only found in the US. It's more to do with “recycling” of certain chemicals. If I'm not mistaken we are the only one doing that business in the US. It's a service that we offer to other companies. We bring in the chemicals and we do something about it, “recycle” it.  
Energy business is a brand new business. This is tightly linked to the CER business, the company emission. This is where those who are involved in the Kyoto Protocol, which Rhodia is one of the leading players in that field, that is what the energy business is all about. 
 

Add comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.