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Environmental, Health and Safety affairs are an important basis for long-term economic success. For Celanese,
well above average performance in these areas, combined with efficient usage of raw materials and energy, as
well as the production of environmentally friendly, safe products are as much a part of sustainability as
good relations between the sites and their neighboring communities and society at large.
In the past, sizeable investments in environmental protection facilities, such as water treatment plants
and filters, were necessary to reduce emissions. Today we have reached a high level of environmental protection.
Process improvements have enabled us to further reduce our operative costs and impact on the environment. Many
investments which have positive impacts on the environment, e.g. improving energy usage, are no longer
treated as environmental protection investments since they are aimed at increasing capacity and
improving efficiency.
In 2002, Celanese had a total of € 102 million in environmental protection expenses, 4 % less
than the previous year. € 4 million of this amount was used for investment projects compared
to € 8 million in 2001. These expenses enabled Celanese to meet legal obligations, implement
further environmental protection initiatives, and remediate or ensure against residual waste.
Environmental protection and safety are an integral part of the supply chain which extends from the
procurement of raw materials through chemical production to sales and marketing and waste disposal.
We have defined and optimized those processes which have particularly strong impacts on the environment
and safety. These efforts include Integrated EHS management systems to improve standardization and coordination
and best practices that can be adopted across the company and optimized processes in order to avoid
duplications. Integrated management systems have already been introduced in Europe and at most U.S.
sites. They will be implemented at the remaining sites in the near future.
Energy efficiency can be enhanced by improving the processes, through technical improvements and innovative
products. Celanese is constantly engaged in increasing the energy efficiency of its plants, processes and
products. The company’s aim is to reduce the consumption of energy and specific emissions per ton of product.
One of the company’s main objectives is the constant improvement of safety in the workplace along with a
reduction in the number of accidents and operational disruptions. Using a variety of programs, Celanese
AG’s businesses attempt to achieve excellent performance in workplace and plant safety, and to maintain
this high level on a long-term basis. Their ultimate goal is to have no accidents or operational
interruptions of any kind.
Celanese constantly monitors the individual businesses’ performance in workplace and plant safety using
global performance metrics (GPM). This system compiles data on those incidents related to environment,
health and safety, using standardized definitions and criteria. It has been introduced in all the businesses.
Depending on how serious an incident is, it is assigned to one of three GPM categories. Category I
incidents are the more serious and Category III the least serious. Employee and contractor injuries
are also assigned to categories based on these criteria.
Investigations of accidents or near-miss incidents help the company to use the knowledge and experience
gained to improve worker and workplace safety.
In 2002, there were 24 Category I and II injuries at the Celanese AG businesses, compared to
48 incidents in 2001 and 88 in 2000. This marked improvement encourages us to continue our
efforts to reduce the number of accidents.
The number of incidents involving fire and explosions or with other environmental impacts, such as
leakages, has also declined in the past few years.
Celanese’s success in reducing the number of incidents is based on technical improvements, additional
safety facilities and organizational improvements, quickly implementing measures that proved successful
in one business in the other businesses, integrated environmental protection and safety management
systems, as well as a clear commitment to safety and environmental protection on the part of
company management and employees. The businesses’ performance in incidents with an environmental
impact, accidents at the workplace, and operational disturbances is a factor used to calculate
the bonuses paid to exempt salaried employees and company management; it figures in the bonus
payments for all employees in the U.S.
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