• Circularity is the central theme for this year’s report
• Use of the Circulytics tool developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• Highlights of the year and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as per international standards

Mumbai, India and Marietta, USA, September 9, 2020 – Birla Carbon, a leading global manufacturer, and supplier of carbon black, today released its eighth annual sustainability report titled – Bending Towards Circularity. The 2020 report focusses on Birla Carbon’s journey in the direction of becoming circular in its business model. The Circulytics tool used is developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where circularity is measured on three guiding principles; design out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

The online report is available at – http://birlacarbon.com/sustainability-at-birla-carbon/.

Announcing the release of the report and Birla Carbon’s initiatives in the backdrop of the global pandemic, Dr. Santrupt B. Misra, Chief Executive Officer, Birla Carbon, Director, Chemicals and Director, Group Human Resources, Aditya Birla Group, said, “The year 2020 has been full of unparalleled surprises for the world. The true test of survival has been the ability to respond to ever evolving external dynamics. At Birla Carbon, we believe that ‘Tough times don’t last, smart and tough companies do’. And this is precisely the spirit that is reflected in our Sustainability Report.”

He further added, “Eight years ago, we adopted Sustainable Operational Excellence (SOE), as our guiding light for Sustainability. A strategy focused on the three pillars of People, Product, and Process, which influences every decision we make. This year, we have taken SOE a step further and introduced circularity as the next organic move. Within this theme, lies the essence of our commitment towards modifying an otherwise linear value chain by introducing a more regenerative approach. The 2020 Report assesses our sustainability efforts keeping our Purpose at its core and tying in our innovation culture to serve our customers and stakeholders better.”

View Dr. Misra’s video message here and the detailed written message here.

Joe Gaynor, Chief Legal, Sustainability and Risk Officer, Birla Carbon, shares his views on the release of the report saying, “Birla Carbon has been at the forefront of Sustainability in the carbon black industry for almost a decade. SOE has been the central pillar of our sustainability strategy, with particular focus on the environment and the health and safety of our employees, contractors, and the communities in which we operate.” He further added, “The 2020 report highlights the ways in which we can do our part to encourage a circular economy for the carbon black industry. Through these efforts, we look forward to empowering our customers and suppliers in their sustainability programs through sustainable innovation.”

The 2020 report continues to focus on the KPIs and showcases Birla Carbon’s year-on-year progress against each. While being the global leader in the carbon black industry, Birla Carbon aims to remain the preferred sustainable partner to its customers and stakeholders by imbibing innovation in its day-to-day working.

Key Highlights of the report –

• 75% of our plants are net energy positive
• 100% of our sites used recycled process water and/or rainwater in their operations
• Repurposed 60% of our material waste in FY2020
• Became the first carbon black multinational to receive IATF certification across all its manufacturing plants
• Was awarded a Gold rating by EcoVadis for the fourth consecutive year
• All 9,000+ suppliers screened using NAVEX Global’s RiskRate® due diligence system
• Remained above the chemical industry benchmark for employee engagement
• 100% of facilities participated in community engagement

The online report is available at – https://www.birlacarbon.com/sustainability-at-birla-carbon/. For any questions, clarifications, and feedback, write to the Birla Carbon Sustainability team at birlacarbon.sustainability@adityabirla.com

The Downloads section on the Sustainability report website provides links for all certificates, policies, statements, and guides pertaining to Birla Carbon and its operations globally.

About Birla Carbon

Birla Carbon is a leading global supplier of carbon black. As one of the flagship businesses of the leading Indian multinational conglomerate, the Aditya Birla Group, Birla Carbon provides innovative sustainable carbon black solutions that enhance the performance of paints and coatings, inks, and toners, plastics, adhesives, sealants, textile fibers, mechanical rubber goods, and tires. The company’s footprint extends across 12 countries with 16 manufacturing facilities and two state-of-the-art technology centers in Marietta (USA) and Taloja (India), providing industry-leading innovation. Its Sustainable Operational Excellence (SOE) strategy focuses on employee safety, environmental stewardship, efficient use of carbon sources, and operating in a socially and ethically responsible manner. For more information, visit https://www.birlacarbon.com.

For more information, please contact:
Roysten Dmello
Corporate Communications
Birla Carbon
roysten.dmello@adityabirla.com