Best Practices Awards

Lars Schneider, President Brenntag Specialties Americas, and Erin Sedlak, Sustainability Project Manager North America, received special honors from the non-profit international development organization Water For People.

Brenntag has been involved with the organization since 2018, for which Lars Schneider was appointed to the Water for People Leadership Council in June 2021. In the future, he will help shape the global affairs of the association.

The organization also recognized Erin Sedlak with the Kenneth J. Miller Fournders' Award, which has been presented annually since 2001 for outstanding volunteerism. "It is an honor to receive the Miller Award," said Erin Sedlak. "Over the past few years, we've worked closely with Water For People to create sustainable ways to provide clean water to people in need."

In November 2018, Shawn Wiram, Director Safety, Health and Environment at Brenntag North America, was awarded the title of “Distributor of the Year” by the USA’s National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) to honour his many years of work in the areas of occupational safety, health and environmental protection and his strong commitment to the principles of the Responsible Distribution programme.

The Esteio site of Brenntag Brazil was given the city’s “Ecological Seal Award” in July 2018 for its waste separation and recycling programme, which it implemented together with the local municipality.

To begin with, Brenntag HSE managers trained the employees on how to separate waste correctly, and a corresponding disposal system was put in place at the site. The waste collected and separated is sent to a local recycling cooperative which works to increase environmental awareness among the population and generates funding for social projects by reusing the waste.

Brenntag is one of the world’s leading distributors of AdBlue^®. This is a high-purity, 32.5 % aqueous urea solution which is directly injected into the exhaust gas stream of diesel engines to reduce nitrogenoxide emissions. Since we created the AdBlue^® business in 2005, we have gained great experience in handling this product. Our services related to the filling and delivery of AdBlue^® in large and small quantities are tailored to our customers’ individual needs.

COSSU (Consumer Operated Self Service Unit), which was developed for AdBlue^® by Brenntag UK and Ireland, received an environmental award in 2018. The “APEA Environmental Protection & Improvement Award” is granted by The Sandu Foundation, a British non-profit organization. COSSU is an environmentally friendly alternative to selling the product in plastic canisters and makes it easier for fuel station operators as well as car and van drivers to avail themselves of this sustainable product.

In July 2018, Brenntag Honduras was commended by the Puerto Cortés municipality for its exemplary implementation of local environmental regulations. More than 80 companies in the municipality underwent an environmental assessment and site inspections.These included an examination of the condition of facilities, warehouse conditions, the hygiene situation, waste management, emergency measures and safety equipment, and employee training. Brenntag Honduras was one of four companies to be 100% compliant with all of the requirements.

In 2018, Brenntag received the “Germany’s best trainers” award from the business magazine Capital and the HR marketing company Ausbildung.de and Territory Embrace.

Brenntag Germany responded to a catalogue of 60 questions in the five categories of support, learning on the job, commitment of the company, opportunities for success and innovative learning methods. Having achieved the highest-possible rating of 5 stars, we are among the 500 best apprenticing companies in Germany.

In March 2017, the “liquid pool cover” Heatsavr™ distributed by Brenntag UK & Ireland was awarded the Water Efficiency Product Award in the “Industrial & Business Use” category. With this award, the independent British organization Waterwise recognizes designers and businesses which are making intensive efforts in the development and marketing of water-saving products and services. Heatsavr™ is a biologically decomposable fluid which forms a protective layer on the surface of swimming pools and thus slows evaporation. This means that less water top-up is required and less energy for heating. It also brings down the costs for dealing with humidity and air heat in indoor pools. For instance, one swimming pool operator has been able to save more than 1,000 cubic metres of water per year by using Heatsavr™. Brenntag is now supplying this product to a large number of public swimming pools, schools, universities and hotels throughout the UK and is also exclusively distributing it in many other European countries.

In March 2017, three locations in North America were rewarded for their exemplary safety performance in the supply chain for chlor-alkali products. The Chlorine Institute, a national industry association, grants its Diamond Level award to sites which have recorded zero accidents or incidents and zero environmental releases over a period of five years.

David Garner (second from left), Chairman of the Global HSE Team at Brenntag and Senior Vice President Operations Brenntag North America, was granted the NACD’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2017. In granting the award, the US National Association of Chemical Distributors rewarded his many years of exceptional work in the area of occupational safety. As a proven expert, mentor and trainer, David Garner has been involved in developing programs and systems during his career and played a significant part in improving the safety culture within the industry.

For many years now, Brenntag has taken part in the Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution (RC/RD) programme of the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA). Brenntag’s implementation of the contents of the RC/RD programme is reviewed by external experts. Our environmental performance and safe handling of chemicals are thus documented by independent third parties.

Our national organizations are regularly recognized for their achievements following such audits: Brenntag Mexico received the National Award for Excellence in Responsible Care. With this award, the national chemical association ANIQ recognized the excellent performance of Brenntag Mexico in the RC audit for distributors in 2016.

For many years now, Brenntag has taken part in the Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution (RC/RD) programme of the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA). Brenntag’s implementation of the contents of the RC/RD programme is reviewed by external experts. Our environmental performance and safe handling of chemicals are thus documented by independent third parties.

Our national organizations are regularly recognized for their achievements following such audits: For its outstanding safety culture and exemplary implementation of the RC principles throughout 2016, Brenntag UK & Ireland received the renowned Responsible Care Award for chemical distributors from the national Chemical Business Association (CBA).

The performance of our Jordi Camp site in Spain with around 90 employees was also rewarded: In June 2016, the Brenntag Iberia site received an award from the Spanish chemical industry association FEIQUE for its particular efforts in the area of occupational safety and an accident rate of 0% in 2015.

In May 2016, the Mexican industry association ANIQ granted Brenntag Mexico the award for “Best Practices in Integral Responsibility” in the “Workplace Health and Safety” category for its exemplary occupational safety measures at the Querétaro facility. The site had been accident-free for 3,000 days at this time – a period during which approximately one million tons of chemicals were mobilized.

In 2015, Brenntag UK & Ireland launched “Brenntag Giving”, a distinguished program developed and managed entirely by its employees. As a reward for the charitable commitment of its already extremely active employees and a further incentive to engage in more community projects, every month under this initiative Brenntag provides a fixed amount as a further support for a site whose employees demonstrate a particularly strong level of commitment. This site is then free to decide which good cause or registered charity will benefit from this additional financial contribution.

In May 2016, Brenntag’s efforts in this arena were recognized by the chemical distribution industry peers, as the British Chemical Business Association honored the program with its “Community Interaction Award”.

Learn more about "Brenntag Giving".

Brenntag Caribe in the Dominican Republic was the winner of the National Cleaner Production Award at the end of 2015, thanks to its holistic approach to environmental protection. The company made impressive progress in the reduction of its water and energy consumption, and developed very positively in the area of waste management. For example, from 2013 to 2015 water consumption at the location in Santo Domingo was reduced by 46%.

For many years now, Brenntag has taken part in the Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution (RC/RD) program which aims at contributing to a safe handling of chemicals and better environmental performance. Brenntag’s implementation of the contents of the RC/RD program is reviewed by external experts.

In 2015, among others, the Indonesian subsidiary PT. Brenntag received a Gold Responsible Care Award for the processes implemented and measures taken in the areas of employee and distribution safety and involvement of the community in its emergency plans and exercises.

For many years now, Brenntag has taken part in the Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution (RC/RD) program which aims at contributing to a safe handling of chemicals and better environmental performance. Brenntag’s implementation of the contents of the RC/RD program is reviewed by external experts.

Brenntag GmbH has been awarded second prize at the Responsible Care 2015 competition at German regional level (NRW). Brenntag’s project “Safety 1st – Measures for Improving Safety in the Supply Chain” impressed the panel of judges by putting forward ways to encourage safer transport of chemicals, including in the planning and preparation stages. The main focus is on a new control system for unloading tanker trucks, which would affect some 7,500 Brenntag unloading points in Germany.