Elevating safety and ethics > Safety first
Safety First
Health and Safety are our company's core pillars, reflecting our commitment to protecting employees, contractors, the environment, and our local communities. We regard safety as a fundamental condition of our operation, aspiring to set industry benchmarks in both process and personal safety. Our ultimate aim is to achieve safe and stable production, ensuring the reliable delivery of our products to customers.
QHSE Policy
Our approach to Health & Safety is encapsulated in our Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) Policy:
We are dedicated to providing our customers with products that are not only safe, reliable, and durable, but also meet agreed-upon specifications.
Adhering to laws and regulations is foundational to our operations.
Through our QHSE systems, we proactively identify and manage risks, and we continually improve by learning from our experiences.
Elevating safety and ethics > 2023 health and safety figures
2023 health and safety figures
Our commitment to health and safety drives every aspect of our development and manufacturing processes. We operate in an environment where handling hazardous chemicals and managing complex machinery are daily necessities. Safety isn't optional; it's fundamental to our business. We must safeguard our entire workforce, including contractors and the communities surrounding our operations.
Peter ter Horst
CEO, Teijin Aramid
"Safety is not just a priority; safety is the basic condition for doing our jobs. At the end of the day, we must all go home safe."
We aim to set the benchmark in safety standards. Our strategy highlights the importance of labor safety, focusing on the health and welfare of our workforce, and process safety, ensuring our facilities operate seamlessly.
Labor safety
Despite the ongoing "Safety First" campaign, we've yet to see these efforts fully reflected in our safety metrics. While we've successfully reduced Lost Time Injuries (LTIs), leading to fewer hours lost to incidents, our Total Recordable Rate (TRR) has increased. This indicates a need for a stronger emphasis on consistent behaviors and safety practices.
The graphs below display data from 2010 to 2023 on three key safety metrics: Total Recordable Rate (TRR), Lost Time Injury (LTI) Frequency Rate, and Illness Rate (IR).
Total Recordable Rate (TRR)
TRR measures the total number of workplace injuries and illnesses recorded per million hours worked.
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTI)
The LTI Frequency Rate tracks the occurrence of LTIs per million hours worked.
Illness Rate (IR)
IR refers to the frequency or rate at which work-related illnesses occur within the company's workforce during a specific period of time.
In response, we're honing our focus on behavioral change and uniformity in safety protocols. Learning from our peers, particularly through collaboration with our Japanese colleagues, remains a key part of our strategy.
Process safety
Process safety is vital for maintaining the integrity of our facilities to prevent chemical leaks and reduce the risk of fires and explosions. Our Process Safety Management (PSM) system adheres to industry standards set by the Centre for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS). This system employs a risk-based approach, where thorough assessments lead to tailored PSM plans. Every one of our locations operates under a detailed plan that strengthens our control over operational processes, aiming to minimize incidents and maximize performance.
Elevating safety and ethics > Enhancing safety through dedicated programs
Enhancing safety through dedicated programs
To elevate our safety performance, we've initiated two programs: Safety First and Zero Leakage.
Our Safety First Program focuses on enhancing safety awareness and risk sensitivity of employees. Communication and standardization are key components of this program, encouraging our team to identify and address potential safety risks proactively. Our approach includes using insights from past incidents to inform our safety practices.
A notable initiative under this program is the introduction of “Safety Coaches” at our Emmen production site, where designated coaches across shifts assist with various safety matters and lead weekly safety awareness tours. Monthly meetings among safety coaches facilitate the discussion of safety concerns and the planning of necessary actions.
The Zero Leakage Program, launched in 2023, aims at bolstering process safety with an emphasis on preventing leakages from our equipment, which can involve various chemicals and gases. A leakage is not limited to major spills. Even a minor drip beneath the equipment is considered a leakage under this program. We understand the potential hazards associated with such leakages, including the possibility of toxic chemicals leaching into the environment. However, it's important to note that this is the worst-case scenario, and our program aims to prevent such incidents from occurring.
The Zero Leakage Program covers alarm management, work instructions, and asset integrity, among other aspects. A significant part of this effort is dedicated to documenting every leakage to enhance our knowledge and preventative measures. Initially rolled out in Delfzijl and Emmen, this program is set to extend to our Arnhem location in the coming year.
Elevating safety and ethics > Ethical commitments
Ethical commitments
Over recent years, we've dedicated ourselves to fostering initiatives centered on Integrity and Ethics, guided by the 24 chapters of our Code of Conduct. These initiatives span five key areas:
Together
Environment, safety & health
Integrity
Joy at work
INnovation
Integrating core behaviors
To embed these five key areas deeply within our culture, we've developed a range of training programs, including e-learning and practical sessions. Essential training, such as those on the Code of Conduct and Information Security, is mandatory for all employees. Other training, tailored to specific roles like anti-bribery, competition law, and export control, is given to relevant groups to ensure applicability.
Enhancing Participation
While we aim to strike a balance between the need for comprehensive knowledge and the training workload, participation in mandatory training sessions has not reached optimal levels. We are actively working on strategies to boost these figures, recognizing the importance of full participation for a well-informed, ethical, and inclusive workplace.
Elevating safety and ethics > Strengthening integrity and ethics
Strengthening integrity and ethics
In 2023, we implemented our Integrity & Ethics Policy alongside a Sustainable Purchasing Policy, reinforcing our commitment to promoting desirable behavior and defining clear follow-up actions.
Annual Reporting and Accountability
Our annual Integrity & Ethics Report to the Board outlines developments both globally and within Teijin Aramid. It includes recommendations for organizational improvement and details on the utilization of our speak-up channels, ensuring transparency and actionable oversight by the Board.
Focus on Human Rights
Teijin Limited's 2023 assessment of Human Rights within our value chain helped maintain a general awareness of this critical issue while honing in on specific areas requiring attention, reaffirming our commitment to responsible global business practices.
Engaging Our Community
The connection and open dialogue between the Board, management, and our employees are fundamental to our culture. Through initiatives like Roadshows, management update sessions, and feedback mechanisms such as Employee Engagement and Awareness Surveys, we foster a vibrant, communicative workplace.
This year’s highlights include
- Integrity and Ethics sessions with our Global Leadership Team to sharpen decision-making with our Traffic Light Model as a guide.
- Ethics Month (October) spotlighted key Code of Conduct principles and sparked positive discussions company-wide.
- Dynamic exchanges flourished through Works Councils, Roadshows, and on-site meetings, enhancing the conversation between management and staff.
- Surveys this year pinpointed growth opportunities, prompting us to take decisive action.
- A comprehensive report on all reported issues was presented to the Board, ensuring integrity and ethics remain at the forefront of the Board’s priorities.
Elevating safety and ethics > Diversity and inclusion
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity is the catalyst behind the innovation that drives our energy transition and the development of sustainable products. By embracing inclusion, we ensure that every voice has the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet.
We recognize the symbiotic relationship between innovation and a welcoming, inclusive corporate environment. It's our core mission to nurture this environment, aiming for a workplace characterized by respectful interactions and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Diversity and inclusion are woven into the fabric of our identity, underpinned by our PURE values: Passion, Unity, Respect, and Excellence. These principles guide our internal culture and our relationships with customers and partners.
Embracing diversity
Evidence shows that organizations with diverse teams are more innovative. Such diversity fosters better decision-making, enhanced performance, and results that exceed expectations.
At our core, we believe diversity extends beyond mere gender inclusion within our teams. We are striving to encompass a cross-section of cultural backgrounds, ages, appearances, sexual orientations, ways of thinking, and skill sets.
Inclusion and connection
Inclusion means fostering a sense of connection and the freedom to be yourself. We aim to cultivate a workplace where employees feel seen, heard, and valued for their unique contributions. Respect is at the heart of our culture, recognizing each individual's worth, and uniting us around shared goals, standards, and values.
Progress through diversity
Inclusion is a bridge-builder and unifier, requiring everyone's participation to forge meaningful change. We envision a future with more women in both production and executive roles, enhancing our organizational success, sustainability, and partnership capabilities.
Despite the challenges of a male-dominated industry, we are committed to paving the way for a more inclusive future. Our initiatives aim to spark local actions, such as forming a network of executive women focused on collaboration and development, participating in Girls’ Day to motivate young girls towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, and leveraging the Young Teijin group for fresh perspectives.
Inclusion drives positive change and, in 2023, we celebrated International Women's Day to highlight gender equality within the chemical industry. Welcoming more women into our workforce and empowering them in decision-making roles are crucial steps toward enriching our global organization.
Elevating safety and ethics > Commitment to continuous learning
Commitment to continuous learning
We invested heavily in new training materials in 2023. Practical instructors from across the company collaborated to share best practices and instructional methods.
Sandra Gaarenstroom
Learning & Development Manager
"Over the past year, we have focused extensively on our learning culture within Teijin Aramid from the perspective of sustainable employability and sustainable human development. On one hand, with a clear focus on mandatory training and practical instruction. On the other hand, by adopting a broader view of learning. After all, a learning culture is much more than just attending a course."
Our approach to learning includes a comprehensive onboarding process for new employees. They are assigned a "buddy" and undergo educational and safety training courses. This integration helps newcomers quickly learn the ins and outs of the organization, feel welcomed, and become operational as fast as possible. In 2023, the company also trained several facilitators for peer supervision. These facilitators guide young professionals in the program, helping them discuss and learn from real-life cases collaboratively.
We view curiosity as the foundation of a learning mindset, essential for performance, readiness to change, continuous improvement, and innovation. We encourage curiosity, urging team members to ask questions and be open to different perspectives.
Each employee is allocated a personal training budget. Whether someone wishes to pursue a course relevant to their function or explore something completely new, we facilitate this through our personal training budget. This policy empowers team members to continue developing themselves.
Elevating safety and ethics > The employee voice: Sustainability in R&D
The employee voice: Sustainability in R&D
Sustainability is woven into the fabric of our corporate mission.
Kenji Kawamura
Department Manager Solution Development
"Sustainability is about crafting solutions that allow our organization and society to flourish in the long term, beyond the immediate gains for any individual or group."
Integrating sustainability into R&D
Our focus is on developing technologies that meet customer needs and advance long-term sustainability goals. We're innovating in areas like color technology to make recycled fibers more appealing, addressing both market demands and environmental considerations.
By opting for products with increased recycled content, for example tires, consumers enjoy the same benefits of lighter weight and increased efficiency while also contributing to environmental sustainability. End-users can make ethical choices by choosing high-performance products that perform well but have been produced with lower CO2 emissions, helping to reduce environmental impact.
We want to showcase how sustainable, high-performance materials not only benefit the environment but also offer direct advantages to end users. By choosing products with increased recycled content, customers gain the benefit of, for example, lighter-weight options that don't compromise on performance and better efficiency with lower CO2 emissions. Investing in sustainable development isn't just about making ethical choices — it's about enjoying products that perform well while helping to reduce environmental impact.
In our team, views on sustainability vary. Some see it as an essential evolution, drawing from experience, while others view it as fundamental to modern life and work. Their enthusiasm drives us to integrate sustainability into everything we do.
Navigating challenges
The market's growing demand for sustainable solutions signals an opportunity for us to prioritize and champion these initiatives internally. Embracing this vision is pivotal for our growth and innovation in sustainable technology.
A source of immense pride is a dedicated and passionate global team united in our sustainable development mission. Their collaboration, driven by a shared purpose, is fundamental to our achievements and ambitions.
Elevating safety and ethics > The employee voice: Green budget implemented
The employee voice: Green budget implemented
Since spring 2023, we have embraced green employment conditions within our collective labor agreement (CLA). This agreement, reached with unions, outlines enhanced sustainability-focused benefits and working conditions that align with our strategic goals.
As a committed producer of sustainable aramid fibers, we're integrating our strategic sustainability goals across all facets of our operations. Through our green budget initiative, we're helping employees make eco-friendly upgrades to their homes, accelerating the transition toward sustainability practices outside the company.
Investing in a sustainable future
Each employee is allocated a gross amount of €1,500 through the green budget, dedicated to funding sustainable home improvements such as solar panels, charging stations for electric vehicles, heat pumps, induction stoves, high-efficiency insulation glass (HR++ or HR+++), or consulting with an energy coach. This initiative not only aids in reducing CO2 emissions but also enriches our employees' lives while giving tangible shape to our commitment to sustainability.
Impact and engagement
Implemented in May 2023 as part of our collective labor agreement, the green budget has seen approximately 30% of our workforce submit a 'sustainability invoice' within the first year. Solar panel installations have emerged as the most popular choice, followed by induction stoves and insulation glass. This enthusiastic participation underscores our team's commitment to making a positive environmental impact.
Attracting talent with sustainable values
While the green budget benefits our current employees and the environment, it has become a key drawcard for prospective talent. This initiative, alongside the fully discretionary personal development budget introduced in November 2023, highlights our dedication to personal and planetary well-being, positioning us as a preferred employer for those who share our vision for a greener world.
"Knowing that my employer shares my sustainability values makes me proud to be part of the team"
Stijn Reijmer
Sustainable Business Development Manager
Elevating safety and ethics > CSR activity in Japan
CSR activity in Japan
As active members of the community, we value participating in local activities, including volunteering and promoting culture and sports. Takehiro Nakagoe, an employee at the Technora factory in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, exemplifies this commitment. A former basketball player with over 25 years of experience, Nakagoe has been coaching local elementary school basketball teams for more than 15 years.
He coaches these teams five times a week, leading them to success in major tournaments. To date, he has coached nearly 100 students, fostering their growth in health, teamwork, and leadership. Additionally, Nakagoe serves on the board of local sports federations, playing a key role in advancing basketball throughout Ehime Prefecture. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped develop new safety protocols for basketball games, ensuring children could continue playing safely and competitively.
Nakagoe's long-standing dedication to community sports has made him a local icon, admired by young athletes and their parents alike.
