Lanxess AG : World Economic Forum...energized by LANXESS

LANXESS CEO Axel C. Heitmann at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "The links between economic growth and resource consumption must be weakened."

Davos, Switzerland - Once a year, politicians, business leaders and experts flock to the World Economic Forum in Davos, an exclusive ski resort in Switzerland. The Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by bringing together leading figures from the worlds of business, politics, academia and others to shape global, regional and industry agendas. This year's WEF focuses on the following topics: Growth and employment models, leadership and innovation models, sustainability and resource models, and social and technological models.

On January 25, the Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel gave the opening address marking the start of this year's WEF. Dr. Axel C. Heitmann, Chairman of LANXESS's Board of Management, will be there to represent the group.

Heitmann has issued the following statement:

"The facts speak for themselves and leave little room for interpretation.

First: In the last 30 years, consumption of raw materials worldwide has risen by 70 percent. Second: Oil consumption alone would double if China tomorrow had the same standard of living as the United States. Third: Sooner or later, our oil reserves will run out. In the meantime, oil is becoming ever more expensive. Fourth: Man-made climate change continues unabated. International governments have so far been unable to agree coordinated and effective countermeasures - Durban is a case in point. Finally fifth: Despite all this, a global economic system without growth is not a realistic prospect.

The conclusion is therefore clear: If the economy cannot find a way to secure its existence in the long term, it will erode its own foundation. It therefore follows that the links between economic growth and resource consumption must be weakened. After all, sustainability means making more out of less. The chemical industry is already showing how this is possible in terms of energy efficiency, for example. Every metric ton of climate gas generated today in the production of chemicals worldwide helps to reduce emissions elsewhere by up to two-and-a-half tons.

The German chemical industry in particular has already made considerable progress in this area. Others are following suit when it comes to making consistent use of the opportunities afforded by the new sustainability technologies. Some call this "green", others call it "blue", but it is essentially one and the same thing - technology.

This technology is making it increasingly possible, for example, to replace oil-based source materials with waste and renewable raw materials. State-of-the-art waste gas treatment can dramatically cut CO2 emissions. And the progress being made with intelligent basic products is helping to save energy and raw materials and reduce emissions across all industries. For example, standardized labeling will soon be in place for all car tires. As with refrigerators, these labels will inform consumers of the tires' contribution to environmental protection, because better rubber means less rolling resistance, which in turn reduces fuel consumption. If all passenger cars and trucks were equipped with the best possible tires today, this would cut annual CO2 emissions by up to 50 million metric tons. In its position as the world's leading synthetic rubber manufacturer, LANXESS makes this possible.

That is why it is just as important to invest in the industrial development of opportunities like this as it is to use new forms of energy and to improve energy efficiency in actual production. Ultimately, this approach to sustainability brings not only ecological and economic advantages but social benefits, too. Investments in pioneering technologies not only safeguard competitiveness and jobs in the western world - they improve living conditions in emerging markets as well. The global economy is responsible for both."