Steady increase in competitiveness and the profitability of our business unit, long-term protection of jobs, as well as continuous improvement with regard to the quality of products and services, environmental and health protection, and plant and occupational safety, beyond the high standards already achieved, are objectives of equal importance in our eyes.

Employees in the business unit are guided by the following principles:

• think and act as entrepreneurs, increase the value of the company, enhance its profitability and generate appropriate returns,
• assume responsibility, be a model for others to emulate, foster innovation and initiative,
• show enthusiasm for one's work and strive for top performance,
• see the meeting of requirements as an essential quality criterion, learn from mistakes,
• utilise in an optimal way the potential of subordinate staff by supporting individual development and by delegating tasks and authority to an extensive degree,
• create a working climate governed by quality, safety and environmental awareness, as well as team spirit and a focus on common goals,
• develop and produce high-quality products that, when handled properly, can be used safely and with little risk to the environment,
• comply with laws and regulations in force, meet the requirements deriving from self-imposed commitments and internal standards,
• manufacture products and perform services in a safe manner, avoid risks for other employees, neighbourhood areas and the environment,
• take precautionary action against accidents and disruptions of operations, as part of a comprehensive emergency management system, while minimising any impacts of accidents and disruptions on humans and the environment by taking appropriate measures,
• minimise the environmental impacts of operations, to a financially feasible extent, on the basis of the precautionary principle,
• refine continuously all business and operational processes of relevance for the environment and safety, taking into consideration the best available technology,
• when selecting suppliers of products and services, take into account whether they have installed a suitable management system for protecting people and the environment, and for ensuring that the standards of their products and services meet requirements,
• select, inform and advise sales partners and carriers in such a way that feedstocks and products can be safely transported on transport routes both within and outside sites,
• provide our customers with all the information they require in order to handle and use the products we make,
• cultivate forms of communication and interpersonal behaviour characterised by respect, objectivity, fairness, frankness, integrity and reliability, both within the company and with our business partners, authorities and the public in general.