By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : December 09, 2021 8:32 am
COVID years have highlighted the truly essential role chemicals have to play in the world to promote community welfare and healthcare
“The chemical industry is part of the problem, but I am pleased and proud to say that we are even more so, part of the solution. Our transition journey is to unleash the potential of growth at Solvay while at the same time providing customers with more sustainable alternatives for their end users for viable growth," said Dr. Ilham Kadri, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Executive Committee, Solvay.
Dr. IIham Kadri was addressing the delegates at the 15th edition of Annual GPCA Forum organized by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
Emphasizing the critical role played by chemicals in shaping the future of the planet, Dr. Kadri said, “The last two years greatly affected our people and business units. Having gone through the unprecedented times, these years also serve as a reminder that we are a big community and also highlight the fact that the chemical industry has a truly essential role to play in the world to promote community welfare and healthcare. We have seen it during the COVID-19 pandemic that our world is entirely vulnerable to epidemics, a part of which is caused by climatic change and disruption of diverse ecosystems.”
“Did you know that the Earth Overshoot Day this year was July 29th? It marks the date when humanity's demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate. We did it in less than 7 months this year. While in the 70s, the day was December 29th, it shows we seem to live beyond limits. If the entire humanity continues to consume, over use, and throw away as we do today, we will need 1.7 earths to produce resources we use and absorb our waste. And obviously, we have only one earth. Therefore, the sense of urgency is here and by the way the environmental crisis goes beyond the simple definition. There is no possibility of life, jobs, companies and profits on a dead planet,” said Dr. Kadri.
“We need to re-invent progress and at Solvay this is our purpose. We are bound by people, ideas and other elements to re-invent progress. Back in October 2019, I told the Belgian research, innovation and entrepreneurship community that the chemical industry has to be a part of the solutions,” Dr. Kadri said during her session on ‘Reinventing progress in a post pandemic world'.
Themed as “Redefine. Reshape. Reinvent - the chemical industry in a post-pandemic reality”, this edition of the Annual GPCA Forum aims to propagate key messages to redefine the challenges, reinvent strategies to capitalize on market opportunities and reshape a renewed future for the chemical industry. Bringing together stalwarts and industry experts from across the globe, the event is expected to stir strategic conversations, build strong synergies to thrive in a new reality, thus, laying the foundation for a collaborative, sustainable, and successful recovery.