We cannot be successful, nor can we call ourselves successful, in a society that fails>>22-Mar-10
"We cannot be successful, nor can we call ourselves successful, in a society that fails." - Feike Sijbesma, CEO DSM
I thought I should start off my first post by quoting our CEO on the topic of sustainability. It’s always a good move to quote the boss of course, but I am enormously proud to be part of an organization which has the ambition, the tools and the sense of purpose to make a difference to the needs of society through sustainable development. This is a matter which is close to our heart, and informs business decisions taken every day. At DSM Dyneema, we pride ourselves on manufacturing Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber®, and take great pleasure in seeing the material transform applications and people’s lives. At the most basic level, the inherent strength (more than 15 times stronger than steel) translates into enormous weight savings in many applications. In turn, weight savings can reduce fuel consumption (in aviation for example) and the risk of injury (in commercial fishing for example).
However, our commitment to “the 3P’s – People, Planet, Profit” goes well beyond the products we sell. For example, each project we undertake goes through a rigorous initial approval and subject stage-gate management process. ( At DSM Dyneema, we consider a project to be an organized set of activities which will deliver a change or a unique outcome – such as building a new manufacturing facility, or adapting a key business process). At each step along the path to delivery we evaluate the impact each project will have not only on the bottom line (on the Profit P) but also on People and Planet. So projects need to deliver a balance of benefits and remain consistent with the principles of sustainability. At present we have over 45 such projects which have been identified as having significant impact on all 3P’s.
My goal with this blog is to share with you as much as possible about the progress we’re making and the challenges we are facing. I will also bring news from other parts of DSM – we have a unique portfolio of businesses and competencies in Life Sciences and Material Sciences. Sharing ideas is a great way to stimulate discussion and progress. On the eve of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, let’s hope that our political leaders make the most of this opportunity, so that future generations can look back on the meeting as the start of real change.
Business Brand & Communication Director
Jeff Turner
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