Month: February 2024

Through their volunteer efforts in Thailand, Team Dow is helping support the Company’s sustainability targets to protect the climate, transform plastic waste and close the recycling loop.

For more than a decade, Dow Thailand volunteers have worked to protect the defenders of the coastline – mangrove trees. Just as the seedlings they’ve planted have taken root and grown, so has the impact of the team’s protection and restoration efforts.

Today, the Dow & Thailand Mangrove Alliance is taking mangrove conservation to the next level and engaging both public and private sectors as well as surrounding communities in reducing the impact of climate change and marine debris.

As we celebrate International Volunteer Day, we recognize that more than 75% of Team Dow volunteered at least once in the past year, which correlates with a more positive employee experience and higher satisfaction levels.

In Thailand, Team Dow is taking action together with local governments, the community and NGOs, the impact has grown from planting trees to educating local people about the value of the mangrove forest, while initiating sustainable tourism to support the local economy.

THE CHALLENGE

Mangroves are woody trees or shrubs that live on muddy coasts between land and sea. Their strong and complicated root systems enable them to protect shorelines from damaging waves and floods, reduce coastal erosion, improve water quality by filtering pollutants and act as nurseries for marine life.

Part of the “blue carbon” ecosystem, mangroves also can help capture greenhouse gases and help mitigate climate change impact by acting as powerful carbon sinks. That is, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store the carbon in their roots, branches and surrounding sediment – for up to a millennium, if left undisturbed.

That is why mangroves need our protection and restoration. But mangrove ecosystems in Thailand and across the world are under threat – damaged by coastal development, harmful fishing and farming practices, as well as pollution.

THE SOLUTION

Our team in Thailand has taken a multifaceted approach to conserve mangroves. Many of its efforts are conducted through the Dow & Thailand Mangrove Alliance, a collaboration between Dow Thailand, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Actions include:

Ongoing reforestation: About 15 years ago, Dow volunteers started to plant mangrove trees near our manufacturing site in the Pak Nam Prasae sub-district of the Rayong province, transforming a degraded land into a rich forest. Today, the Alliance aims to advance the conservation of mangroves along the coast of Thailand, covering five provinces on more than 5,000 rai (approximately 2,000 acres) of land.Raising awareness and promoting eco-tourism: With the support of local communities, we are helping promote the Pak Nam Prasae mangrove forest as a tourist attraction. The forest acts as a natural classroom and includes name cards identifying plants and signage explaining the forest’s ecological benefits. In 2022, we also worked with other partners to launch the iNaturalist application, which enables young people and the public to safely and sustainably explore mangrove wildlife.Collaborating with partners to tackle marine debris: Mangroves retain marine debris and prevent it from entering the sea. Team Dow volunteers regularly participate in cleanups, and the Alliance has created a model for waste management in the Pak Nam Prasae conservation area, passing on knowledge to the communities and visitors.Promoting carbon credit mechanisms for mangroves: Last year in Thailand, we sponsored the first “Blue Carbon Conference,” inviting government authorities, businesses, academic sectors, NGOs and local communities to brainstorm for collaborative ways to protect the wetlands and reduce climate change.

The holistic mangrove conservation program not only is beneficial to carbon reduction and biodiversity, but also creates economic and social benefits for local communities through income from a carbon credit system and tourism.

Inspiring others to act

Mangrove protection is a collective and long-term journey, calling for the efforts of individuals and organizations. Through their volunteer efforts in Thailand, Team Dow is helping support the Company’s sustainability targets to protect the climate, transform plastic waste and close the recycling loop.

On #IVD2023, we celebrate our volunteers in Thailand and worldwide who harness collective power to make an impact and exemplify the spirit of #IfEveryoneDid.

In the United States women represent 50.4% of the population, yet in the STEM field only 35% of jobs are filled by women. Every year, the number of women and girls in STEM is increasing, with a 31% increase from 2011 to 2021. We are proud to be an organization that not only uplifts and supports women in STEM but is led by an impressive group of female scientists who pave the way for future generations.

In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Henkel is excited to announce the launch of the application period for its 2024 Martha Schwarzkopf Award for Women in Science. This award, a tribute to one of the first female business leaders in Germany and a founder of the Institute for Hair Research, commemorates Martha’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit as well as the empathy and dedication with which she supported her fellow female scientists.

We also want to celebrate this day with a big thank you to all the female scientists at Henkel. Their innovations and accomplishments improve life and create value for our customers and consumers. Not only do they excel at their jobs, they are also advocates for women and girls in STEM to raise the tide for all.

Here are a few recent stories of their advocacy, skill and mentorship:

Alice Cheung and Alexis Kriegl: As high-performing scientists at Henkel, Alice and Alexis are inspiring the next generation of scientists. Alice and Alexis both volunteer as Henkel Sustainability Ambassadors where they visit schools and teach children about sustainable behavior at home. They also volunteer as Henkel Researchers’ World instructors to introduce young minds to science education. Read more about their passion for science and mentoring the next generation.

Carmen Patricia Brito: Carmen is a skillful, adaptable and courageous IT leader who is driving success at Henkel. She is an active member of Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s) ‘Henkel Women’s Network’ (HWN) and ‘Unidos’ for the Hispanic Community. Learn more about how her experiences of moving to new countries, learning new cultures and developing impactful relationships helped her find a bigger purpose within her role.

Martina Spinatsch: When it comes to women in STEM, Martina is a pioneering role model at Henkel. Throughout her 30-year career, she has consistently challenged the status quo for what it means to be a woman in engineering and R&D and was one of the founding members of an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for women leadership at Henkel. Read more about how she strives to open doors and empower female employees at all levels to pursue their career dreams.