FOR THE 25TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Westlake Corporation announced it recently notified 98 college-bound students of employees in the United States and Canada that they are recipients of a Westlake Scholarship beginning the fall term of 2021.
 

This annual award of scholarships continues Westlake's on-going support of the higher education endeavors for high school students of company employees. Scholarships are generally renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study provided the student maintains specific high academic standards.​
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Joel Gray, Westlake's Vice President of Human Resources stated in describing this year's applicants, “For the 25th consecutive year we are pleased to recognize and reward high-achieving college-bound students of our employees.  We believe this important tradition has a positive impact in our communities and our workplace.  The competition for these scholarships is consistently strong and the applicants are some of the most outstanding students in each of the communities in which we operate.  The average recipient for 2021 has a GPA of 3.86 and ranks in the top 15% of their senior class. Moreover, many of these scholars have made significant contributions through numerous volunteer and civic activities.  We congratulate the students and their parents for the significant accomplishments in the classroom and the communities in which they live."

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Business Focus magazine recently spoke with Erik Keracik, Vice President of Polyethylene, about Westlake's growth, sustainability efforts, and innovative customer solutions. Click Here to read about how Westlake has continued to grow over the past 35 years in such a dynamic industry.

Vinnolit, a Westlake company, will launch climate-friendly "green” caustic soda in 2021. This product will enable customers to reduce their own carbon footprint and in turn develop more climate-friendly products.

Ismaning / Gendorf / Knapsack – Caustic soda is an important base chemical, of which more than nine million tons are needed per year in Europe alone. From 2021, the PVC and caustic soda manufacturer Vinnolit will offer certified climate-friendly caustic soda utilizing renewable energy Guarantees of Origin (GOs). The CO2 footprint of this low-carbon caustic soda from the Gendorf and Knapsack (Hürth) sites - which is introduced to the market under the brand name GreenVin - is reduced by more than 30% compared to conventional Vinnolit caustic soda. The CO2 footprint taken as a basis was calculated by sustainable AG in accordance with the ISO 14067 standard. Review and certification are carried out by TÜV Rheinland.

"We pay special attention to the quality of the renewable energy certificates through recognized additional labels. These guarantee the purchase of 100% renewable energy, excluding publicly subsidized plants, as well as the application of additional ecological criteria, such as the promotion of new green power plants as well as innovative energy transition projects," says Jürgen Luderer, Vinnolit Director Sales. "In this way, we want to contribute to a steering effect towards the energy transition."

Focus on sustainability

Vinnolit has been producing caustic soda in chlor-alkali electrolysis exclusively with the energy-saving and environmentally friendly membrane process since 2009. Since the central process step is electrified, power from renewable sources can be used to save CO2 emissions by displacing fossil fuels.

"Vinnolit is clearly committed to climate protection and supports the European political ambition of greenhouse gas-neutral chemical production by 2050," says Managing Director Dr. Karl-Martin Schellerer. "With the product launch of climate-friendly low-carbon caustic soda, we are supporting the energy transition and the fight against climate change. At the same time, we are supporting our caustic soda customers in achieving their own sustainability goals and in turn offering more climate-friendly products. Chlor-alkali electrolysis offers great potential here, also with regard to green hydrogen to support environmentally friendly mobility solutions. This complements our commitment to VinylPlus®, the European PVC industry's voluntary commitment that focuses on the sustainable development of the plastic PVC."

Vinnolit markets the climate-friendly caustic soda under the brand name GreenVin.