Since its launch, the Fund has deployed more than €9.5 million to provide financial support to thousands of families.
In 2022, Solvay continued to support employees and local communities in need through the Solvay Solidarity Fund. Donations were made to more than 50 projects in 14 different countries, reflecting a wide range of initiatives, from supporting post-pandemic research, equipping employees and charity partners to navigate uncertainty through wellbeing workshops, to providing aid for reconstruction following the 2021 floods in Europe. A major focus however went to supporting those most affected by the conflict in Ukraine, for which Solvay was awarded the 2022 CEFIC European Responsible Care Awards in the category of Humanitarian Aid.
Overall initiatives in favor of Ukraine included:
- supporting the Belgian Red Cross-led Ukraine crisis operation with a €1 million donation, in order to strengthen Red Cross international operations on Ukrainian soil and logistical support activities in Belgium for people fleeing Ukraine.
- financing 2 ambulances with specialized medical equipment for BEforUkraine, a Belgium non profit that brings humanitarian, material and logistics aid to the Ukrainians, both in Ukraine and in Belgium.
- launching a training program for medical teams to help women who have been assaulted during the war in Hospital No. 6 in Kiev.
- supporting Group site initiatives locally in Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, Belgium and France to provide housing or collect the most needed items for refugees
In addition, Solvay received its 1,000th internal application for funding from employees due to higher demand from the new COVID-19 waves in China, and specific requests for support triggered by the war in Ukraine. Additionally, the Group identified a critical need to proactively equip employees with what they need to navigate uncertainty, build resilience and lead with a wellbeing mindset. With support from the fund, all employees were given access to a series of webinars and workshops. These successful workshops were extended to some of the Fund’s societal partners with similar needs, such as Teach for Belgium and l’Essentiel.
"The Solvay Solidarity Fund is truly one of our greatest assets and it continues to change lives. We remain focused on its first intention while broadening its scope to address societies’ needs,” said Hervé Tiberghien, Solvay Chief People Officer at Solvay. “The Fund helped safeguard education, support people through natural disasters and other forms of exceptional hardship, such as the conflict in Ukraine or floodings in Pakistan. We should be extremely proud of what we have done through our Solvay Solidarity Fund and, moving forward, we will continue to honor our responsibility to help those in need."
An overview of the Fund’s donations is detailed in the 2022 solidarity fund impact progress report.
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Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 22,000 employees in 61 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet roadmap crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering a better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of €13.4 billion in 2022. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB). Learn more at www.solvay.com
In April 2020, Solvay created the Solidarity Fund to help employees and communities cope with hardship due to the covid-19 pandemic. €15 million were donated by shareholders, directors, senior management and many employees. The Fund now also addresses other kinds of hardship, including providing relief and assistance to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
This fund is managed by the King Baudouin Foundation and led by a management committee with equal representation from the Foundation, Solvay and a third party. All three are responsible for deciding on the fund's donations based on criteria in line with the status of the King Baudouin Foundation. The accounting of the fund’s activities is subject to an annual independent audit and regular reporting on the use of the funds and impact reached.
