Covestro is putting its own unique stamp on corporate social responsibility (CSR) through the THINC³⁰ Summit – an initiative that aims to have a positive impact on the Pittsburgh community … and well beyond. The daylong event will  take place Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Click to tweet: .@CovestroGroup to host  #THINC30 summit exploring #purpose as 4^th P of #sustainability: http://bit.ly/2uWklK4.

THINC stands for transforming, harnessing, innovating, navigating and collaborating for a purpose-driven, sustainable future by 2030. Its mission is to introduce and accelerate sustainable business development, public-private partnerships and social innovation in the Pittsburgh region by utilizing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) as a roadmap and showcasing how these goals can be achieved by leveraging the growing need for purpose among individuals, organizations and businesses.

THINC³⁰ will bring together national and local experts spotlighting Pittsburgh as one of the country’s major sustainability success stories and galvanizing Pittsburghers into further action. Confirmed THINC³⁰ Summit speakers include:

• Carl Pope, Principal Advisor, Inside Straight Strategies, and co-author of “Climate of Hope:  How Cities, Businesses and People Can Save the Planet”  

• Stephen Ritz, Founder, Green Bronx Machine, and author of “The Power of a Plant: A Teacher’s Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools”

• Aaron Hurst, Founder and CEO, Imperative Inc., and author of “The Purpose Economy”

• Bill Strickland, Manchester Bidwell Corporation

• Diana Bucco, Buhl Foundation

• Anneke Buffone, Well Being Project, University of Pennsylvania

• Court Gould, Sustainable Pittsburgh

• Leah Lizarondo, 412 Food Rescue

• Andrew McElwaine, Heinz Endowments

• Saleem Ghubril, Pittsburgh Promise

• Anna J. Siefken, Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University

• Jane Werner, Pittsburgh’s Children’s Museum/Remake Learning

• Deb Thackrah, Feeding the Spirit

• Peggy Outon, Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, Robert Morris University

• Lois Mufuka-Martin, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

• Austin Webb, RoBotany/Pure Sky Farms

The THINC³⁰ Summit is a natural extension of the company’s i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate) CSR program, according to Covestro LLC President Jerry MacCleary.

“As an organization, we’ve made a conscious decision to put sustainability at the center of our business and innovation strategy,” explains MacCleary, who is also co-chair of CEOs for Sustainability. “But we recognize we can make a greater impact through collaboration, so we’re bringing together like-minded people and organizations to write the region’s next sustainable chapter and build a template for other markets facing the same challenges.”

Individuals are integral to this region’s sustainable future, notes Rebecca Lucore, head of sustainability and CSR at Covestro LLC. “People drive change through their passion,” she says. “We’ve seen this firsthand at Covestro, where our employees have been engaged in ‘purpose’ work in this community for years – and have made a profound difference doing so.”

The company continues to build on that tradition through the Covestro Institute for Engagement at Robert Morris University, where it is pioneering a new kind of corporate philanthropy. Through skills-based volunteerism, corporate employees are using their skills and expertise to help nonprofits solve business challenges. By connecting their passions, talents and ideas to the causes they care most about, employees are fulfilling a deeper need for purpose – while ultimately helping to create a more sustainable community.

Covestro is at the forefront of companies that are basing their sustainable growth on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For example, it has committed to tie 85 percent of its R&D project spend to one or more of the goals by 2025. The company is working on sustainable solutions to solve the challenges of climate change, resource depletion, population growth and urbanization. Covestro’s vision is to “make the world a brighter place” by developing products and technologies that benefit society and reduce the impact on the environment.

Additional information about the event can be found here: www.covestro.us/thinc30.

About Covestro LLC and i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate): 
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business, which is among the world’s largest polymer companies with 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, electrical and electronics, and medical industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 15,600 people at the end of 2016.

i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate) is Covestro LLC’s companywide corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that aims to spark curiosity, to envision what could be and to help create it. Built on the three pillars of philanthropy (i³ Give), employee volunteerism (i³ Engage) and STEM education (i³ STEM), i³ seeks to create sustainable and lasting impacts. i³ Give is designed to innovate corporate philanthropy strategies that combine both human and financial resources to build stronger communities. i³ Engage re-imagines the way employees from for-profits and nonprofits engage with one another for more effective outcomes. And, i³ STEM ignites young minds to become the innovators of tomorrow through support of hands-on, inquiry-based STEM education, workforce experience and employee volunteerism.

Find more information at www.covestro.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available on the Covestro website at www.covestro.com. Covestro assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. 

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Covestro LLC

Covestro LLC

Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business. Covestro manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical and sports and leisure industries. i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate) is Covestro LLC’s companywide corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that aims to spark curiosity, to envision what could be and to help create it. Built on the three pillars of philanthropy (i³ Give), employee volunteerism (i³ Engage) and STEM education (i³ STEM), i³ seeks to create sustainable and lasting impacts.

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