On Monday, our Americas Technology Centre (ATC), located in Akron, Ohio, was presented with the 2025 Award for Excellence at the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council’s (OCTC) 36th Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
This award recognises outstanding achievements in environmental, health, safety, and security performance within Ohio’s chemical industry, and was presented to our Green Lab Committee—a grassroots initiative driven by our employees to make our workplace more sustainable.
A group of dedicated Synthomer employees formed the Green Lab Committee in 2022, setting out to explore innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. Through collaborative brainstorming, research, and strategic execution, the committee has successfully introduced high-impact initiatives that are driving real change within ATC.
One of the committee’s standout initiatives focused on reducing plastic waste within ATC by eliminating single-use plastic water bottles. In 2022 alone, ATC distributed 4,680 plastic bottles to employees, introducing approximately 46.8kg of plastic into the environment.
In response, the Green Lab Committee proposed a transition to Synthomer-branded stainless-steel cups, filtered water stations, and flavoured water packets—all at a lower cost compared to purchasing the 4,000+ plastic water bottles.
This initiative significantly reduced plastic waste at the ATC facility, encouraging responsible consumption habits as a result.
Sonya Varga, Head of the Green Lab Committee at Synthomer, comments: “The Green Lab Committee exemplifies our corporate commitment to environmental stewardship. Through innovation, collaboration, and action-driven leadership, the committee has redefined workplace sustainability, proving that meaningful change starts with each of us.”
At Synthomer, we embrace sustainability as a continuous journey. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to driving innovation and reducing our environmental impact.
Notes to editors
About Synthomer plc
Synthomer plc is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets for customers who serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our five innovation centres of excellence and 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia.
Our purpose is creating innovative and sustainable solutions for the benefit of customers and society. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products. At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, China, Germany, Malaysia and USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Our 2030 decarbonisation targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as being in line with what the latest climate science says is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and since 2021 we have held the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. Find us at www.synthomer.com or search for Synthomer on LinkedIn.