Solvay mobilises in support for Ukraine
Humanitarian aid, Belgium
Solvay featured in the 2022 Responsible Care Awards Gallery: “Supporting Ukraine and a sustainable EU society”
Solvay has launched a number of global and local initiatives to support relief efforts for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. This includes support for Ukrainian victims as well as individual support for Solvay employees and their families affected by the conflict.
Global initiatives
At global level, Solvay has acted on two fronts, suspending operations and new investments in Russia, as well as dividend payments from its independent 50:50 joint venture there, and donating €1 million from the Solvay Solidarity Fund (SSF) to the Belgian and International Red Cross. This money was used to support relief efforts for Ukrainian civilians, helping to provide access to clean water, medicine and medical equipment, repair vital infrastructure and improve living conditions.
Solvay also committed to matching private monetary donations made by their employees, raising €125,000 in total. With this money, the SSF helped Belgian charity Be For Ukraine pay for two ambulances and medical equipment. They are also supporting Magnificent, a non-profit “shop with a heart”, which helps provide clothes, underwear, nightwear, shoes and hygiene products to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Belgium and support them in finding jobs and housing, and participating in social activities.
An additional €130,000 from the SSF was donated to provide medical equipment and training on the treatment of war rapes at Kiev’s Hospital No. 6. Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels is coordinating these two actions following an analysis of medical and social needs carried out during an exploratory mission in May 2022 by the City of Brussels and St. Peter’s University Hospital in Kiev.
Local initiatives
Solvay sites globally were encouraged to translate corporate actions into local initiatives, with money from the SSF made available to support these initiatives. Sites have been working with their local communities to provide much-needed aid and assistance for relief efforts or providing more direct support for Ukrainian refugees in the local area. In addition to initiatives at sites in Spain, Italy, Belgium and France, among others, two of the most notable were launched in Rheinberg, Germany and Włocławek, Poland.
In Rheinberg, Solvay employees converted apartments located at the site into housing for refugees. Using €70,000 of SSF money and volunteering their own free time, they renovated and furnished eight apartments to house between 30-35 Ukrainians.
In Poland, employees worked with the local city hall to identify and collect the items most needed by refugees in the area. They also collected money for a local foundation, with all Solvay employee contributions matched through the SSF. Inspired by this, employees in Lyon, France, also joined the effort, collecting vital aid that was transported to the site in Poland.
Solvay has also been working hard to ensure the safety of their employees and their families located in Ukraine. This has involved offering help and support both for those who have chosen to leave and those who have chosen to stay. A support network was set up that allows them to remain in regular contact with these employees and assist them if needed.