Evonik Innovation Center recognized for sustainability

Evonik Innovation Center recognized for sustainability

Essen, The new innovation center of the Consumer Specialties Business Unit (CS) at the Goldschmidtstraße site has been certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The German quality seal for sustainable construction certifies buildings in six different areas, ranging from ecological to sociocultural and functional quality. The recent certification in the highest category, Gold, confirms that the new structure of Evonik fully meets more than sixty criteria.

"In our Innovation Center we are researching the technologies of the future. We test promising new solutions and continuously advance existing products," explains Claus Rettig, Head of the Consumer Specialties Business Unit.

The Group invested close to €17 million to ensure that the innovation center not only meets internal requirements, but also complies with modern ecological standards. The Sustainable Building Council engages in reviewing resource efficiency in the area of energy, but also looks at aspects such as water consumption or materials used in construction.

The new Innovation Center covers a total area of 5,000 square meters over five floors. In addition to research and development laboratories, it holds office spaces and a special, separate workshop area for collaborations with customers.
Some ninety employees work in the center to advance innovations, primarily for applications in the cosmetic industry. "Sustainability is a guiding principle in development of new products, which is also reflected in the planning and design of the new laboratory building, the workplace of our researchers," notes Dr. Stefan Silber, Senior Vice President Innovation Management in the Consumer Specialties Business Unit.