In an award ceremony held on June 1, the European Commission acknowledged Cork-based Cognis Ireland as one of the 12 best companies in Europe in terms of environmental practice. With its toluene distillation project, Cognis Ireland was one of three finalists competing in the Process Technology section of the European Sustainable Development Awards. The this year’s European competition included over 100 companies from 15 countries.

“Although we did not win the first prize, we are honored to be among the best companies nominated for this prestigious Europe-wide award,” said Mr. Enda Quigley, Managing Director, Cognis Ireland. “As a company, we are committed to excellence in all aspects of our operations, instilling high environmental values in all employees, while utilizing best environmental practice at all times”, continued Mr. Quigley.

Cognis Ireland’s project entry is entitled “Environmental Sustainability through Solvent and Energy Recovery Technologies”, and the company is one of three finalists competing in the Process Technology Section of the competition. The project deals with the recovery of a process solvent through distillation and energy recovery and won the overall award at the IBEC National Environmental Awards held towards the end of 2003. The project was originally sponsored under the EU LIFE Program.

The Sustainable Development Awards ceremony was held during Green Week – an annual European Commission event. Green Week, which is held over a four day period, offers a conference program, exhibition, sustainable stock market and an ‘Oscars’ style ceremony for the European Awards for the environment. Four thousand visitors attend the Green Week conference and exhibition every year.

Cognis Ireland, which employs 123 people at its Little Island facility in Co. Cork, manufactures LIX® reagents which are designed to extract non-ferrous metals at very high purity levels from their ores by solvent extraction. The company is well known for its positive environmental record. It has won the National Better Environment Award for Irish Industry on three occasions in 1996, 1998 and 2003 and won a European award for its commitment to sustainability in 1996. The National Awards were given for the company’s achievements in the areas of waste reduction and re-use involving acetic acid recovery, recycling of aluminum chloride waste and one for the toluene distillation/energy recovery plant.

The company’s programs for environmental sustainability also ensured that Cognis was the only Irish company to receive a “European Better Environment Award” in 1996.

About Cognis:
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients. It employs 8,500 people, and has production sites and service centers in almost 30 countries. The company has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Additionally, Cognis provides solutions for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles and plastics, as well as agriculture and mining.

Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and Schroder Ventures Life Sciences. In 2003, Cognis recorded sales of 2.95 billion euros and an operating profit before depreciation, amortization and exceptional items (EBITDA recurring) of 312 million euros.

Contact:
Maura Long, Communications Manager
Cognis Ireland Ltd
Phone: +353 21 4517100
E-mail: maura.long@cognis.com
Internet www.cognis.com

Susanne Sengel, Corporate Communications Manager
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-211-7940-5431
E-mail: susanne.sengel@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com