With the ongoing global fight against COVID-19, communities around the world continue to experience severe health and economic impacts. LyondellBasell employees remain dedicated as ever to assisting individuals and families hit hardest by the pandemic.
One example of that dedication is at LyondellBasell’s manufacturing facility in Thailand. Employees at the site sprang into action when COVID-19 cases and fatalities in Thailand hit a new peak after the Delta variant wave gripped the country. The demand for hospital beds surged significantly and field hospitals were in dire need. Through its global corporate citizenship program, Advancing Good, LyondellBasell Rayong employees collaborated with one of the company’s customers, Aeroklas, to produce 250 beds. The beds were donated to three hospitals in Songkhla province, located in southern Thailand, bordering Malaysia.
To help manufacture the beds, LyondellBasell’s Rayong site donated 5.2 metric tons of its resin called Hifax. The resin is a type of glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene copolymer that can be used to produce sturdy bed frames and parts. Additionally, the site donated food and other necessities, such as pillowcases and sheets, to the hospitals.
“We were honored to join this corporate social responsibility initiative with our valued customer, Aeroklas,” said Yohan Halim, LyondellBasell Advanced Polymer Solutions sales director in South East Asia.
More examples of employee dedication in the fight against COVID-19 include LyondellBasell’s Botlek and Maasvlakte sites in the Netherlands. Recognizing the significant negative impacts the pandemic has had on the mental health of many individuals, a group of employees formed a team to identify ways to help improve the mental wellbeing of their colleagues. Specifically thinking about adverse effects of the lockdown, like loneliness, anxiety and stress, the team focused on human connection and physical activity. The team’s idea was to combine a sport-like activity with a fundraising initiative.
Once the idea was shared with colleagues across the sites, within 10 weeks, more than 80 employees exercised for 2,000 hours by walking, running, cycling and playing golf. Employees kept track of their exercise hours through an app, which was used to calculate the donation total. In the end, LyondellBasell donated €13.000 to Stichting Leergeld, a community foundation for underprivileged kids.
“LyondellBasell is committed to being a good neighbor in the communities where we operate,” said Harm Dijkstra, site manager at LyondellBasell’s Botlek and Maasvlakte facilities. “Stichting Leergeld is a great fit in our commitment to advance communities by making a positive impact. I am proud of the many employees who helped make this donation happen, while getting some exercise at the same time, which isn’t always easy in the pandemic.”
Mark Schutjens, board secretary-director of Stichting Leergeld, said LyondellBasell’s donation will help a number of disadvantaged children gain access to things such as computers and bicycles.
“With the company’s donation, many children who are excluded now have the opportunity to fully participate in our society,” said Schutjens. “For example, they can now do homework on a computer, or, just like their peers, they can cycle to school. LyondellBasell, together with its employees, have made a significant difference in the lives of the next generation.”
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, LyondellBasell employees globally have supported their communities, filling the gap in many ways, including through donation of food, personal protective equipment (PPE), facial coverings, hand sanitizer and much more. For additional stories about how LyondellBasell is Advancing Good, click here.
