LyondellBasell (LYB) marked a significant milestone with the celebration of its 25th Annual Global Care Day, aligning this year’s efforts with World Food Day to address global hunger and food insecurity. This annual event saw volunteers from 84 sites worldwide come together to support local projects, making a substantial impact on a global scale.
Recognized every year on Oct. 16, World Food Day raises awareness and promotes action to combat hunger and ensure health and well-being for all. Throughout the month of October, 3,662 employees, contractors, friends and family members dedicated 15,500 hours to volunteering and provided resources in a variety of initiatives to address hunger and promote sustainable food practices. From North America to Europe, Asia and South America, the company’s global workforce demonstrated their commitment to supporting a thriving society and striving to make a meaningful and lasting difference, for now and for generations to come.
“Our 25th Global Care Day is a testament to the dedication and compassion of our employees,” said Peter Vanacker, CEO of LYB. “By coordinating our initiatives with World Food Day, we are meeting urgent needs and fostering long-term solutions to combat global hunger.”
LYB locations around the world organized over 100 activities such as volunteering at local pantries and kitchens, organizing food packaging workshops to promote sustainable practices for extending shelf-life and reducing waste and preparing meals to provide immediate relief to those in need to foster long-term community resilience. In total, 39,000 kg (85,300 Ibs.) of food were contributed through this global day of service, equal to approximately 84,000 meals packed and 80,000+ people served.
Americas
- Houston, TX: 522 volunteers from LYB Houston-area sites and offices helped to package 285,120 meals for Rise Against Hunger at the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical Energy and Technology at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. The meals packaged over the two-day period filled an entire shipping container to be sent to the Philippines to feed thousands in need.
- Manaus, Brazil: Employees from the LYB Manaus site packaged non-perishable foods, including rice, beans, pasta, coffee, powdered milk and cookies to provide aid to Parceiros Brilhantes cities that were significantly impacted by the droughts earlier in the year.
- Morris, IL: The Morris site partnered with the Morris Rotary Club to contribute to Grundy County and surrounding areas through the Blessings in a Backpack project. The team prepared 1,000 bags of food for the local community.
- Lake Charles, LA: Colleagues from both LYB sites in Lake Charles provided 560 hot lunches to the Sulphur Christian Community Coalition and 320 snack packs at Starks High School.
- San Luis Potosí, Mexico: 136 employees from sites in Mexico volunteered to sort and donate essential groceries and cleaning supplies to deliver to five local food pantries in the area - Fundación NISAC, Casa CANICA, Hogar del Migrante, Estancia Sagrada Familia and Asilo Macondo. The team contributed over 2,000 kg of vital resources to those in need.
Asia
- Dubai, UAE: The Dubai site partnered with Cleanco to serve wholesome meals of chicken, rice and salad with water and milk to underserved community members. Additionally, guests received a 100 AED voucher (approximately $25 USD) to buy groceries at a local supermarket, providing both immediate support and the freedom to choose additional essentials.
- Gempol, Indonesia: The LYB Gempol team harvested apples and oranges, purchased an oversupply of crops and donated groceries to farm laborers facing challenging times. True to the LYB commitment to sustainability, the groceries were distributed in bags sourced from recycled materials.
- Hong Kong, China: Employees from the Hong Kong office prepared 3,261 meals for Food Angel to support those in need. The team also contributed 11 boxes of food and 11 bags of rice to the CANstruction Project.
- Mumbai, India: Executive Vice President of Global APS Torkel Rhenman joined the Mumbai site team to visit a school dedicated to supporting children from homeless and single-parent families. Together, they collected and donated an impressive 4,125 kg of food and served meals to children, making a meaningful impact in the community.
- Shanghai, China: The Shanghai team collaborated with the Shanghai Lujiazui Financial City Foundation and building management at Shanghai Tower to prepare and distribute 400 food bags containing essentials like instant meals, grains, oil, rice and fruit to delivery workers, security guards, cleaners, firefighters, taxi drivers and low-income families.
Europe
- Berre l’Étang, France: Employees from the Berre and Fos sites volunteered to collect and sort food for the local food bank, Banque Alimentaire des Bouches du Rhône, while LYB supported Marseille’s solidarity grocery project with a donation. This initiative enables people in financial difficulty to purchase food essentials at low prices, promoting choice and dignity over direct handouts.
- Ferrara, Italy: The Ferrara team partnered with Centro di Solidarietà-Carità to collect 700 kg of essential foods, including pasta, oils, meat, vegetables, tuna, rice and cookies, while contributing a total of 450 volunteer hours to support those in need.
- Rotterdam, Netherlands: Colleagues in Rotterdam collaborated with the Feyenoord Foundation, the charitable arm of a professional football club, to engage with local elementary schools. They provided lunch bags and delivered presentations on the role of plastics in preserving food freshness and facilitating transportation, emphasizing the importance of recycling for sustainability.
- Wesseling, Germany: The Wesseling site teamed up with multiple organizations to create a meaningful impact in the neighborhoods of Wesseling and Cologne. Their efforts included food packaging and distribution in collaboration with Jutta's Soup Kitchen, providing science education through food-related activities and supporting local farms.
Since its inception, Global Care Day has grown significantly, with employees contributing 15,500 of volunteer hours to causes worldwide. Through community partnerships with local and international non-profit organizations, LYB ensures our resources are maximized to reach and enhance the well-being of others. Global Care Day reflects our core values of community support and sustainability, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to making a positive impact.