Sustainability isn’t just a corporate initiative – it’s a shared responsibility that requires all of us to step up, come up with creative solutions, and push for progress. No single company can do it alone. The real breakthroughs happen when businesses, partners, and communities come together to drive change that benefits us all.

At Monument, we believe that by sharing our learnings and partnering across the supply chain, we can create an even greater impact. As we move deeper into the beginning of a fresh year, now is the perfect time to reflect on what drove our progress in Sustainability last year – which included a wide variety of wins, including:

• Achieving EcoVadis Silver Rating for both Monument North America and Antwerp – putting us on track for global certification in 2025!
• ISCC Certification for our Port Arthur, Texas facility – marking a major milestone in our renewables and fuels initiatives
• A wide range of sustainability projects and wins that are driving progress across our organization

Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on this momentum. We recently sat down with key team members leading our sustainability strategy for insights on Monument’s top keys to success, and here’s what they shared…

#1: Create a Plan

One of our biggest enablers of progress has been developing a clear, actionable sustainability plan. Our work in EcoVadis certification played a crucial role in this effort, which helped us identify gaps, establish policies, and set measurable goals across key sustainability areas.

“A strong plan considers different types of projects to ensure we’re addressing sustainability from every angle,” said Gloria O’Bannon, HSSE Coordinator. 
Monument’s plan includes projects that fall into one or more of these categories:

• Site continuous improvement projects that enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact
• Scalable initiatives across multiple sites to maximize impact and leverage best practices
• And the use of innovative, new technologies that push the boundaries of sustainability and drive transformative change

“By incorporating a mix of initiatives, we create a more resilient and adaptable approach that balances immediate operational improvements with long-term innovation,” said Gloria. “This allows us to continuously build momentum and scale best practices across our organization.”

#2: Identify Oversight Teams

A well-defined plan is only as strong as the teams executing it. We’ve found that assigning clear ownership within each sustainability charter is critical. 

“By ensuring that dedicated teams oversee various focus areas – whether it’s emissions reductions, resource efficiency, or renewable energy integration – we create accountability and drive meaningful progress,” said Gloria.

#3: Foster Collaboration Across Functions and Sites

Sustainability success isn’t achieved in silos. Our teams work together across departments, locations, and even continents to accelerate progress and drive greater impact.
One great example is our wastewater treatment improvements. Our Antwerp facility successfully implemented advanced membrane technology to reuse wastewater instead of discharging it – an approach we are now adapting for our Houston site.

“Similarly, we’re evaluating resource use across all our plants – such as energy efficiency – with centralized oversight,” said Tom Del Prato, Growth and Capital Process Manager. “This enables us to identify best practices, implement smart solutions more rapidly, and maximize sustainability gains.” 

#4: Align Sustainability with Business Growth

For sustainability efforts to be successful, they must be embedded into an overall business strategy. At Monument, we ensure that our sustainability initiatives drive operational efficiency, open new market opportunities, and deliver needed solutions to our customers. 

As an example, our Renewables & Fuels business is actively driving the transition to sustainable energy by producing a range of renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 

“As industries set ambitious carbon reduction goals, Monument is leveraging its expertise, customer engagement, and strategic asset positioning to efficiently produce and refine high-quality sustainable energy solutions,” Maarten Mys, Process Technology Manager at the Antwerp facility. “For example, major airlines are increasing their use of SAF to move toward carbon neutrality, but achieving these goals requires collaboration across the supply chain.”

Monument is proud to be a key partner in making these sustainable fuel solutions a reality!

Our Solvents business is expanding in the e-grade solvents space, supporting the growing demand for ultra-high-purity materials essential to electronics and battery manufacturing. As industries shift toward cleaner technologies, including electric vehicles and advanced semiconductors, high-performance solvents play a critical role in ensuring quality, efficiency, and sustainability.

We are also driving innovative progress in green chemistry upcycling – recovering and repurposing spent solvent and low-purity fermentation streams. By helping customers commercialize green chemistry derivatives and circular upcycling solutions, we’re not only contributing to environmental progress but also fostering the long-term success of industries working toward a sustainable future.

“When sustainability aligns with business growth, it becomes a win-win-win for Monument, our customers, and the world,” said Paul Raymond, CEO. 

#5: Keep Raising the Bar

Sustainability is a continuous journey. Our teams are always looking for ways to improve, whether by adopting new technologies, refining processes, or setting more ambitious goals.

“A fantastic example of this is our Greenhouse Gas Reduction initiative at the Brandenburg, Kentucky site,” said Tom. “In 2024, we determined a better and safer method for LOTO (Lockout/Tagout), which allows the economizer to continue running during boiler outages. This enhancement led to a projected reduction of 181 tons CO2 a year – a huge win!”

Powering Progress Together

Looking toward the rest of 2025 and beyond, we’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries of sustainability. With a clear plan, strong oversight, and a commitment to growth, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement – we’re confident the Monument team will continue to have a meaningful impact in the industries we serve.

As we move forward, we’re grateful for the relationships we’ve built with our partners, customers, and industry peers. Together, we’ll continue working toward a sustainable future that benefits us all.