Rudolf Group, a leading specialist of textile auxiliaries, products for textile care and construction chemicals, has been awarded the Responsible Care Prize for responsible management in the pharmaceutical/chemical industry.

The initiative aims to improve the safeguarding of people and the environment – independent of existing regulations. Amongst all nominated companies, the German Chemical Industry Association declared six winning companies at the anniversary event, which took place in Düsseldorf, on 23 September 2016.

They were chosen on a federal level and stood out from their competitors in the respective fields. On the occasion of this year's anniversary, a seventh winner may place an additionally offered award for small and medium-sized businesses on their shelves.

Environmental protection

This year, the sought-after prize in the important category Environmental Protection was awarded to Rudolf, which is based in Geretsried, Bavaria. The managing director, Dr Wolfgang Schumann, and Dr Gunther Duschek, Vice President, R&D, received the prize on behalf of the whole team.

The prize was awarded for the project called Highly efficient and environmentally friendly water-repellent agents. Since 2003 the water repellents behind this project have been in fierce competition with common environmentally hazardous water repellents, the company reports.

According to the company, the jury appreciated above all the pioneering role that Rudolf has adopted in the chemical industry, by developing real environmentally friendly alternative to fluorinated polymers for the outdoor industry at such an early stage.

Water-repellent agents

The majority of water-repellent agents used so far still contain perfluorooctanoic acid, which, due to its high stability, is very risky for the environment and were condemned by organisations like Greenpeace.

Rudolf says it has launched a high-performance, ecologically sustainable water-repellent finish without using these problematic ingredients. "We have taken nature as a model, which is why the water-repellent finish we have developed is called Bionic Finish,” said Dr Duschek. "In the outdoor sector today's effects are easily as strong as with fluorocarbon compounds."

www.rudolf.de