Released on: March 12, 2008, 8:13 am

Press Release Author: Antoine Mach / Covalence S.A.

Industry: Chemicals

Press Release Summary: Without their products chemical companies would be praised as
ethical leaders. Chemical products are a space for complex and emotional debates
where it is hard to register reputation gains, states a report published today by
Geneva-based ethical reputation research firm Covalence - Covalence Chemical
Industry Report 2007.

Press Release Body: Without their products chemical companies would be praised as
ethical leaders. Chemical products are a space for complex and emotional debates
where it is hard to register reputation gains. Companies rather manage to do so at
the levels of working conditions, impact of production and institutional impact,
states a report published today by Geneva-based ethical reputation research firm
Covalence - Covalence Chemical Industry Report 2007.

The Chemical industry only comes out 9th out of 10 in Covalence's EthicalQuote
ranking, ahead of Oil & Gas. 2007 showed an improvement: Chemicals ranked 8th,
outperforming Oil & Gas and Pharmaceuticals. Despite this progress, the Chemical
industry seems deeply embedded in the bottom of the cross-sector ranking, far from
fast progressing sectors such as Automobiles, Technology Hardware and Food &
Beverage.

Why is it so difficult for Chemical companies to be perceived as ethical? Because of
their products. GMO is the biggest issue within negative news. It is a focal point
of criticisms geared towards the Chemical industry. Other product-related issues
that have made the ethical reputation of chemical companies suffer in 2007 are:
Agent Orange, Biofuel production, DBCP pesticide in Central America, Patent abuse /
Evergreening, Atrazine (PFO, Tauccamarca 1999), Crop protection (Atrazine,
Paraquat), and Aspartame/nutrasweet risk. Pollution appears as the second most
important issue within negative news.

While being intensively criticized, chemical products are also commented in
favorable terms. This has been the case regarding: Olyset long lasting Insecticidal
Net, Biopolymer, Propylene Glycol Renewable (PGR), GMO, Crop protection, responsible
nanotechnology, and, in first place, Energy (biofuel, hydrogen).

In times of high concerns regarding climate change, CO2 emissions and the need for
more renewable energy, several chemical companies have managed to highlight their
ecologically - friendly innovation efforts. DuPont has harvested numerous positive
news with biofuel, and Air Products scored high with hydrogen technology. However,
chemical companies active on biofuel face negative effects such as food shortage and
price hike in developing countries and vulnerable communities.

Outside of products, chemical companies tend to show favorable ethical records.
Among major positive issues registered in 2007 were: Climate change initiatives, CSR
Commitment & Reporting, Health & Safety, CSR Awards & Rankings, Student grants,
research & education, and Water management.

In the end of 2007, BASF shows the best EthicalQuote score out of 18 Chemical
companies, closely followed by DuPont, while Syngenta and Monsanto occupy the last
positions. From January to December 2007, DuPont, BASF and Bayer show the best
progression. Results expressing the Reported Performance (positive news only) place
DuPont in first position, followed by Dow Chemicals, Bayer and BASF.

More information on Covalence Chemical Industry Report 2007:
http://www.covalence.ch/docs/Extract_Covalence_Chemical_Industry_Report2007.pdf
http://www.covalence.ch/docs/CovalenceChemical_IndustryReport2007_OfferOrderform.doc

Geneva-based Covalence tracks the ethical reputation of multinationals by sourcing
information from companies, the media and civil society. For further information,
please contact us at +41 (0)22 800 08 55; antoine.mach@covalence.ch



Web Site: http://www.covalence.ch

Contact Details: Covalence SA 1, avenue Industrielle, CH-1227 Carouge Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)22 800 08 55 ; Fax: +41 (0)22 800 08 56
US Rep Office, 20 Riverside Street, Apt. 25, Watertown MA 02472, USA, tel +(1) 617
429 4758
info@covalence.ch ; www.covalence.ch ; www.ethicalquote.com
Covalence SA 1, avenue Industrielle, CH-1227 Carouge Geneva Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)22 800 08 55 ; Fax: +41 (0)22 800 08 56
US Rep Office, 20 Riverside Street, Apt. 25, Watertown MA 02472, USA, tel +(1) 617
429 4758
info@covalence.ch ; www.covalence.ch ; www.ethicalquote.com
For further information, please contact us at +41 (0)22 800 08 55;
antoine.mach@covalence.ch