In accordance with our code of conduct, we are committed to responsibility and integrity – including in our dealings with political parties and non-governmental organizations. We represent our political interests in a way that is consistent with the positions we have expressed publicly. In our work with political entities, we focus on concrete issues and are open to dialog with any democratic parties.

WACKER takes an active role in trying to influence energy policies. During the period under review, we made the following contributions to political opinion:

• We support Germany’s transition to renewable energy, especially the cost-efficient expansion of solar and wind energy as mainstays of Germany’s future energy mix, and the climate-friendly use of combined heat and power plants.
• As an industrial company with a high energy demand, we need globally competitive electricity prices and a secure power supply.
• We oppose all types of punitive tariffs on solar modules and materials for photovoltaics. They artificially raise the cost of solar products, reduce solar energy’s competitiveness and ultimately slow down the worldwide energy transition and climate protection.

Wacker Chemie AG and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reached an amicable agreement on the issue of polysilicon exports to China. An agreement to this end was signed in Beijing in March 2014. WACKER, for its part, undertakes not to sell polysilicon produced at its European plants below a specific minimum price in China. MOFCOM, in turn, will refrain from imposing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on this material. This agreement took effect on May 1, 2014, and is valid until the end of April 2016.

WACKER maintains a liaison office in Berlin to better represent the company’s political interests. In addition, we regularly extend invitations to politicians for discussions and tours at our sites.

National and international associations – especially Europe’s CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council), the USA’s ACC (American Chemistry Council) and Germany’s VCI (Chemical Industry Association) – serve as a platform for our expertise. Working within these bodies, we examine issues ranging from plant, product and occupational safety to environmental protection, nanotechnology and industrial (“white”) biotechnology. Our experts are also active in trade associations such as Deutsche Bauchemie (German construction-chemicals association), where issues include sustainable construction.

WACKER is a founding member of the ChemDelta Bavaria initiative, which was established in 2007. Companies in this chemistry research and production triangle want to improve and expand the region’s economic competitiveness – in harmony with its communities and the environment. Improving the regional infrastructure is a major focus of ChemDelta Bavaria, which counts WACKER and its Burghausen site as one of its cornerstones. In addition to upgrading rail services, the initiative’s infrastructure goals include expanding the A94 freeway between Munich and Passau – a stretch that is currently only partially complete. During the period under review, ChemDelta Bavaria gave presentations at parliamentary breakfasts in Munich and Berlin and, for members of the EU parliament in Brussels, as part of the Bavarian Industry Day.