Kraton Names Rogier Roelen as Chief Sustainability Officer: 4 Things to Know

Kraton, a developer of specialty polymers used in adhesive products, has named Rogier Roelen to the additional post of chief sustainability officer (CSO). Roelen also remains VP and general counsel at the company.

Here are four things for technology partners to know about Kraton's business focus and sustainability strategy, and Roelen's career experience.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Kraton, based in The Woodlands, Texas, has roughly 1,800 employees. The company develops, manufactures and markets biobased chemicals and specialty polymers. Those polymers are used iadhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants, and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving and roofing products.

Kraton's business roots extend back to the 1950s, when the company was founded as part of Shell Chemical Company. Fast forward to 2022, and DL Chemical acquired Kraton for roughly $2.5 billion.

2. Sustainability Goals: Kraton is striving to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% and waste intensity by 10% by 2030 compared to a 2020 baseline. The overall goal is to achieve net-zero by 2050. The company's annual sustainability report for 2022 is here.

3. Chief Sustainability Officer: Roelen apparently succeeds Pedro Lopes as CSO. Lopes was listed as CSO in Kraton's 2022 annual sustainability report, and his title on LinkedIn is chief sustainability and strategy officer.

Rogier is "well-versed in regulatory frameworks, risk management, and compliance, all crucial components of sustainability initiatives in today's increasingly intricate global landscape," Kraton said in a prepared statement.

4. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Kraton CEO Marcello Boldrini said: "Rogier's appointment as our Chief Sustainability Officer is a testament to his exceptional leadership and strategic capabilities. His legal expertise, combined with his proven track record of driving growth and excellence, uniquely positions him to shape Kraton's sustainability strategy in line with our overall strategic priorities and drive our continued success."

Roelen added: "It's a privilege to lead Kraton's Sustainability team with its depth of expertise and relentless commitment. It is my mission to build on the strong fundaments we created under our former CSO's leadership, Pedro Lopes, and to further grow the reach of Kraton's sustainability initiatives, collaborating with all our customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to drive positive impact."

Kraton CSO and Sustainability: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.