• Strengthening supplier relationships and partnerships • Developing new supply chains • Building and strengthening suppliers competency • Creating an agile and visible global supply chains • Implementing remote working • Improving workplace hygiene • Assessing impacts on workforce planning and development • Testing business continuity plans • Challenging existing policies, systems and procedures • Improving cashflow management • Rethinking cost structures • Changing business models • Deploying digital and process automation • Ensuring communications • Improving and optimizing plant operations • Developing and modifying products • Maintaining and strengthening customer relationships • Ensuring demand & loyalty • Capturing changes in customer behaviors, needs and expectations • Introducing new products Global demand for medical face masks and critical filter materials quickly exceeded supplywhen confrontedwith the peak of the pandemic. This shortage endangered healthcareworkers, the continuity of healthcare systems, and the overall response to the COVID-19 crisis. We closely studied this highly volatile situation for effective adaptation and prompt responses, while restrategizing to increase effectiveness in identifying opportunities to meet new demands due to changing consumer behaviors. In 2021, we announced the EASY MASK - a strategic collaboration between IVL, DyeCoo and Stoll which was a fresh take on the traditional medical facemask. The reusable mask is made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles. Similarly, in another effort to proactively contribute towards curbing the effects of COVID-19, our subsidiary Textilcord has invested in a production line for surgical masks whichwill produce 20 million pieces per year of innovative masks which can directly neutralize viruses on them. COVID-19 CONTRIBUTIONS Throughout 2020 and 2021, we actively embedded positive impacts into our COVID-19 relief efforts for our global communities through the IVL Foundation and group CSR activities. In 2020, the IVL COVID-19 Fundwas established with US$ 2.5 million in funds to provide the necessary in-kind suppl ies for communities and hospitals. Leveraging our expertise in PET plastics and recycling, IVL initiated a collaboration to collect and recycle post-consumer PET bottles into PPE for frontline healthcareworkers.We supplied 28,000 reusable PPEs and 1,000 bedding sets to over 200 hospitals and medical institutions in Thailand, India and Brazil. MOVING FORWARD TO THE NEW NORMAL The resilience of our employees and our robust crisis management plans contributed toour organic volume growth of 5% in 2020 and 7% in 2021, despite the COVID-19 related disruptions. Our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who helped safeguard the well-being of our employees and we look forward to working alongside our partners, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders in delivering outstanding products that benefit society in 2022 and beyond. 49 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021 Responsible Business and Effective Governance Driving Sustainable Value Creation and Growth Towards Net Zero Carbon Empowering Our People and Communities Global Performance Data GRI Standard Content Index
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