Novatech – Sustainability as innovative driver

Working together for a better future

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Novatech is a Belgian family-owned company specialising in adhesive products, cleaners, and surface treatment. With well-known brands in its portfolio, such as Tec7 and Novatio, the company has international ambitions in addition to their presence in Belgium. In the chemical sector, where companies face a lot of sustainability and regulatory challenges, Novatech proactively addresses these with a clear sustainability strategy.  

Ken Wright, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Novatech, explains how BDO helped the company develop this strategy. What sustainability and reporting initiatives are they taking? And what is the impact of the EU’s Omnibus proposal on their organisation? 

Circularity as a spearhead 

One of the main pillars of Novatech’s sustainability strategy is circularity and innovation. Ken explains, ‘We are working on this in two ways: on the one hand, by focusing on product packaging, using more recycled plastic in our packaging, and also looking at how we can recycle it again afterwards. On the other hand, we’re looking at circularity within our product applications. A particularly innovative project here is the development of detachable adhesives to ensure circularity by breaking adhesive bonds in a controlled way.   

Another focus is the use of high-quality products. This is often forgotten, but it allows us to extend the lifespan of certain applications. This is an elementary part of circularity.’ 

Novatech innovative glue

More than product: social policy and partnerships

But sustainability goes beyond just making your products more sustainable. The biggest impact lies in the final application, where the adhesive is used. This is why Novatech is strongly committed to cooperation with clients, suppliers, and knowledge institutions such as universities, VITO, and Vlaio. This vision is also perfectly encompassed in the company’s slogan: ‘better bonds, better future’, with an apt reference to their core product. In addition, Ken says there is also a lot of focus on the social aspect of Novatech’s own co-workers: ‘We want to support our co-workers’ careers and well-being as much as possible, which, in turn, has a positive impact on our client relations.’ 

Our slogan ‘Better bonds, better future’ refers both to our core product – glue – and to the strong relationships we aim to build with our partners, suppliers, and clients

Ken WrightSustainability and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Novatech

Pragmatic approach and advice around ESG reporting

In terms of ESG reporting, as a medium-sized company, Novatech was originally covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). For this, the company partnered with BDO to prepare for the reporting requirement. BDO’s ESG team expertly guided Novatech through the complex process of a double materiality assessment and subsequent data point selection. 

Ken explains: ‘Instead of overwhelming us with data, they organised targeted sessions where we went through the relevant points step by step. We made sure our specialists were present at each session, and BDO knew just how to communicate with each of them to get to the point quickly. They really helped us see the forest for the trees and challenged us where necessary.’ 

With the recent developments around the Omnibus legislation, where potentially far fewer companies will be covered by the CSRD, Novatech has decided to follow the Voluntary Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME) for their sustainability reporting. ‘That one is much more manageable for a company of our size, but still allows us to be transparent to our stakeholders,’ says Ken. 

What set BDO apart was their ability to translate the CSRD requirements into the practical realities of our sector and our particular business.

Ken WrightSustainability and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Novatech

A growing family business with an eye to the future

Novatech is a fast-growing family business, preparing for the next generation. They are strongly committed to professionalisation, in which sustainability will always play an important role. Those growth ambitions manifest themselves, among other things, in plans for a new office building. Both ecological and social aspects play a role in this. We are looking at how to optimise the collaboration between people when designing the building.

With a clear sustainability strategy, innovative projects and the right partners, Novatech is ready for the future. A future where sustainability, innovation, and growth go hand in hand.  By all accounts, Ken says the collaboration with BDO has left a positive impression on Novatech. ‘BDO always took a professional and pragmatic approach that perfectly matched our way of working within an ambitious family business.’

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