Venator marks 90th anniversary of TiO2 production

Venator, a global leader in speciality chemicals and ingredients, has marked 90 years since it started producing TiO2 on Teesside in the UK. Venator is partnering with a local environmental organisation, Trees on Tees, to plant 2,652 trees – one for each of its employees – across the North East of England, where the company’s head office is based. The news comes as Venator staff worldwide have been celebrating the production milestone with local site events held throughout July.

Venator made its first tonne of TiO2 back in 1934 at its Billingham plant in County Durham. Almost a century later, Venator continues to make TiO2 in the area and is one of the world’s leading producers of this brilliant white pigment, which is widely used in paints, coatings, cosmetics, paper and plastics.

As Venator reflects on its rich history and looks to the future, its work with Trees on Tees mirrors its commitment to sustainability, community engagement and employee appreciation. Trees on Tees is a local government initiative that aims to plant one million trees and increase woodland creation in the Tees Valley. The organisation collaborates with local landowners, community groups and businesses to plant the right trees in the right places – ensuring all tree species planted are carefully matched to each location. Venator’s trees will be planted this winter at a mix of local community projects, with Venator employees given the chance to help with the planting process.

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Rob Portsmouth, Executive Vice President, Sustainability, EHS and HR at Venator, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Trees on Tees. Planting trees together is a meaningful way to celebrate our employees, this important anniversary, and our dedication to environmental stewardship. We are grateful for the hard work and loyalty of our employees, past and present, who have contributed to Venator’s success over the years. Planting trees in their honor is our way of saying thank you and leaving a positive impact on the environment for future generations.”

To mark 90 years of TiO2 production, Venator staff have been celebrating with lunches, cake bakes and sharing long service personnel interviews. Around 120 employees have been with the company for more than 40 years. A special celebration picnic will also be held by the Teesside-based team in the coming weeks.

Venator is a conscientious chemical company, committed to the safe, sustainable and responsible manufacture of high performance TiO2 pigments and performance additives. The company’s broad and versatile portfolio of pigments and additives are used by many well-known brand names, to create industry-leading products that make a difference to daily life. TiO2 is a naturally occurring pigment that has a high refractive index and adds brilliance to all kinds of everyday applications including paints, coatings, paper and plastic.