Page 31 - Green Builder May-June 2020 Issue

“ Accelerated Shift to E-Commerce”

Rüdiger Schmitz, Vice President GB: How impacted do you think your
Trinseo, Berwyn, PA company will be if the coronavirus leads to
a recession?
GB: How is the coronavirus affecting your RS: We intend for Trinseo to weather the
company? storm. We are taking short-term actions to
RS: Trinseo’s manufacturing operations are ensure short-term financial stability, as well as
considered essential by government authorities longer-term strategic actions to better position
around the world because we produce materials Trinseo in the future.
that are intrinsic to life-sustaining products GB: What are your customers doing
such as medical devices, protective equipment differently?
and food packaging. Our plants continue to RS: Many of our customers supply critical
operate, produce and ship materials to our resources for commercial and residential
customers.
construction projects that have been deemed
GB: Did you expect this type of impact? essential during this time. They’ve taken
RS: We are currently in uncharted territory various steps to adhere to CDC guidelines while
but have been tracking this from early on to continuing their work, including ensuring their
anticipate impacts and make plans to ensure employees wear masks and staggering work
the safety of our employees while meeting shifts to reduce person-to-person contact
customer demand. wherever possible. embracing digitization and Internet of Things
GB: What is your company doing to address GB: How do you think the coronavirus will solutions, which includes increased reliance on
the challenges caused by COVID-19? change the homebuilding sector in the virtual tools in place of traditional face-to-face
RS: In any decision we make, we are guided short term (30-60 days)? sales meetings and travel.
through our core values of safety and RS: We anticipate there will likely be a prolonged GB: How do you think coronavirus will
Responsible Care®. Since the beginning of the impact on construction overall. And while we impact consumer behavior in the long term
coronavirus disease outbreak, Trinseo has set can’t know for certain exactly what changes (61+ days)?
may come of this, it may RS: While it’s too early to know just how
mirror the industry impact consumer behavior will change in the wake of the
we experienced following COVID-19 pandemic, this is certainly something
the 2008 recession in many companies will need to consider as they plan for
ways. We’ll be keeping a the future across each step of the value chain.
close eye on consumer We already see shifts in how consumers are
behavior and emerging spending their discretionary income, and this
megatrends in order to will likely continue as we experience volatility
pivot and meet the new and uncertainty in the economy. Inevitably,
demands that the future this will place prolonged pressure on industries
presents. directly tied to consumer demand.
While e-commerce For example, hygiene is currently taking up
already has a stronghold in more consumer mindshare, potentially making
retail and consumer spaces, this a stronger purchasing consideration for the
we’re likely to see a more future. We’ve also seen a jump in do-it-yourself
accelerated shift to bring projects spurred by the increased amount of
Safety hero. Trinseo e-commerce into the B2B time consumers are spending at home. And
routinely adheres to CDC CREDIT: COURTESY OF TRINSEO world with industrial goods. similarly, demand of package food has
guidelines for employee We expect companies will increased as a direct consequence of the stay-
health and safety. prioritize this much higher at-home orders. This is expected to return to
on strategic agendas than
normal demands after the lockdowns are lifted.
up a Global Crisis Management Team to closely previously. However, we expect this to happen gradually
monitor the situation and take appropriate We anticipate there will be a heightened due to the controlled back to normal plans. As
actions, including precautionary safety focus on safety and personal protective an industry, we’ll need to closely monitor these
measures inside our plants, offices, and other equipment, and that many aspects of the changes and make considerations for where we
locations. industry will move more rapidly toward can innovate to meet future demand.

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