Ashland Inc. Joins GEMI

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) today announced the addition of its newest member company, Ashland Inc., a leading global specialty chemical company.

"We are pleased to welcome Ashland to GEMI," said GEMI's Chair, Keith Miller, Manager, Environmental Initiatives and Sustainability, 3M.  "Ashland's existing commitment as a global leader to corporate social responsibility, combined with the willingness to participate in industry-wide sustainability initiatives, will be an excellent addition to GEMI's 27 member companies."

"GEMI is a global leader in creating environmental sustainability solutions for businesses, and we look forward to working with Ashland on our initiatives, including the development of GEMI's Local Water Tool™ (LWT) which will help companies to understand their local water challenges," said GEMI's Membership Chair, Neville Dias, Director, Reporting and Analysis, Carnival Corporation & plc.  "GEMI is looking forward to combining the knowledge and expertise of Ashland with that of our other member companies, as we continue to work towards GEMI's mission of business helping business achieve environmental sustainability excellence," added Dias.  

Ashland will be represented by: Ms. Karen Murphy, Vice President, Environmental, Health & Safety, Ashland Inc., and Ms. Shahnoz "Nozi" Hamidi, Director of Global Marketing, Ashland Water Technologies.

"We are very pleased to become a member of GEMI," said Karen Murphy, Ashland.  "We look forward to working with GEMI as Ashland confronts the challenges of promoting sustainability through its own business conduct and in the global community," said Murphy. "Through our Water Technologies unit and other areas of our business, Ashland brings experience and expertise that can be shared with GEMI and its members to collaboratively address GEMI's signature environmental sustainability issues, including water and supply chain," she added.

"The addition of Ashland to GEMI's membership will enhance our ability to continue GEMI's mission. We look forward to working with them to achieve GEMI's vision," concluded Miller.

For more information about GEMI, visit GEMI's web site at www.gemi.org.

GEMI members include: 3M; Abbott; Ashland Inc.; Biogen Idec; BNSF Railway Company; Cargill, Inc.; Carnival Corporation & plc; ConAgra Foods; ConocoPhillips; CSX Transportation; Diversey, Inc.; DuPont; FedEx; Halliburton; Johnson & Johnson; Johnson Controls, Inc.; Kraft Foods Inc.; Legrand; MedImmune; Merck & Company, Inc.; Occidental Petroleum Corporation; Perdue Incorporated.; The Procter & Gamble Company; The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company; Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Southern Company; and, Union Pacific Railroad.

For More Information Contact:
Amy Goldman: 202-296-7449

SOURCE Global Environmental Management Initiative