Introduction

CEO Letter to Stakeholders

The theme of this year’s sustainability report – Building Momentum – reflects our progress in driving sustainability across AmSty for customers and the planet.

It starts every day with an ongoing commitment to protect our people and communities. At AmSty, we work safely or not at all. As a Responsible Care® company, we continually invest in our people and relationships with contractors to improve safety performance. In 2024, we completed our fifth consecutive maintenance turnaround at our St. James, Louisiana, styrene facility without injury. That’s an incredible accomplishment for almost 800 people at peak activity in close working conditions, but also one that we expect as a norm.

We embarked on a multi-year project at St. James two years ago to improve operational reliability and strengthen our capability and competitiveness for the future. As we replace equipment near the end of its useful life, we are also upgrading to incorporate technology that will not only improve productivity but also reduce energy consumption and emissions. We are making similar sustainability investments in our polystyrene plants to improve efficiency and working conditions while also reducing water and energy consumption.

Our progress in developing circular solutions for polystyrene is accelerating. We successfully concluded our five-year proof-of-concept Regenyx joint venture and demonstrated that used polystyrene can be recycled back to new polystyrene with the same quality and durability as virgin material. We continue collaborating with stakeholders to bring advanced recycling to scale and ensure it is recognized as an important part of the overall solution for addressing plastic waste. We see foundational circularity practices, such as mass balance accounting, gaining broader acceptance across a wide range of stakeholders.

Our customers and the broader supply chain are also embracing the circular economy. ISCC PLUS certifications and branding licenses continue to ramp up sharply across North America, along with growing sales of circular polystyrene and styrene to customers in a variety of industries. To enable the full potential of this exciting trend, we are also leading the industry launch of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) to improve recycling access for polystyrene across the United States.

We are proud of the essential materials we manufacture that make lives better. A new feature in this year’s report highlights how our products and practices support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are designed to foster a better world for all.

Momentum. It’s building and leads me to be optimistic about what’s ahead as we lead the way toward a more sustainable future.