Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • PFAS
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • Rubber Division IEC
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
June 25, 2018 02:00 AM

Covestro sustainability leader Richard Northcote dies

Urethanes Technology International
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Covestro A.G.
    Richard Northcote, center, with Solar Impulse pilots and leaders Bertrand Piccard, left, and André Borschberg in 2015.

    Richard Northcote, chief sustainability officer of Covestro A.G., died unexpectedly, the materials company said June 22.

    Northcote, 58, had a varied career spanning journalism, government affairs and corporate communications before becoming Covestro's chief sustainability officer.

    At Covestro, he was heavily involved in the company's support of Solar Impulse, a solar powered plane that circled the globe. He also believed that the industry should become more efficient and committed the firm to cutting CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2025.

    "The chemical and plastics industry contributes to resource conservation and energy efficiency with its products and solutions, but it also requires a lot of energy," Northcote said in a 2016 statement about the CO2 reduction project. "And that is why we can—and want to—do our part toward fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    "To reduce your own energy use by half—or to double your energy productivity—may seem impossible to some companies today. But initiatives ... motivate us, and hopefully many others, to apply intelligent solutions and indeed make possible what is now considered impossible."

    He was a regular contributor to Urethanes Technology International and a speaker at many Crain Communications polyurethane conferences, most recently in Amsterdam in 2016.

    Northcote was a strong defender of good journalism, and the rights of journalists to publish information that companies may try to hide.

    While he was the editor of The Engineer, he supported Bill Goodwin, a journalist who took the United Kingdom to the European Court of Human Rights. The case revolved around whether Goodwin had to reveal his source in a report on a company. The European Court found in Goodwin's favor, and the U.K.'s laws on contempt of court were changed.

    As an ex-journalist, Northcote was a very conversational person. He revealed to a group of journalists that he received the telephone call from Patrick Thomas, the former CEO of Covestro, appointing him to the job as chief sustainability officer while he was about to watch a rugby match. At the time, Northcote explained, he had been enjoying pre-match hospitality at the event, and the call meant he had to move out of his surroundings into the fresh air and adopt a more business-like tone than he had previously been using.

    While unable to give more details on Nothcote's passing, a senior Covestro spokesman said: "He had so many great plans. His death is truly shocking, the whole world will miss him."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    EPA targets hazardous emissions from tire rubber mixing
    2
    PFAS class-action suit against 3M, DuPont dismissed
    3
    On continuing a family legacy: 5 questions with French Oil's Tayte French Lutz
    4
    Hexpol Compounding Americas rounds out executive team
    5
    Trelleborg eyes expansions after strong Q3
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • PFAS
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION