Air Products launches new charity project: providing healthy drinking water to rural schools

Air Products (NYSE: APD), a leading global industrial gas supplier serving the Chinese market for more than 33 years, today announced that it has launched a new public welfare project to provide safe and healthy drinking water to rural schools in China. The project launch ceremony with the theme of "Caring for the Next Generation" was successfully held yesterday at the Second Primary School of Xiangyuan County, Changzhi, Shanxi.

Air Products has partnered with Shenzhen One Foundation (“One Foundation”) to donate 22 water purification devices to 17 schools in Xiangyuan County and equip every student with a healthy water cup, providing safe and healthy drinking water to more than 12,000 students. The donation was made through the Air Products Foundation. The Air Products Foundation’s mission is to partner with global charities that share the same values. These values ​​are reflected in the company’s higher purpose, which includes improving the quality of life of people in the communities where it operates.

Simon Moore, Vice President of Investor Relations, Corporate Relations and Sustainability at Air Products, said: "This is a very exciting project and the first project of the Air Products Foundation in China. We are very pleased that the Air Products Foundation, together with the efforts of our employee volunteers, can support important community charity projects like this one in China. We look forward to implementing more charity projects in China in the future."

In this public welfare project, company employee volunteers will also explore scientific knowledge about water and gas with students through regular science classes, planting the seeds of love for science in children's hearts.

"Children are the masters of the future. We are very pleased to implement another new charity project in China with the participation of our employees," said Su Junxiong, President of Air Products China. "This project can not only improve the quality of life of children, but also inspire their innovative thinking by cultivating their interest in science. The project further strengthens Air Products' long-term commitment as a responsible corporate citizen, growing hand in hand with China and supporting China's sustainable development. We are proud to work with One Foundation to bring health and warmth to those in need. Guided by the core values ​​of sustainable development, we will explore more care needs and give back to the community."

Air Products' first global coal gasification project is located in Xiangyuan County, providing synthesis gas to Lu'an Coal-based Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to help it produce high-value energy and chemical products.

Air Products has been actively promoting and participating in various corporate social responsibility activities under the concept of "originating from society and giving back to society". The company's Liquid Nitrogen Ambassadors Science Public Welfare Project cultivates the next generation's passion for science through safe and interesting liquid nitrogen experiments, and has benefited more than 5,000 teachers and students in about 60 schools across the country. Other projects include cooperation with customers, key universities and institutions in R&D, best practices, knowledge transfer, event sponsorship, scholarships, internship opportunities, and various donations.

Sustainability is at the core of Air Products' strategy. The company recently announced a new sustainability goal: by 2030, the company's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions intensity (kg CO2/million British thermal units BTU) will be reduced by one-third compared to 2015. This is a new goal set by Air Products when it successfully achieved a series of sustainable development goals in 2020. In China, the company has been supporting the implementation of government plans and the transformation and upgrading of various industries, helping customers achieve quality improvement, efficiency improvement, energy conservation and emission reduction through gas products, cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.

Guests jointly launched the Air Products Healthy Drinking Water Charity Project (from left: Zhou Yufang, Vice President of Air Products China and General Manager of Coal Gasification Joint Venture, Feng Yan, Vice President of Air Products China - Government Relations, Li Hong, Secretary General of Shenzhen One Foundation Charity Foundation, Zhang Xiaosheng, Deputy Director of Shanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, He Siyu, County Magistrate of Xiangyuan County, Gao Minzhi, Deputy Director of Changzhi Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Wang Wei, Deputy County Magistrate of Xiangyuan County, Qin Jianming, Director of Xiangyuan County Education Bureau.)

Students get water from the new drinking water facilities.