Chemicals Special: Acting responsibly and keeping future generations in mind

Germany's Evonik Industries AG had an "outstanding year" in 2010, with its core chemicals business reporting the best performance by far in history, according to Klaus Engel, chairman of the company's executive board.

Evonik's total sales in the China market - the mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong - amounted to 1.23 billion euros ($1.78 billion), up more than 40 percent from 2009.

From 2005 to 2010, the company tripled its sales in the region. It has grown extremely fast in recent decades, Engel said.