Axalta Coating Systems has signed an agreement with the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) to make a signification donation that will support the Mother River Protection program over the next three years.

The Mother River Protection program was launched in 1999 in response to a call by the State Council of China to improve the eco-system at the headwaters of the Yellow River, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and along sandy areas and grasslands adjacent to these two of China’s most important rivers. The goals of the program are to promote ecological awareness, protection and sustainability in China by planting trees and engaging with local communities through education and other activities aimed at promoting clean water and conservation. Axalta’s donation also will be used to purchase trees, seedlings and fertilizer and to plant and maintain the “Axalta Forest.”

“Axalta has always been committed to operating in responsible and sustainable ways for the benefit of employees, customers and the communities in which we live and work,” said Charlie Shaver, the Chairman and CEO of Axalta. “As a coatings company, we are proud that we are providing environmentally responsible waterborne coatings to our customers. Also, because our business consumes water, we want to contribute to efforts to protect a vital and precious resource. We are pleased and honored to partner with the CYDF to support the Mother River Protection program and take concrete steps to meet this vital challenge to protect China’s iconic rivers and the millions of people across the nation who depend on them.”

“We are very pleased to be working with Axalta on this important project. Together we can promote an awareness of green civilization and make a difference in the drive towards environmental sustainability,” said Yao Wen, Deputy Secretary General of the CYDF.

The announcement came the day after Axalta opened a new, sustainable waterborne coatings plant in the Jiading district of Shanghai. Axalta companies have been doing business in China since 1984. This wealth of institutional knowledge has helped Axalta maintain its leadership role in developing cutting edge coating products. In addition to the new Jiading facility, Axalta operates an adjacent plant in Jiading and a plant in Changchun, six powder coating operations in collaboration with its joint venture partner, four refinish training centers and, in Shanghai, a Global Color Lab, an Asia Pacific Innovation Center to support R&D and a new Asia Pacific head regional headquarters.