Knowde statement on East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment
Knowde releases statement on the train derailment in Ohio
Company donating $5,000 to American Red Cross to help local residents
SAN JOSE, CA – February 16, 2023 – Knowde CEO Ali Amin-Javaheri has released the following statement regarding the train derailment that occurred on February 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, the explosion of the rail car carrying vinyl chloride, and the controlled burn of the spill, which released hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air:
“By now, most have heard about the unfortunate events that took place in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3. While the cause of the train derailment and subsequent fire remains under investigation, there are some things we know for sure:
- an entire town had to evacuate their homes,
- hazardous chemicals got released into the environment,
- and, while fortunately there is no reported loss of human life, the future well-being of the people of East Palestine remains uncertain.
The train that derailed and caught fire carried products produced and sold by the chemical industry. Overnight, monomers such as vinyl chloride went from being the unsung heroes of the material world — building blocks in everything from PVC pipes to life-saving, medical-grade IV bags — to a significant health, safety, and environmental concern. While vinyl chloride is inherently toxic and dangerous, it is also used to create products that benefit members of our society in so many meaningful ways when handled safely.
Few industries take safety and accountability as seriously as the chemical industry. It’s that genuine concern for the well-being of society and the environment that has compelled Knowde to step up and do what we can to help the people of East Palestine. Today, Knowde will donate $5,000 to the Northern Ohio Region chapter of the American Red Cross. I encourage our partners and colleagues to do the same.”
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About Knowde
Knowde is the leading digital sales and marketing platform for ingredients, polymers, and chemistry. The Knowde.com marketplace allows buyers to search, compare, sample, quote, and purchase products from every producer on earth, all in one place. With more than 180,000 products and 8,000 supplier storefronts — more than any distributor, marketplace, or middleman organization in the history of the industry — Knowde is the largest platform of its kind. Knowde is backed by top-tier investors, including Coatue, Sequoia Capital, Refactor Capital, Bee Partners, Cantos Ventures, Sound Ventures, TQ Ventures, K5 Global, Mantis VC, Knollwood, 8VC, and FJ Labs. For more information, visit www.knowde.com.
Media relations inquiries: Contact John Schmidt at john.schmidt@knowde.com
