Responsible Care® Toolkit

ACC Targets Smaller Chemical Makers in Effort to Boost Advocacy Efforts

At its Board meeting in November 2009, ACC adopted a new effort to bring in more small and medium-sized companies to grow its membership and enhance its advocacy. ACC will offer three-year dues wavier to small and medium-sized chemical makers as part of an initiative to grow the ranks of member firms and the groups influence. The effort seeks to broaden the adoption of ACC’s environmental, health, safety, and security standards and boost the number of industry CEO’s and employees, particularly in key states and Congressional districts.

“Smaller companies are much more embedded in the social and political fabric of communities where they separate,” says ACC president Cal Dooley.” “We need to do a better job of bringing those companies under our umbrella and have them as part of our advocacy efforts.”

Cal Dooley says “the effort is partly driven by his own experience in Congress where he found that smaller, family-owned businesses were more effective advocates.” The effort will target firms nationwide with an emphasis on ten target states. “We have an opportunity to build a more comprehensive relationship in areas that are represented by elected officials that are persuadable, Dooley says.” “We have an opportunity to make them more supportive and aware of our policy agenda.”

ACC presently has about 135 members representing 80% – 85% of industrial chemical production by revenue. ACC hopes that it will grow its ranks by a couple of hundred members eventually; targeting the thousands of smaller chemical manufactures that exist in the U.S. Sunil Kumar, President and CEO of ISP Corp., and head of ACC’s membership committee says, “We need the membership base to expand to increase the performance of our industry through implementation of our Responsible Care® program.

The dues wavier designed to help smaller companies pay for Responsible Care implementation and offset the impression that compliance for smaller companies is too expensive, ACC officials say. The goal is to make it possible for smaller companies to invest the time and money, with active help from ACC and mentor companies to install Responsible Care within three years, says Kumar. Broader adoption of Responsible Care will lift the industry’s overall health, safety and environmental performance. » read this article in its entirety

» back to top


2010 Responsible Care Conference & Expo

Registration for the 2010 Responsible Care Conference and Expo has begun! The Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami, Florida is the destination of this year’s Responsible Care Conference & Expo. Conference dates are from May 2-5, 2010.

The 2010 Responsible Care Conference and Expo will be sure to offer the most relevant and cutting edge information in the chemical industry, as well as provide a place for chemical industry experts to network, dialogue, learn and share their industry experiences and expertise. Come to hear first hand from the Strategic Review external advisory panelist on the direction of the Responsible Care initiative.

In effort to support ACC’s new membership strategy to boost its advocacy efforts, we will offer three sessions that will specifically focus on the needs of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Other conference sessions that will provide valuable information for the industry professional are process safety, certification, security and product stewardship, just to name a few. ACC has negotiated a special room rate of $225.00. To receive the discounted room rate, please mention the American Chemistry Council when you make your hotel reservation. The discount will only be good through April 8, 2010, which will be here before you know it, so don’t wait to register or to make your hotel reservation. To make your hotel reservations, please contact the Loews reservation team at 877.563.9762. For more information on the Responsible Care Conference agenda, conference fees, hotel information, exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.rcconference.org.

» back to top


Responsible Care Partner Roster Change

Partner Safe Handling, Inc. was acquired by partner Savage Companies, Inc. as of December 2009. Safe Handling had been a partner since 2002; Savage joined the partnership program in 1998.

» back to top


Welcome New Responsible Care Member Coordinator

We would like to welcome new Responsible Care Coordinator Kimmy Watson/Shell Chemical LP to the Responsible Care program. Welcome!

» back to top


Welcome New Responsible Care Partner Coordinator

Please welcome new partner Responsible Care coordinator Bruce Carrington at Tidewater Transit Co., Inc.

» back to top


January Monthly Member Coordinators’ Call

The first Responsible Care Member Coordinator call of 2010 was scheduled for Friday, January 15.

» back to top



Monthly Partner Coordinators’ Call—Set for January 28, 2010

Plan to participate in the January monthly partner coordinators call now set for Thursday, January 28 at 10:00 AM EST. If you have specific questions or informational needs that we can provide in this call—please notify Dave Gleason ahead of this date.

» back to top


New! Responsible Care Security Code Consolidated Guide (2009)

This updated Security Code Guide provides Responsible Care practitioners with hands-on implementation guidance covering site, supply-chain and cyber issues. The document includes the full text of the Responsible Care Security Code along with implementation information for each of the code’s 13 elements; this includes learnings accumulated from member and Responsible Care Partner companies and information on key regulatory initiatives impacting company security activities.

In addition, the guidance also has numerous links to ACC and other organizations’ security documents for use at the facility or corporate level. A series of Appendices cover key security-related documents used by ACC companies. This consolidated Guide replaces the previous site (July 2002) and supply chain (September 2002) materials. For more information please contact Dan Roczniak or click here.

» back to top


Metrics Reporting Website Now Open for Reporting

The Responsible Care Metrics Reporting Website is now open for the 2010 Reporting Year. The Metrics Reporting Website can be accessed using the following link: http://metrics.responsiblecaretoolkit.com.

Reporting your company’s annual performance to the ACC is an obligation of membership and the Responsible Care Team is available and ready to assist you with the process. The ACC has updated the Performance Metrics Guidance Document for the 2010 Reporting Year. The Guidance document is available on our Responsible Care Toolkit website here.

Important Dates to Remember:

Metrics Due Date (1st round): February 28, 2010
Final Metrics Due (2nd round): May 31, 2010

*Metrics that are due May 31, 2010:
  1. Greenhouse Gas and Energy Efficiency
  2. Water Consumption
  3. SOx and NOx Emissions

As always, if anyone has any questions regarding the Metrics Reporting Website, please just let me know!

Bradford Johnson
Bradford_johnson@americanchemisty.com
703.741.5305

» back to top


Greenhouse Gas and Energy Efficiency—Latest ACC Member Company Data Posted

ACC has posted the 2008 Calendar Year Greenhouse Gas and Energy Efficiency data on the public Responsible Care website at www.americanchemistry.com/rc. ACC member companies, since 1992, have improved their energy efficiency by 25%. The 2008 data also show that since 1992, Responsible Care companies have reduced their greenhouse gas intensity to the environment by 28%. If anyone has any questions about the 2008 data, please just let me know!

Bradford Johnson
Bradford_johnson@americanchemisty.com
703.741.5305

» back to top


Reminder: Member/Partner Survey

In early December, all ACC member and Partner company Responsible Care Coordinators were emailed a survey requesting information on:

  1. Current Community Advisory Panels (CAPs) sponsored or co-sponsored by your company
  2. Challenges facing your company as it prepares for its Responsible Care certification audits/request for assistance
  3. Company activities being implemented to address “sustainability” expectations.

As of January 8, 2010, ACC has received responses from approximately 40 companies (members and Partners). If your organization has not yet responded to the survey, please do so before January 29, 2010. The information will be used to support our first CAP census since 2001; determine how members are defining sustainability-related activities; and target implementation assistance to companies to support development of their management systems. » view survey

Please contact Dan Roczniak for more information.

» back to top


Monthly RCMS/RC14001 Monthly Implementation Focus Calls: Next Call Set for Thursday, February 4 at 11:00 AM EST

We will continue our focus calls in 2010 as certification audit activity is anticipated to increase substantially in the 3rd and final year of the 2nd certification cycle. You can review highlights from previous calls which are posted at the following link: RCMS Certification—Supplemental Tools. We plan to include latest information regarding certification activities which we are aware of throughout both the member and partner rosters, and to highlight items of particular interest to practitioners directly involved with implementation of RCMS or RC14001. Plan to join the next call and share your experiences and/or learn what both ACC member and RC Partner companies are experiencing in their current certification audit efforts. Contact either Dan Roczniak or Dave Gleason for further information at any time.
» back to top


First RCMS/RC14001 Implementation Workshops Scheduled for 2010 February 2 – 4 at ACC Offices in Arlington, VA

TIME NOW TO REGISTER FOR THE FIRST WORKSHOP TO BE HELD 2/2 – 2/4/2010 AT ACC OFFICES.

As announced last month, the Responsible Care Work Plan for 2010 includes conducting 3 RCMS / RC14001 Implementation workshops for the first half of 2010. These implementation workshops have served well in clarifying any questions or concerns that might arise in interpretation and implementation of either the RCMS or the RC14001 management system.

The first of these three workshops is scheduled for noon, Tuesday 2/2/10 through noon, Thursday 2/4/10 at the ACC offices. The workshop is free to all attendees. It provides an excellent opportunity for members and partners to work together in creating full understanding of the practical aspects of the RCMS as well as receiving helpful tips and examples regarding each element based upon experiences since inception of the RCMS. Please contact Dave Gleason as soon as possible to reserve a seat in this session.

» back to top


Two Additional Implementation Workshops—2010

The next two RCMS/RC14001 Implementation workshops have been scheduled as follows: 3rd week of March (3/16 – 3/18/2010): and the 4th week of June (6/22 – 6/24/2010)—June Workshop to be hosted by Partner Superior Carriers, Inc. in Oak Brook, IL. We are looking for either a member or partner company willing to host the March workshop. To add your name to the interested parties for one of these workshops and/or to volunteer to host one of the workshops—please contact Dave Gleason at your earliest convenience.

» back to top


December Monthly Partner Coordinator Call Completed—New Metrics Webinar Conducted

The December monthly partner coordinators’ call was conducted Thursday, December 17. This call was conducted as a webinar to explain and demonstrate new partner performance metrics reporting. Metrics reporting for 2010 was initiated as of 1/1/2010—if you have any questions regarding your metrics or your reporting needs, please contact Bradford Johnson or Dave Gleason.

» back to top


Partner Steering Group Meeting Held December 15, 2009

Seven members of the Partner Steering Group participated in a year-end summary call to discuss current activities within the partnership program. Among items address were the following: overall summary of roster changes for year 2009; metrics revisions for partners and plans for implementation with the 2010 reporting year; certification activities; logo revisions; new Responsible Care awards being implemented in 2010 for both members and partners; the 2010 Partnership Program Work Plan; ACC addition of new membership categories; and key dates to keep on the calendar for 2010. If you would like further information regarding any of these issues, please contact your sector representative on the Steering Group or Dave Gleason. In addition, if you have an interest in actively participating in the Partner Steering Group, please let Dave know at any time.

» back to top


Interested in Sharing an Experience with Your Peers—Consider Volunteering as a Speaker/Presenter for the 2010 RC Conference May 2 – 5, 2010

We are finalizing the agenda for the 2010 RC Conference to be held in Miami May 2 – 5, 2010. This year we will again include several presentations and working sessions which will provide partners, partner sponsors/members the opportunity to showcase their activities and recent accomplishments. Some of the sessions planned that may be of keen interest to partners are as follows: International Shipping—Responsibilities, Risk and Resources; Partnering in the Supply Chain; Partner Annual Meeting; Case Studies of Bottom Line Value Through Responsible Care; This is Not Your Grandpa’s Truck…Locomotive or Barge; and Certification—Preparing for Your First (or Second) Round of Audits.

If you would like to be a speaker/presenter in the conference and share your experiences or learnings with other attendees, please contact Dave Gleason as soon as possible. Note: There is a $400 discount for attending as a scheduled speaker.

» back to top


Printer friendly version Site Survey