Chemistry has laid the foundation for many essential materials that have shaped our modern world. In recent decades, the innovations and advancements of this industry have raised awareness for the importance of balancing these benefits with efforts to safeguard the environment.
Concerns about the potential effects of chemicals on the environment emerged with the publication of Rachel Carson’s bestseller “Silent Spring” in 1962, and public attention became focused squarely on the business of chemistry.
When Congress chartered the Environmental Protection Agency to initiate tougher air, water and waste laws in 1970, and Superfund was authorized to clean up abandoned waste sites in 1980, these actions drew strong support from the American public.
The chemical industry responded as well. In 1983, then ACC Board Chairman William Simeral of DuPont called on the industry to recognize the public’s growing fear of chemicals and called for action to reverse this trend. He suggested adopting abandoned hazardous waste dumps, a proposal that led to the formation of Clean Sites, a non-profit cleanup organization. Later that year, his ACC Board successor, Louis Fernandez of Monsanto, testified in support of Superfund.
The New York Times noted, “It may be premature to speak of the greening of the chemical industry, but the chemical lobby’s position on the problem of hazardous waste has undergone what appears to be a major transformation in the last three years.”
But in 1984, a toxic gas leak at a Union Carbide plant in India drew intense public pressure. to improve its environmental, health and safety performance. Acting to avoid any further incidents, chemical companies scrutinized their operations.
Within four months, the American Chemistry Council introduced its Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) program, which had member companies revisiting their emergency response plans and reaching out to their communities.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association (CCPA) was searching for ways to improve performance and respond to public concerns as well. CCPA saw the benefits of CAER, but felt the focus was too narrow.
Building on a set of guiding principles (revised March, 2008) first developed in the 1970’s, CCPA introduced “Responsible Care” to its members in 1986. ACC, in turn, recognized the value of this comprehensive approach and adopted the initiative on October 31, 1988, as an obligation of ACC membership. Building on the original CAER code, ACC developed pollution prevention; employee health and safety; product stewardship; process safety, and distribution codes.
Recent Changes
In recent years, several major developments caused the U.S. chemical industry to reexamine how it could further improve its environmental, health, safety and security performance:
- When Responsible Care was adopted in 1988 and the first codes were established, about 13 percent of code practices were required by government regulation. In 2002, that figure had crept up to approximately 80 percent. In other words, government regulations had caught up with Responsible Care.
- Restructuring, merger and acquisition activity, and the globalization of business activities and responsibilities had occurred.
- Global management systems and standards for EHS practices were beginning to take hold.
- Enhanced security requirements were a necessity in the wake of September 11, 2001.
- The business value of Responsible Care had become less apparent. Many of our member and Responsible Care Partner companies recommended that it deliver more value.
- External stakeholder participation in government and corporate decision-making had grown.
Responsible Care Program Enhancements
Following a six-month, CEO-led Responsible Care strategic review, ACC’s Board of Directors endorsed significant changes to the program in June 2002, which became mandatory for all ACC members and Responsible Care Partners. These enhancements ensure that Responsible Care continues making progress into the 21 st century. Based on the input of the 900 internal and external stakeholders, the enhancements amount to a virtual reinvention of the initiative, providing a whole new direction and momentum. The changes in 2002 include:
- Adopting a progressive Responsible Care Management System® (RCMS®) that incorporates appropriate business elements and yields operational reliability and performance improvements;
- Instituting a new independent third party certification system for all member companies;
- Expanding performance metrics to measure individual company and industry performance and reporting these metrics to the public; and
- Establishing a mandatory Security Code for members and Responsible Care Partners as part of the Responsible Care program.
