The American Chemistry Council is working to extend the Responsible Care® ethic and management practices throughout the chemical supply chain.
The Responsible Care Partnership Program enables companies outside of ACC’s membership to participate in this leading environmental, health, safety and security initiative.
The Partnership Program is open to companies that have direct and substantial involvement in the distribution, transportation, storage, use, treatment-disposal and/or sales and marketing of chemicals – and whose senior management recognizes the importance of continuous improvement. Program leadership and direction is provided by a Partner Steering Group consisting of representatives from across each program sector and facilitated by a Senior ACC Responsible Care staff member. The Steering Group also contains a non-voting senior supply chain executive from an ACC member company to ensure coordination of efforts throughout the member supply chains.
A Partnership Program member applicant must nominate two American Chemistry Council current members as sponsors on their original application. The sponsor role (pdf) is an important one in enabling both the new partner and his/her sponsors to extend their relationship and create synergy in program implementation – thus maximizing business value to all parties.
Click here to see a current listing of the ACC Responsible Care Partner Companies. Partner companies are segregated into sectors based on their primary business operation.
Making the Responsible Care Partnership Commitment
Companies must commit to fully implement all aspects of the Responsible Care initiative in all chemical-related domestic operations; and
Guiding Principles
The executive contact at every Responsible Care Partner company must sign a copy of ACC’s Responsible Care Guiding Principles.
RCMS®or RC14001® Management System Implementation
Every Responsible Care company must implement a system for managing its environment, health, safety, and security issues that conforms to the Responsible Care program’s management system requirements at both its headquarters and facilities.
Third-party Certification
Responsible Care companies’ headquarters and facilities are required to undergo a third-party certification audit to assure that their management systems conform to Responsible Care requirements.
Responsible Care Security Code Implementation
Every Responsible Care company must implement each of the Security Code’s 13 management practices – including site prioritization, security vulnerability assessments, and third-party verification of physical security enhancements and associated reporting – within a specific timeframe.
Performance Measure Reporting
Each year, Responsible Care companies report applicable performance measure data to ACC through an on-line system.
Responsible Care Coordinator Designation
Each Responsible Care company is required to designate and maintain a Responsible Care coordinator, who is responsible for the program’s implementation within the company. The executive contact at each ACC member company and Responsible Care company is responsible for choosing a Responsible Care coordinator.
How Do I Apply?
In order to apply for Responsible Care Partnership status, a company does not need to have all of the above requirements in place. Rather, a company’s most senior officer must provide a signed statement that he/she is committed to the Responsible Care Guiding Principles, has assessed the initiative and its management system and certification requirements; has made an initial determination of how the Responsible Care Management System® (RCMS®) applies to the company; and is committed to implementing the RCMS in the pursuit of continuous performance improvement.
Download Responsible Care Partnership Program Application Form (pdf)
Note: Consultants, law firms, service organizations and businesses that do not derive a substantial portion of their revenue from the manufacture, use, formulation, distribution, transportation, storage, treatment-disposal and/or sales and marketing of chemicals are not eligible for membership in the Partnership Program, but could qualify to participate in Friends of Responsible Care.
