Responsible Care

The 'Responsible Care Program' is the worldwide chemical industry's commitment to continual improvement in all aspects of Health, Safety and Environment performance and to openness in communication about its activities and achievements.

National chemical industry associations are responsible for the detailed implementation of Responsible Care in their countries. Each Responsible Care Program now incorporates eight fundamental features.

The last feature, verification, was incorporated into the program in 1996 by the International Council of Chemical Association (ICCA) which oversees 'Responsible Care'. The individual countries' 'Responsible Care' programs are at different stages of development and have different emphases. The associations' reports reflect this variety and show how CEFIC co-ordination assists in the cross-fertilization of ideas and best practice.

Responsible Care Web Page

Responsible Care commits companies, national chemical industry associations and their partners to:

• Continuously improve the environmental, health, safety and security knowledge and performance of our technologies, processes and products over their life cycles so as to avoid harm to people and the environment.
• Use resources efficiently and minimise waste.
• Report openly on performance, achievements and shortcomings.
• Listen, engage and work with people to understand and address their concerns and expectations.
• Cooperate with governments and organisations in the development and implementation of effective regulations and standards, and to meet or go beyond them.
• Provide help and advice to foster the responsible management of chemicals by all those who manage and use them along the product chain.