Responsible Care

The Chemical Industry's Commitment for Health, Safety and the Environment

Responsible Care is the international Chemical Industry's Voluntary Programme to promote implementation of principles and conduct designed to ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and Environmental Protection, and the commitment to communicate results achieved in terms of significant, tangible ongoing improvement. The initiative “Responsible Care” was launched in Canada in 1984 by the CCPA (Canadian Chemical Producer Association), and then adopted in 1988 by the ACC (American Chemistry Council). The following year the Programme was started up in Europe by the CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council).  The “Responsible Care” Programme is currently adopted by over 10,000 chemical firms based in over 50 countries worldwide. Despite being influenced by local cultural, social and economic situations, the various national programmes have basic characteristics in common, which have been defined by the ICCA (International Council of Chemical Associations), whose role it is to promote the initiative, offer assistance and link up the various participants as regards the following points: 

• compliance with “Guidelines” established in the country and signed by the legal representatives for the country;
• the draft of “User Guides,” “Handbooks” other multimedia devices and the organisation of “Educational Workshops”; 
• the definition of indicators used to measure improvements in performance; the ongoing communication process on the themes of “Health Safety and Environment" (HSE) both inside and outside the company; 
• The use of the logo “Responsible Care”; 
• sharing of “Best Corporate Practices” through “Technical Committees” and “Work Groups”; 
• encouragement for the companies to ensure effective participation in the Programme; 
• Programme implementation control system. 

Downloadable documents:

• Responsible Care