product and production safety, transportation, storage
production and climate action.
'The
and in-field applications of their products.
Responsible
Care
initiative is ideally placed as
2015 report
a proactive response by the
CAIA Executive Director Deidré Penfold recently released
chemical
this year's Responsible Care Performance Report in
challenges
industry
Johannesburg. It covered the chemical industry's progress
through the implementation
of
to
the
sustainability
in meeting the RC principles, its safety and health statistics
of programmes that contribute
for on and off-road activities, assessed the industry's
to continuous improvement in
resource efficiency performance in terms of energy, water,
safety, health, environmental
waste and greenhouse gas emissions related to Product
and reporting objectives. The
Stewardship, and its community outreach progress. It
slogan of the global voluntary
also detailed the considerable training offered by CAIA
Responsible Care initiative, "Our
during the past year and the association's interactions at
Commitment to Sustainability",
international level.
provides a very clear message.
Deidré Penfold
Sustainable
'Energy will continue to play a leading role in
Development Goals during September 2015, affordable
sustainability objectives – especially in terms of
and clean energy has become critical to the multinational
greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa – and the need
process of working towards a more sustainable future,'
for innovation and rational national energy policy cannot
explained Penfold in discussing the initiative's sustainability
be underestimated as keys to a sustainable future.
'With
the
adoption
of
ambitious
'As the 2015 Responsible Care Performance Report
focus.
'The importance of energy to sustainable development
reveals, the consumption of energy, primarily electricity,
objectives can also be indirectly noted in other sustainable
has become and continues to be more efficient among
development goals such as those relating to economic
the initiative's signatories that trade in products – a very
growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable
encouraging trend that the SA chemical industry can be
cities and communities, responsible consumption and
proud of.'
Improved water usage
At 30 September 2015, CAIA had 157 Responsible Care
signatories that are committed to the implementation of
this initiative within their companies. These companies
participate in and uphold the RC pillars in their operations
and business practices in the following areas:
•
Safety and health
•
Management commitment
•
Pollution prevention and resource efficiency
•
Product stewardship
•
Storage and transportation
•
Process safety
•
Community interaction
•
Emergency response
In his report, the Chairman of the Responsible
Care Standing Committee, Johan Schoonraad, stated,
'Water plays an integral role in the activities of the
chemic