The Chemical Industry's Performance

Since 1988, the U.S. chemical industry, through the American Chemistry Council, has implemented Responsible Care®, a voluntary program to achieve improvements in environmental, health and safety performance beyond levels required by the U.S. government.

The program has resulted in significant reductions in releases to air, land and water, major improvements in workplace and community safety, and expanded programs to research and test chemicals for potential health and environmental impacts.


Responsible Care Guiding Principles

The Responsible Care Guiding Principles serve as the ethical foundation for Responsible Care. The Guiding Principles commit ACC member and Partner companies to continuous performance improvement; responsiveness to public concerns about the industry's operations and products; and the ethical management of their operations. The Guiding Principles are personally endorsed by each ACC member and Partner company Executive Contact (e.g., CEO, President, etc.) upon admission into the ACC. Below is the text of the Responsible Care Guiding Principles.

Our industry creates products and services that make life better for people around the world — both today and tomorrow. The benefits of our industry are accompanied by enduring commitments to Responsible Care in the management of chemicals worldwide. We will make continuous progress toward the vision of no accidents, injuries or harm to the environment and will publicly report our global health, safety and environmental performance. We will lead our companies in ethical ways that increasingly benefit society, the economy and the environment while adhering to the following principles:

To seek and incorporate public input regarding our products and operations.

To provide chemicals that can be manufactured, transported, used and disposed of safely.

To make health, safety, the environment and resource conservation critical considerations for all new and existing products and processes.

To provide information on health or environmental risks and pursue protective measures for employees, the public and other key stakeholders.

To work with customers, carriers, suppliers, distributors and contractors to foster the safe use, transport and disposal of chemicals.

To operate our facilities in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of our employees
and the public.

To support education and research on the health, safety and environmental effects of our products and processes.

To work with others to resolve problems associated with past handling and disposal practices.

To lead in the development of responsible laws, regulations and standards that safeguard the community, work-place and environment.

To practice Responsible Care by encouraging and assisting others to adhere to these principles and practices.