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Anne Gregory

Chemicals industry – in the limelight

  1. Naturally, some industrial sectors are in the ‘environmental limelight’ more than others. The chemicals industry, which reeled after the terrible 1984 incident in Bhopal, India, where a gas leak from the Union Carbide chemical plant over 2000 people, is an example of an industry which has acted positively to address public concerns.

  2. Largely via an initiative from its own trade body, the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), the UK chemical has got the message and is actively encouraging companies to take initiatives to boost their standing in the local community by improving manufacturing processes, reducing emissions and embracing local environmental issues.

  3. The ‘Responsible Care’ programme introduced a few years ago and adopted by many of CIA’s members actively encourages open communication with employees and the public on issues such as site improvements and associated environmental issues. A new sense of openness is prevailing with more enlightened chemical companies creating local liaison groups and annual plant open days for one and all to attend. High on the agenda are environmental issues such as effluent controls, smells and noise emissions which directly affect local people.

  4. Many chemical companies have embarked on joint ventures with community groups and local authorities to improve the environment in and around their sites, particularly by cleaning up rivers. Cooperative activities with local Groundwork Trust charity groups are a splendid example of the local community, local authority and company employees working together to improve the environment in the local community.

  5. By acting in a proactive way, participating chemical companies in the Responsible Care programme are demonstrating that they understand the concerns of the public and have taken corporate governance a stage further by not just paying ‘lip-service’ to legislation. Having worked with such firms over the years, I am encouraged by the effectiveness of this approach, which is generating better understanding all round.