The Responsible Care® initiative was launched by the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association in 1985. Members of Responsible Care® aim to secure continuous improvements to health, safety and environmental performance on a voluntary basis – irrespective of legal requirements. As time passed, more and more chemical companies and associations from around the world joined the initiative. Launched in Germany in 1991, it now has some 800 active member companies. These represent some 90 percent of the chemical workforce in Germany. WACKER committed to it right from the start.
We attach equal importance to economic and social goals. This explains our strong focus on environmental protection, plant process safety (for both employees and neighbors), occupational health and safety, and product safety (for customers and end users).
The ICCA (International Council of Chemical Associations) launched its new Responsible Care® Global Charter in 2006 at the UN-led International Conference on Chemicals Management in Dubai. WACKER was one of the first companies in Germany to sign this revised voluntary commitment. The charter expands upon the Responsible Care® principles that were first formulated in the mid-1980s. It takes account of the new challenges facing both the chemical sector and the global community – e.g. growing public dialog over sustainable economic development, public health issues related to the use of chemicals, and the need for greater industry transparency.
Since 2008, our WACKER Greater China region has been an active member of China’s Responsible Care® program.
Two hands holding an imaginary chemical bond. This is the logo of the chemical industry’s international Responsible Care®initiative.