Synonymous with sustainable development in the area of health, safety and the environment, Responsible Care is an initiative launched voluntarily by the chemical industry itself, at a global level. It is a self-enforced code of conduct and best practice, independent from all the duly respected rules and regulations imposed upon the industry by national and international bodies.

With its guiding principles being best practice and safe systems for managing chemical substances, this initiative operates at both an individual and a collective level. It has bolstered the chemical industry’s image in a world where chemical products tend to be viewed primarily as potential hazards rather than items which contribute to the general wellbeing of each and every individual. All activities undertaken in this regard generate a positive impact, therefore Responsible Care contributes added value.

Product Stewardship is the element of Responsible Care which refers to chemical products and their impact on health, safety and the environment throughout their lifecycle, i.e. from laboratory design through to disposal. This covers a broad domain, involving all players further downstream. Besides manufacturers, this includes transportation services, distributors, clients, and generally, anyone who needs to use, manipulate or transform chemical products.

The aim of Responsible Care is to promote the concept of sustainable development. In France, the initiative was launched by UIC in 1990, under the name Engagement de Progrès. Equivalent projects were then introduced in turn in North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Pacific region and South America. At present, there are 53 national and regional federations participating in respective initiatives under the auspices of Responsible Care.

In order to participate in Responsible Care, the Chief Executive of each business must sign a contract to ensure the commitment of each and every staff member towards a fresh approach and better practices. This process has undoubtedly led to an improvement in the general image of the chemical industry.

Responsible Care is governed by a Global Charter, officially launched in 2006. The Charter expands on the original features of the Responsible Care initiative, developing it further so as to address new challenges. The Charter emphasises the importance of Product Stewardship, strengthening dialogue between stakeholders, the need to enforce participants’ compliance to Responsible Care, and the role of the initiative in the advancement of sustainable development.