The American Chemistry Council earlier this week presented its Responsible Care Company of the Year Award to Bayer Corp., Celanese Corp., Ethyl Corp. and LyondellBasell for their environmental, health, safety and security performance.
“These four companies epitomize the chemical industry’s commitment to a safer, more sustainable future,” said Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council. “Each company has demonstrated exemplary achievements in environmental performance, worker safety and the health and well-being of the communities in which they operate.”
To be eligible for the award, companies must demonstrate how they have surpassed Responsible Care performance criteria, including:
- A safety performance rating in the top 10 percent of companies in their size category, with no significant process incidents in the previous year.
- Positive performance measures in the areas of transportation safety, process safety and emissions reduction.
- Demonstrated improvements in environmental, health, safety and security performance, product stewardship, distribution safety and emergency preparedness.
Since 1988, Responsible Care companies have reduced hazardous releases to the air, land and water by more than 76 percent, improved energy efficiency overall and have a worker safety record that is more than twice as safe, on average, as the overall chemical manufacturing sector and four times safer than the manufacturing sector as a whole, according to the American Chemistry Council.
Bayer
In 2013, Bayer implemented its “Drive Toward Zero” program, establishing an organizational culture promoting continuous improvement in compliance, process and product safety, sustainability, environmental performance and safety.
Bayer's commitment to safety is evidenced though its detailed product and safety training program, which includes on-site support for new customers to ensure safe handling of materials before their first shipment is received.
“Bayer has been involved with Responsible Care since its inception more than 25 years ago,” said Jerry MacCleary, president of Bayer MaterialScience and a member of the council board. “It plays an integral role in Bayer’s sustainable development program and provides external validation of Bayer’s ‘license to operate.’ We are very proud and humbled to have been chosen for this award.”
Celanese
In 2013, Irving, Texas-based Celanese had its best global safety performance: zero recordable injuries at U.S. Responsible Care facilities. In addition, Celanese’s One PSM program drives a culture of process safety throughout the organization, and the implementation of the Celanese Sustainability Council has helped to reduce emissions and waste generation at key sites.
“Celanese has been Responsible Care certified since 2006, and we have been practicing the elements of Responsible Care for more than 30 years,” said Darren Collins, vice president of manufacturing and EHS for Celanese. “Our management system has always had principle-based expectations in safety, environment and health, which has been strengthened by our deep employee engagement. It’s an honor for everyone at Celanese to be recognized for their efforts to make the principles of Responsible Care truly part of the Celanese culture.”
Ethyl
This marks Ethyl Corp.’s third Responsible Care award in four years. In 2013, the company won its third consecutive Union Pacific Railroad Safety Pinnacle Award for excellence in chemical transportation safety. Richmond, Va.-based Ethyl also received the Perfect Record Award from the National Safety Council for safety performance in three of the past four years, and recently celebrated 18 years of no lost-time injuries at its manufacturing site in Canada.
“This award is very meaningful to all of us at Ethyl because it is recognition from our peers for our performance on Responsible Care principles, primarily health, safety, environment, product stewardship, community service and overall doing the right thing,” said Ethyl Corp. President Azfar Choudhury.
LyondellBasell
Responsible Care is embedded into everyday business at LyondellBasell, through its operational excellence management system and its logistic service provider risk classification.
In 2013, LyondellBasell instituted product stewardship bulletins for more than 800 of its most frequently ordered products – distributing more than 25,000 bulletins to customers and interested parties.
“We never forget the real reason LyondellBasell is a Responsible Care company: It’s because we are protecting those who work in our plants and those who are our neighbors and customers,” said LyondellBasell CEO James Gallogly. “We take our Responsible Care commitment very personally.”