Labchem has become the latest member of the Chemical & Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA) to sign the Responsible Care (RC) Public Commitment, thereby committing the company to implementing its guiding principles.

Labchem, which operates from Johannesburg, was established in 1983 with the objective of becoming a leading laboratory supplier in South Africa. Offering extensive ranges of standard and specialised chemicals, laboratory glassware, general consumables and basic laboratory instrumentation, the company has established strong ties with renowned international and local chemical manufacturers.

“In 2005, Labchem obtained ISO9001:2008 certification and succeeded in maintaining this ever since. In 2012, we moved into our new premises with extended warehousing to better accommodate our growing company and customer demands. We have built a new, modern chemical store to enable us to store hazardous chemicals safely. With on-going determination to improve operations in a holistic manner, Labchem’s recent, voluntary membership of CAIA and the signing of the Responsible Care Public Commitment will help guide the company in current and future aspects of chemical safety and product stewardship. It is our company’s expectation that the implementation of the Responsible Care principles will be of benefit to the company employees, customers and the environment in which we operate.” said CEO Derek Stott.

“By signing the RC public commitment, Labchem (Pty) Ltd pledges to conduct all its operations in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner and to incorporate the Responsible Care ethics and requirements into its business strategy, management system and daily operations,” says Louise Lindeque, Responsible Care Manager at CAIA.

One hundred and fifty nine companies are signatories to the RC initiative in South Africa, which shows that the initiative is more than a set of principles and declarations. Through the sharing of information and a rigorous system of checklists, performance indicators and verification procedures, it enables the industry to demonstrate its improvements over the years and to develop policies for further improvement. Responsible Care helps the chemical industry gain the trust of the public and to operate safely and sustainably – with due care for safety, health and the environment.