South Africa is ranked among the top 25 chemical supplying countries in the world, with the sector contributing approximately 5% to the country’s gross domestic product, 25% to manufacturing output and employing over 200 000 people.

The Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA) has member companies that are responsible for a majority of the volume of goods traded by the South African chemical industry value chain.

CAIA launched the Responsible Care® programme in South Africa in 1994. This is the global chemical industry’s unique initiative to improve health, safety and environmental performance and to communicate with stakeholders about products and processes.

In addition to this programme, CAIA provides linkages to sustainability in the chemical industries’ value chain through advocacy, training, support of educational drives in maths and science and the advancement of these concepts into sub-Saharan Africa.

“The Responsible Care® programme, launched in 1985, is the prevailing ethic that guides the health, safety and environmental performance of the global chemical industry,” explains Deidré Penfold Executive Director of CAIA. “There are over 65 countries with Responsible Care® implementation and more than 150 of the world’s global chemical companies are signatories to a global charter.

“CAIA members commit to self-assessments and independent audits of their implementation of eight Responsible Care® Management Practice Standards (MPSs) that encompass this industry’s voluntary, global commitment to sustainability.”

The Management Practice Standards (MPSs) are:

1. Management Commitment
2. Health and Safety
3. Storage, Distribution and Transport
4. Pollution Prevention and Resource Efficiency
5. Emergency Response
6. Community Interaction
7. Product Stewardship
8. Process Safety

“These MPSs can be directly linked to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ratified by the United Nations at the September 2015 UN summit and underscore the chemical industry’s commitment to sustainability in South Africa.

 

Business and sustainable development

Key to the achievement of sustainability is the responsibility of the executive to these goals and this is covered by the MPS Management Commitment.

CAIA considers this an overarching goal, as the commitment of management to sustainable development is the most important element to consider. The decisions taken by management will result in the most appropriate actions being taken by the company.

Management commits to the Responsible Care® initiative; this requires the investment of financial and human resources to achieve the continuous improvement in safety, health and environmental performance, which can include research, development and innovation.

 

SDGs achieved

The implementation of Management Commitment assists in fulfilling the following Sustainable Development Goals:

1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Decent work and economic growth
7. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
8. Reduced inequalities
9. Peace, justice and strong institutions
10. Partnerships for the goals

 

Management Commitment

The objective of this standard is to provide guidance to member companies, for their business units or sites that commit to Responsible Care®, as well as in terms of their responsibilities for crosscutting elements of the initiative.

Due to the major implications and responsibility associated with the management team of a company, the MPS for Management is very specific and sets out the following requirements:

1. Leadership and commitment
2. Policy
3. Management review
4. Legislative requirements
5. Organisational responsibility
6. Personnel
7. Communication