On World Environment Day, CIAC highlights its members’ commitment to reducing air pollution through Responsible Care®

June 05, 2019

Today, the United Nations’ Secretary-General António Guterres announced the theme for 2019’s World Environment Day is air pollution, encouraging citizens and businesses of the world to act to reduce pollution and beat climate change.

As part of the codes and ethic of Responsible Care® and their commitment to accelerating progress of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, members of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) have made it a priority to reduce emissions of air pollutants, helping to ensure cleaner air for all. Responsible Care is the UN-recognized sustainability initiative for the chemistry industry that was first developed by CIAC in 1985 and is now practised in 67 countries and by 96 of the 100 largest chemical producers in the world.

“Every CIAC member must commit to Responsible Care’s rigorous codes and ethic which compel our members to innovate for safer and more environmentally friendly products and processes,” said Bob Masterson, President and CEO of CIAC. “Our members serve as an example of environmental stewardship and transparency for other industries in Canada and around the world.”

Since 2004, CIAC members have:

• Reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 32 per cent
• Achieved a 76 per cent reduction in SO2 emissions
• Reduced volatile organic compound emissions by more than 27 per cent
• Reduced particulate matter (PM2.5) by 77 per cent
• Reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 18 per cent through investments in new plants and technologies, investments in combined heat and power facilities, substitutions of lower-carbon fuels and other investments.

For more information on our members’ commitments Responsible Care, please visit our website and read CIAC’s 2018 Responsible Care Performance Report: Delivering on our Commitments