In 2013, the 25th anniversary of Responsible Care in the United States, ACC is launching an enhanced Responsible Care

For 25 Years...A History of Excellence
Since 1988, Responsible Care has helped American Chemistry Council (ACC) member companies significantly enhance their performance, discover new business opportunities, and improve employee safety, the health of the communities in which they operate and the environment as a whole, moving us toward a safer, more sustainable future.
In 2013, the 25th anniversary of Responsible Care in the United States, ACC is launching an enhanced Responsible Care that strengthens industry’s commitment to the safety of its products and manufacturing process, and includes new operational energy efficiency and performance measurements.
The Responsible Care Milestones Timeline highlights significant milestones in Responsible Care since it was enacted in Canada in 1984 and adopted in the United States in 1998.
A Commitment to Health, Safety and Security

Participation in Responsible Care is a condition of membership for ACC members and Responsible Care Partner companies, all of which have made CEO-level commitments to uphold the program elements. The Responsible Care Guiding Principles are at the heart of the Responsible Care commitment—through these principles, members and Partners pledge to improve EHS&S performance for facilities, processes and products throughout the entire operating system.
Companies also are committed to open and transparent reporting and submit annual data on their progress toward meeting performance measure goals. This information is made publicly available on this website.
Fast Facts:

• Responsible Care is a global initiative that began in Canada in 1984 and is practiced today by 57 national and regional associations in 65 economies around the world.

• The U.S. chemical industry invests more than $16 billion annually in environmental, health, safety and security programs.

• Since 1974, the U.S. chemical industry as a whole has improved its energy efficiency by 54 percent.

• Responsible Care companies have invested almost $13 billion to further enhance security at their facilities in the past decade.

• Responsible Care companies are committed to worker safety. They are five times safer than the average of the U.S. manufacturing sector as a whole, and nearly three times as safe as the business of chemistry overall.

• Responsible Care companies have reduced process safety incidents by 58 percent over the past 18 years.

• From 1988 to 2011, Responsible Care companies have reduced hazardous releases to the air, land and water by more than 76 percent.