The Responsible Care programme now accounts for occupational well-being indicators

In 2014, occupational well-being indicators were introduced in the Responsible Care programme in Finland, substantially expanding its scope. A number of new companies also joined the programme. 2014 saw a slight decline in the monitored responsibility figures. The main goal of the programme is to promote and maintain positive performance of the industry. The long-term-benefits of the programme are substantial, and its goals will remain as high as ever.

The longest-running sustainability programme in the history of Finnish manufacturing, the Responsible Care programme of The Chemical Industry of Finland has supported positive development in the chemical industry for more than 20 years.  There are currently 97 Finnish companies committed to the programme, accounting for 80 per cent of the chemical industry production and 60 per cent of its personnel. The companies committed to the programme provide a detailed annual report of their development, covering several dozen different indicators.

Some results of the 2014 Responsible Care programme results (from 2013):

•   Lost time injuries frequency rate (LTI3): 7.1 injuries per 1 million man-hours worked (5.9)
•   Energy consumption: 0.95 kWh per kg of production (0.89)
•   Water consumption: 1.11 litres per kg of production (1.05)
•   Greenhouse gas emissions: 232 gCO2e per kg of production (220)
•   Sick Leaves: 4.2% of all hours of work (new indicator)
•   Retirement age: 62.5 years (new indicator)
•   Early intervention: in 91% of companies/units (new indicator)

 

“The long-term corporate responsibility efforts of companies in the chemical industry have yielded substantial results and the goals are quite high. The chemical industry is the first industry in Finland to include occupational well-being indicators in its responsibility efforts. This is because our goal is to be the best industry in occupational well-being by 2020,” says Timo Leppä, director general at The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.

“The fact that the Responsible Care programme has attracted a number of new companies and, consequently, new chemical industry product sectors, is great news for us. This goes to show that there is a real need for practical and goal-oriented cooperation,” Timo Leppä says.

The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland has set stringent goals both for occupational safety and energy efficiency, and the results have been remarkable.

“In 1988, there were 43 lost time injuries (LTI3) per million man-hours worked. In 2014, the number has been cut down to only 7.1. Our goal is to reduce the work injury rate to less than five by 2016. Zero accidents is not an unrealistic goal either – for 21 percent of RC companies, it has become reality. Organising supportive networks which allow member companies to share information and know-how openly with each other has turned out to be an effective method for promoting occupational safety. These efforts will be further expanded in the near future,” says Merja Vuori, the person responsible for the Responsible Care programme at The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.

“One of our main goals is the continuous improvement of energy efficiency. In 2014, the Finnish chemical industry consumed 20 percent less energy per kilogram of product than in 1995, which was the year we first started our monitoring activities. It is very difficult to achieve major improvements in the course of a single year. This means that improvement in the industry is gradual and takes many small steps,” says Sami Nikander, the person responsible for climate and energy-related matters at The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland. 

 

Responsible Care is an international responsibility programme which supports sustainability in the chemical industry. For more than 20 years, it has served as the primary operating model used in matters related to sustainability in the Finnish chemical industry. A practical and goal-oriented approach is utilised in the industry’s responsibility efforts. There are currently approximately 100 companies in the programme, accounting for 80 per cent of the industry’s production.

Programme implementation is coordinated by The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland. Industrial Union TEAM, Trade Union Pro and the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff participate in programme monitoring and development.

The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland is a trade association for the chemical industry and its affiliate industries. The goal of the association is to actively promote the competitiveness and operational preconditions of its members in Finland. The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland has more than 400 member companies and 13 member and cooperation associations.

The chemical industry is one of the most important industrial sectors in Finland, accounting for a quarter of the gross industrial production and industrial exports of Finland. The Finnish chemical industry provides direct employment for approximately 34,000 persons.

Lisätietoja

Facts and Figures: Sustainable Development 

Responsible Care Progress Report 2014 (pdf) , in Finnish and English 

Learn more about Responsible Care in Finland 

List of companies committed to Responsible Care in Finland 

 

Merja Vuori, Senior Advisor, tel. +358 40 730 1932, merja.vuori (at) kemianteollisuus.fi 

Timo Leppä, Director General, tel. +358 50 301 6800, timo.leppa (at) kemianteollisuus.fi 

Sami Nikander, Assistant Director, tel. +358 40 567 4413 sami.nikander (at) kemianteollisuus.fi