In June 2012, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development will take place in Rio de Janeiro.
This event, better known as Rio+20, is the moment when governments and businesses as well as NGOs and civil society will take stock of the past achievements and set out the path for future actions towards a more sustainable world.
For the global chemical industry, this year’s ICCM3 conference will be a key staging post in the International Chemicals Management process within the UN framework. There, the global chemical industry will demonstrate the progress it has achieved over the last two years through Responsible Care and Global Product Strategy . This is going to happen in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2012.
Significant milestones ahead
The chemical industry will play an important role, at national, regional and international level. To deliver on its commitment, the European chemical industry is working on its first Sustainability Report, highlighting the industry's achievements but also its future commitments. Cefic will launch the report in the spring, so watch this space.
Global trends
The real drive for sustainability comes from what the world around us is telling us. We are rapidly growing in terms of numbers, with more than 9 billion people expected to be living on this planet in 2050. Food, water and energy are resources that we want to make accessible to everybody wherever they live - though we know that natural resources are limited.
Chemical companies in Europe are constantly anticipating and adapting to global trends, increasingly orienting their strategies towards more sustainability.
Scarcity of energy and resources
In a world of finite resources and with a rapidly growing population, we have to use energy and natural resources efficiently. Through the way it operates and the materials it produces, the chemical industry is helping to build a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy in Europe.
Read more about Energy & Climate change issues
New challenges, new solutions
The chemical industry in Europe can contribute to solutions for the major global challenges in the fields of health, food, energy and clean water supply. Climate protection, mobility and demographic change in our societies are equally challenging developments. Better (re-)use of products and innovation are keys to a better quality of life and for a sustainable future.
Read more about Innovation issues
Competing with other regions
One of the implications of globalisation is that regions are competing for skills, companies and investment. The European chemical industry is one of the most globalised sectors. Our industry exports about 25% of its production to the world market. In 2010, exports amounted to 140 billion euro. But other regions are catching up quickly: just as an example, China’s share of world chemical sales increased from more than 6% in 2000 to over 24% in 2010. It is now the biggest producer worldwide.
Check out the latest trend on International comparison of production growth (Facts & Figures 2011)
Learning to do more with less
Against this background, we have to start adapting our production and consumption behaviour: we have to learn to do more with less.
As one of the most energy and resource-intensive sectors, the chemical industry in Europe is constantly optimising and renewing its production processes. This is to ensure that energy and raw materials are used in an efficient and sustainable way. The industry works with its suppliers and customers to make sure that sustainability is part of the entire product lifecycle – from raw material use to recycling or final disposal.
The chemical industry also plays a key role in the fight against climate change and the shift towards a low-carbon economy. According to a study commissioned by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), the global chemicals sector currently delivers two tonnes of greenhouse gas savings for every tonne emitted in the production processes. The most important areas of emissions savings are thermal insulation, farming, lighting, transport, packaging, textiles and other consumer goods.
Searching for opportunities through innovation
Changing the way we produce and consume also depends on achieving ambitious innovation. The European chemical industry is ready to work with EU authorities and other partners to shape a sustainable and innovative future in important areas such as: resource efficiency, raw materials (more efficient extraction, recovery and substitution technologies for critical raw materials), smart cities (new concepts for energy generation and storage, construction, transport and materials for smart living); water use (integrated water management and treatment strategies).
Partnerships
SusChem
The European chemical industry works with its stakeholders on various platforms, such as the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem).
Responsible Care
At the global level, the Responsible Care initiative helps chemical companies minimise their environmental impacts and ensure their operations and products are safe for workers and consumers.
Global Product Strategy
Another global programme, the Global Product Strategy (GPS), provides access to information to downstream producers and customers to help reduce differences in the safety assessment of chemicals between developing, emerging and industrialised countries.
If we are to be successful on our journey towards sustainability, we need to foster the dialogue between the chemical industry, its customers, authorities and the public.