During the past fifteen years the Finnish chemical industry has achieved significant results in emissions reduction and safety. The results are apparent from the industry's annual report on the voluntary environmental, health and safety programme.

The aim of the Responsible Care programme is activity that conforms with sustainable development from the perspective of society and the natural environment. In Finland 108 companies in different areas of the chemical industry are committed to the programme. The information in a report that was published for the fourteenth time in May covers more than 80 per cent of the output by the chemical industry in Finland.

"Companies are developing their operations systematically and monitoring their progress by means of indicators that depict the environmental and safety work. Every company has its indicators best suited to its operations, in addition to which developments are monitored by means of joint indicators. There are more than 40 of these," says Sami Nikander, the standardization and management systems manager at the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.

"Responsibility is put into effect in very different ways. Common to all, however, is the fact that the needs and expectations of customers and the close community are reflected in the operating methods."

Accident figures down

The information gathered by the indicators is published every year. One of the most noticeable results, according to the Responsible Care annual report, is the fall in the number of accidents by almost 75 per cent during fifteen years.

"During 2005 there were 11.1 accidents per one million work-hours in the chemical industry i.e. 20 per cent fewer than in the previous year. This has been achieved in many ways e.g. half the companies in the chemicals industry have adopted the national Occupational Safety Card as part of their safety work," Nikander points out.

Significant emissions reductions

"A significant reduction in emissions has been achieved in the programme's initial years. Air emissions with acidifying potential have been reduced by more than 80 per cent, volatile organic compounds by more than 70 per cent, water discharges with eutrophication potential by almost 40 per cent and potentially ecotoxic discharges by almost 80 per cent," Nikander explains.

Input is being placed into environmental, health and safety work. All the employees at the companies that are involved in the Responsible Care programme take part annually in training that promotes the work. In 2005 investment totalling 70 million euros was carried out, most of it in air and water pollution control and occupational safety.