Responsible Care and Sustainability in the Netherlands

Transcription

1 Responsible Care and Sustainability in the Netherlands Sjoerd Looijs Senior Manager Responsible Care and Sustainability VNCI

2 VNCI A short introduction More than 90 years old, 30p staff Mission: to create optimal conditions for companies to function and grow, and to enhance the quality of the sector We look after the interests of small and big companies on a wide range of topics and we promote the sector 100+ members (250 locations), 56 billion turnover, employees 2

3 History of Responsible Care in the Netherlands VNCI adopted Responsible Care already in 1992 Annual RC report published VNCI board confirmed: RC obligatory for membership since 2007 members should actively commit to the RC Global Charter (national version) by 2008, and re-commit to 2015 update VNCI board agreed upon 3 rd party external RC verification per 2010 verification is a driver for improving internal (VNCI secretariat) and external (company) RC activities, reporting, stakeholder dialogue 3

4 Elements of the Global Charter 2 Fundamental features Features common to every national RC programme 1 3 Core principles Commit to sustainable development 4 Improve and report performance 8 Address stakeholder expectations Set of commitments between companies and associations 5 Product Stewardship/ GPS : VNCI 9 Provide resources to implement RC 7 Support national RC governance processes 6 Extension of RC along the value chain : company 4

5 Cefic RC perception questionnaire NL score 5

6 Cefic RC perception questionnaire Europe updated provide support seek support

7 RC in VNCI (1) In line with VNCI s 5yr policy plan and annual target setting RC-webtool questionnaire Includes sustainability questions different questions for business and site level RC plays a role in national (government) activities around compliance management, local permits (regional) process-safety improvement industry networks security (cyber and anti-terrorism) transport safety international-csr Circular economy 7

8 RC in VNCI (2) Self assessment approach until 2007 Environmental data based on e-prtr database Regular RC meetings to share best practices RC + Sustainability committee RC progress reported to VNCI board annual RC-Awards RC still high profile, but Shift towards Sustainable Development and Circular Economy Partnership agreement with chemical traders (VHCP) Active in the Cefic SIG-RC, SIG-SD, PC-Sus and ICCA-RCLG 8

9 Stakeholderdialogue: gaining confidence from society Essential part of external verification process Since 2011 multi- stakeholder dialogue including banks (mainstream and leading sustainable), insurance companies service providers for sustainability research knowledge institutes/academia government representatives employers organization, NGOs VNCI member representatives Board Advisory Committee 9

10 Stakeholder comments Try to use external verified data sets, e.g. from national statistics office (social, energy), e-prtr (environment) Ranking and naming/shaming for improving RC performance of laggers behind Improve visibility of RC (downstream) and society to show chemical industry commitments Several stakeholders still not familiar with the content of RC, but now shift towards commonly accepted Sustainability concept 10

11 A 2011 non-member fire incident started a major discussion around safety questions about the credibility of the chemical sector shows lack of availability of industry data industry collected and government (audit) data quantity and quality

12 resulted in publication of a national industry safety improvement action plan, Safety first VNCI sector industrial safety priorities: regular publication of industry performance mutual support of companies Safety networks and peer reviews value chain audits management systems improvement and certification 12

13 3 rd party external verification For mature RC association only! evaluation of annual multistakeholder dialogue performance of a media-analysis interviews with VNCI staff to check text and data check of reporting trail/data-management visit 3 member companies review of annual VNCI sector RC report evaluation of available information based on verifier s expert knowledge (+ management letter) => focus on sector report, limited company audit and complementary to ISO 13

14 RC and sustainability in VNCI In our reports we differentiate between RC & sustainability In 2014 first sustainability report (every 5 years) 14

15 Status of RC in the Netherlands Progress areas Link with WBCSD Vision External verification Continous improvement monitor/feedback members 15

16 Responsible Care s major strength Continuous improvement through sharing best practices and learning from each other Ensure that Voluntary character is maintained Flexibility for members is retained RC gets the position it deserves in public debate Basis for bridging the buzz-words sustainability, circular economy, biobased etc 16

17 Responsible Care, bridging the gap between Sustainable Development and Circular Economy SD Profit People Products CE BBE RC Planet : Sustainable Development : Circular Economy : Biobased Economy : Responsible Care 17

18 Many thanks for your attention! Questions? Contact: