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WHAT
ARE VOLUNTARY BUSINESS STANDARDS (VBS)?
Voluntary business standards (VBS) are
criteria, guidelines, or codes of conduct adopted voluntarily without
government enforcement, regulations, or laws. By accepting VBS, a
company or industry association is making a public commitment to
improve performance in areas related to health, safety, and
environmental quality. Environmental voluntary business standards are
gaining global recognition as successful tools for the reduction of
harmful pollutants and emissions without compromising product quality,
competitiveness, or profit. US-AEP promotes the use of industry-wide
voluntary business standards as a supplement or alternative government
regulations.
WHAT IS US-AEP DOING TO PROMOTE THE ADOPTION OF VBS?
- Working with local associations for the adoption of VBS in
target industries: chemicals, automobile, textiles, and food
processing. Example: Promoting
Responsible Care�
through Asian chemical associations.
- Encouraging U.S. organizations and companies to step forward as
international leaders in promoting the adoption of VBS. Leading
multinationals such as Dow Chemical Co. and Gap, Inc. have stepped
forward to champion standards in the chemical and textile
industries.
- Strengthening the technical and institutional capacity of local
industry associations through technical training and group exchanges
for VBS.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING VBS?
Many industries are embracing voluntary environmental business
standards to achieve:
- Increased efficiency and performance. VBS requires
reporting and assessments which lead to a better understanding of
production processes and the elimination of unnecessary wastes and
costs.
- Cost savings. Increased efficiencies lead to greater
profits.
- Improved corporate image. Adoption of a VBS is an
effective marketing tool.
- Shared risk. Waste reduction practices are shared
throughout the industry to promote collective performance and
equivalent cost-benefits.
- Increased sales. Purchasers may decide to order from
suppliers that meet specific VBS requirements.
- Alternative to government regulations. Given the
opportunity to introduce flexibility in exchange for mandatory
regulation, companies can meet and exceed regulatory and stakeholder
expectations.
VBS IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY
US-AEP, in partnership with the Business for Social Responsibility
(BSR), is encouraging the adoption of Water Quality Guidelines, a
voluntary business standard for the textile industry. Established by
BSR's Apparel Industry Working Group on the Environment, the
guidelines strive to reduce the environmental impacts attributed to
apparel production while recognizing companies for their commitment to
environmental excellence. The Water Quality Guidelines are based on
existing U.S. and international laws and regulations setting water
quality parameters that establish clear environmental expectations for
textile mills and garment laundries. The textile industry's wet
processing provides many opportunities to reduce chemicals within the
water supply.
VBS IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: RESPONSIBLE CARE�
Since 1995, US-AEP has been on the ground throughout Asia, working
with national chemical associations for the adoption and
implementation of Responsible Care�. In the more industrialized
economies such as Hong Kong and Singapore, US-AEP plays a supporting
role, providing information and resources for specific projects such
as the Emergency Planning and Response Workshop hosted by the
Singapore Confederation of Industries in Singapore. In countries such
as Indonesia and the Philippines, US-AEP provides professional
resources and information to assist national chemical associations
with the process of developing and implementing Responsible Care� and
then applying to the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA)
for recognition.
What is Responsible Care�?
Considered the prototype VBS, Responsible Care� is a public
commitment by the chemical industry to improve the performance of
health, safety, and environmental quality and to respond to public
concerns. In the United States and Europe there has been a
considerable decline in air emissions, water contamination, and
accidents following the adoption of Responsible Care�. The same
results can be expected in Asia.
National chemical industry associations are responsible for the
detailed implementation of Responsible Care� in their respective
countries. The chemical associations with successful Responsible Care�
programs are recognized by the International Council of Chemical
Associations (ICCA). In Asia, the ICCA recognizes Responsible Care�
programs in Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore.
Responsible Care� in the Philippines
In the Philippines, US-AEP worked closely with the Chemical
Industries Association of the Philippines (SPIK) for their official
adoption of Responsible Care� in 1996 and their acceptance by the
International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) later that same
year. Initially, the companies registered to Responsible Care� were
predominantly multinational corporations. Building on the
multinational companies' experiences, SPIK and US-AEP worked together
on a number of exchanges, seminars, and workshops leading to a broader
understanding of Responsible Care� in the Philippines.
US-AEP provided prominent speakers for a waste minimization and
pollution prevention seminar in August 1996 and a workshop on the
implementation of Responsible Car� e in September 1996. Speakers for
the seminar and workshop include recognized experts on pollution
prevention and representatives of chemical corporations. The waste
minimization seminar helped industry representatives to better
understand that waste is a defect, thus helping to promote the
initiative. The Responsible Care� workshop discussed 10 elements of
Responsible Care�. These workshops helped SPIK generate commitments
from CEOs to sign up for the initiative.
The priority of SPIK is still to educate its members on the
importance of Responsible Care� and why it is essential that they
embrace the initiative. US-AEP is working with SPIK to establish an
advisory panel of informed citizens and environmental and community
leaders from across the country. The advisory panel will develop
strategies to further promote Responsible Care� through education and
outreach programs.
Responsible Care� in Indonesia
US-AEP's program for promoting Responsible Care� in Indonesia is
built on the successful program in the Philippines. The Indonesia
Chemical Industry Club (ICIC) launched the Responsible Care�
initiative in the fall of 1997 with a seminar supported and organized
by US-AEP and the Komite Nasional-Responsible Care Indonesia (KN-RCI),
an organization established to promote the chemical industry
initiative. The seminar was led by CEOs and managers of chemical
companies and led to the adoption of Responsible Care� by
approximately 20 Indonesian companies.
KN-RCI is preparing to apply for certification of the Indonesian
Responsible Care� program by the ICCA. US-AEP is assisting KN-RCI in
the process by providing relevant certification information and by
reviewing their action plan.
In addition to the launching of Responsible Care�, representatives
of ICIC and the Chemical Manufacturers Association are working with
US-AEP to discuss programs on emergency response and preparedness for
the chemical industry.
Corporate Partnerships
In addition to the activities with Asian chemical associations, US-AEP's
corporate partnerships play an important role in the adoption of
Responsible Care�. Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd has worked
with US-AEP and national chemical associations to spread Responsible
Care� throughout Asia. Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific supports a
variety of pertinent conferences, such as the 1997 Chemical Logistics
and Transhipment conference in Kuantan, Malaysia, which was attended
by major chemicals storage and distribution firms.
Through US-AEP exchanges, Eastman Chemical Company opened the doors
to its state-of-the-art facilities for Responsible Care�, allowing a
delegation of Indian chemical firms to visit their U.S. facilities.
The invitation for the exchange was issued during an Eastman
presentation at the Responsible Care� workshop of the India Chemical
Markets Conference. Eastman Chemical actively participates in the
promotion of Responsible Care� throughout Asia, often participating in
US-AEP initiatives. |
