The Responsible Care® Codes of Practice guide companies through the day-to-day decisions that are crucial to the attainment of sustainability objectives.

What criteria should guide the review of management systems to ensure they protect the long-term health and safety of employees and communities? What policies or standards should be applied to the design of new products or the purchase of new equipment? What plan should be in place to deal with incidents, eliminate waste or conserve resources? These are only a few of the questions the Responsible Care Codes of Practice address.

The Codes are currently being revised to bring them in line with the Responsible Care Ethic and Principles which were revised in 2008. The most noted and major change to the Codes is that the number of Codes will be streamlined from the current six to a comprehensive and inclusive three, namely the Operations Code, the Accountability Code and the Stewardship Code.

To make the transition from six to three codes, code elements were grouped under three headings, starting with those over which the company often has more direct control, such as manufacturing and transportation (Operations Code), through those that involve developmental work or more indirect influence via suppliers, customers and distributors (Stewardship Code), to those that involve the issues of engagement with other stakeholders, both locally and broadly (Accountability Code).

For more information about the Responsible Care Codes of Practice, contact Brian Wastle, Vice-President, Responsible Care.