Category: Sustainability
Sustainability
In my last blog entry, I talked about the importance of developing sustainability goals and targets. You have now made some tough decisions about what you want to achieve sustainability-wise. But before you start working toward your goals, you need to develop a clear action plan. If you don’t have a plan, you likely won’t have focused or coordinated effort, which can lead to less-than-ideal results.
Read the rest of entry »
While the causes remain under investigation, the January 20th explosion at a Burns Lake, B.C. sawmill underscores the importance of process-safety as the foundation of sustainability for any high-hazard industry. The Burns Lake events have resulted in two employee deaths, severe injuries to nearly twenty more, and loss of employment for dozens of workers. And those are just the immediate effects. In the longer term, the company’s survival may be threatened, and individuals, families, and the Burns Lake community itself will be seriously challenged in dealing with the aftermath of these events.
While members of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada continue to strive towards sustainability through their commitment to Responsible Care®, their emphasis on sound process-safety management as the foundation for their broader sustainability ambitions remains paramount.
Read the rest of entry »
As CIAC enters its 50th year, it’s fitting to reflect on the origins of our association and what we have achieved over the past five decades.
CIAC started in 1962 as the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association, with a small group of companies located in Quebec and Ontario. Like most business associations, CCPA’s exclusive purpose was to deal with economic issues. However, as the chemistry industry evolved over the next two decades, it faced a number of domestic and international safety incidents, (including the infamous Mississauga train derailment) which forced the association to rethink its “raison d’être”.
Read the rest of entry »