a global chemical manufacturer

Responsible Care®

 

Stepan Company is a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and a charter member of Responsible Care. Responsible Care is a voluntary initiative within the global chemical industry, but is an obligation of ACC members. Responsible Care was born in Canada in 1987 and adopted in the United States in 1988. It has since spread to over fifty-three (53) countries.

 

Responsible Care is a program initiative created by the chemical industry to safely handle products from inception in the research laboratory, through manufacture and distribution, to ultimate disposal, and to involve the general public in appropriate decision-making processes. Responsible Care requires member companies to continually improve their health, safety and environmental performance. This is accomplished by listening and responding to public concerns; assisting each other to achieve optimum performance; and reporting goals and progress to the public. Responsible Care obligations exceed legal requirements.

 

Soon after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and without waiting for government mandates, Responsible Care companies took the lead in quickly adopting the Responsible Care Security Code, an aggressive, facility security program to further protect our chemical facilities, our chemical transportation systems, our communities and our products.

 

The "New Responsible Care" enhancement rolled out in 2003 combines existing Codes of Management Practice (Employee Health & Safety, Process Safety Management, Product Stewardship, Product Distribution, Pollution Prevention, Community Awareness, Emergency Response, and Security) into Management Systems. Stepan Company is actively implementing the new Code and has fully implemented all of the existing codes of management practice.

 

In December 2005, Stepan Company's Corporate Headquarters Responsible Care Management System (RCMS) was certified by an independent, third-party management system auditor.  During 2007, this process was expanded as both the Anaheim, CA and Winder, GA production facilities were certified.  This certification process required interviewing many employees, touring the facility, and reviewing documentation.

 

Stepan is routinely recognized by the ACC for outstanding environmental, health & safety performances and was one of the first companies to participate in the voluntary Management Systems Verification (MSV) process. Stepan also provides the ACC with "sweat equity" by volunteering professionals to participate in industry initiatives and mold governmental regulations.

 

At Stepan, protecting people and the environment is part of everything we do and every decision that is made. Each employee has responsibility to ensure that our products, practices, and operations meet applicable government or Stepan standards- whichever is more stringent.  As one Stepan employee stated during the MSV process, "Responsible Care means to me that I am responsible, and I care."

 

® Registered Trademark of American Chemistry Council.