The Responsible Care® Way of Life...

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada's Responsible Care® initiative results from our member's and partner member's desire to be and be seen as, responsible companies within Canadian society. The member and partner member companies of the CIAC are formally committed, as a condition of membership, to Responsible Care®, which brings with it specific ethical obligations regarding the responsible management of chemical products, processes, services and the company's relationship with it's publics and, with the newest edition of the Responsible Care Codes, a commitment to sustainability.

For information on our "Community Awareness" programs "click here.

Since CIAC established Responsible Care® in 1985, this unique ethic for the safe and environmentally sound management of chemicals has spread to more than 50 countries around the world. Responsible Care® was established in response to concerns about the manufacture, distribution and use of chemicals following the chemical spill in Bhopal, India in December 1984.

As the priorities for Canadian society change, the practice of responsible care of chemicals must be examined and modified to support these changes. The recent evolution of Responsible Care®, "Our commitment to sustainability" means that member companies and Responsible Care® partners must dedicate themselves, their technology and their business practices to sustainability - the ongoing betterment of society, the environment and the economy.

The new Responsible Care® ethic is strong and encompasses new elements in the list of guiding principles, including social responsibility, security, conservation, life cycle partnerships and innovation for safer products. Over the next three years Responsible Care® will be aligned into a sustainability initiative for CIAC members by ensuring the policies, codes and processes are in line with the principles.

For additional information on the ethic and codes of practice of Responsible Care® visit CIAC at www.canadianchemistry.ca/

Responsible Care® Milestones

• We were the first chemical distribution company in the world to pilot and receive Phase I Responsible Care® In-place Verification with CIAC in September 1996.
• Canada Colors and Chemicals Limited received Phase II reverification for all of our sites across Canada in November 2000.
• Reverification III was accomplished in November 2003 and acknowledged formally in February 2004. In February 2007 our successful reverification IV that took place in November 2006 was announced.
• Reverification V was completed in November 2009.

Responsible Distribution® - a Partner In Responsible Care

Canada Colors and Chemicals is also a founding member of the Canadian Association of Chemical Distributors (CACD) whose Responsible Distribution® initiatives are a condition of membership and all members pledge their commitment to handle chemicals safely.

Responsible Distribution® Milestones

• Phase I Responsible Distribution® was achieved in October 1995.
• In June 2001 we were acknowledged to have achieved Phase II Responsible Distribution® for our Brampton, Delta, Montreal and Don Mills corporate head office with the rest of our distribution sites being verified on the CACD schedule that was completed in 2007.
• Phase I Responsible Distribution® was achieved successfully again in 2008. All of our distribution sites will have to be visited during the next 6 years to re-qualify us as having completed Phase II verification once again.

For additional information about CACD and Responsible Distribution® please visit www.canadianchemistry.ca/