IUPAC

The objective of this COCI initiative is to create a framework project focusing on the responsible approaches to the application of Chemistry from research through industrial product to the ultimate use and disposal of the products. Responsible Care will be used as a basis for developing an understanding of what responsibilities chemists have in using, handling, and producing and how they should exercise these.

Responsible Care (RC) is an initiative of the Worldwide Chemical Industry. It started in Canada 20 years ago and is now accepted in 52 countries. The International Council of Chemical Associations, which represents the country associations, adopted the International Charter of Responsible Care in February 2006. This has been signed by 99 companies up to now.

The initiative is well know in the industry, however it is less known, nor understood within the academic and other technical communities. Also, it is not known in many countries where chemicals are not produced but used and in many cases misused.

The goal of the RC Project is to build knowledge and capacity about the bases, methodology, and goals of Responsible Care targeting particularly the following audience:

1. Junior "leaders" in lesser-developed countries, in academic, business and government organizations.
2. Chemistry Associations in lesser developed countries
3. Supply chain contacts in lesser-developed countries and their suppliers in the developed countries.
4. Various groups in the developed countries that will benefit from this knowledge, e.g. Universities, Government research establishments, etc.
5. Feedback to the implementers of Responsible Care, which will help them keep continuously improving.

The results of this initiative will increase the awareness and the application of the ethics of Responsible Care in the institutions related to chemistry around the world, ultimately resulting in safer and environmentally improved ways of developing, making and using chemical products.

Plan for 2007
1.- Produce a Monograph on the Ethic and Practice of Responsible Care with Jean Belanger.
This would be based on an article published in 2005 in CI, but expanded to add depth, examples and explanations. > see CI reprint

2.- Develop a Case Study with instructions for the appropriate teaching use.
The expertise of an appropriate University will be used to develop and write the case and the accompanying teaching instructions.

3.- Bring four to six young leaders from lesser-developed countries to participate in an existing CIC/CCPA Summer Program in 2007, and

4.- add on to this program a Responsible Care Case based workshop using the output from item 1 above.