Case Study:
Responsible Care® Management Systems

CLIENT: American Chemistry Council (ACC):
TASK: Piloting of the Responsible Care® (RC) ISO 14001 Technical Standard

OBJECTIVES:

• Gap the pilot BASF facility EMS against the combined RC ISO 14001 Standard
• Provide support in closing gaps
• Review actions taken to close gaps
• Provide input to ACC on revisions to the Standard

First Environment, on behalf of the ACC, supported the first pilot project to implement the new Responsible Care® ISO 14001 Standard in a large site with multiple separate chemical manufacturing facilities. First Environment reviewed the procedures developed at the Elastocell facility, as they were in development, and provided recommendations as to how to integrate the site-wide existing Responsible Care® program and environmental department into a facility specific management system. When the procedures were complete, we provided a second review with regard to their ability to support the new technical standard.

In addition, based on the outcome of the pilot project, we provided input to the ACC on revisions to the technical standard. In August of 2002, the Elastocell operation became the first organization certified to the RC 14001 Standard.