in the Finnish chemical industry - Kemia-lehti

production of the chemical industryin 2012 was 0.9 kWh per kilogrammeproduced. The improvement in energyefficiency was 4 per cent compared withthe previous year.Indicators tonew areas of focusContinuous monitoring of the resultshas a supportive and directing effect onsustainability. In Finland, new indicatorsare continuously being introduced inResponsible Care programme. Dataconcerning the indicators describingwell-being at work were compiledduring spring 2013 for the first time.The trial was highly successful, and thecorresponding indicators will be takeninto permanent use.The indicators monitor companies’investments in well-being, the use ofemployee surveys and variety of humanresource management practices, andtheir impact on morbidity and age ofretirement.Indicators of the process safety are alsowaiting for an outline according to theOECD Guidance on Safety PerformanceIndicator. Reporting of companyresponsibility (GRI Guidelines) issimilarly under change, to be taken intoaccount in the joint development work.Forwardin cooperationDialogue within the field and betweenpartners as well as stakeholders is thebest way to development and progress.This strong feature, characteristic of theFinnish chemical industry—ability andwill to cooperate—certainly deservesfurther strengthening.In the future, dialogue will take placeon several platforms. Network meetingsorganised within the ResponsibleCare programme and open to the representativesof the sector’s companiesand interest groups, are an example.Sustainable operation results aboveall from everyday achievements, andcommitment of the know-how of thewhole personnel to the work in thesector’s companies will be importantalso in the future. Close cooperation withtrade unions will create a good basis forconcerted achievements.The Responsible Care programmehas a clear mission as a sustainabilityprogramme of the chemical industry,supporting the realisation of sustainabledevelopment.The author works as senior adviser at theChemical Industry Federation of Finland.merja.vuori@chemind.fiResponsible Care—Tools for focus areas in FinlandSustainableand safeproductionSustainableand safeproductsWell-being ofpersonnelInteraction andcooperationFinnish Responsible Care—Key figures in 2012• Capital spending on environment, health and safety:109 million euros• Operating costs on environment, health and safety:115 million euros• Training courses3 400• Lost time injury frequency rate (LTI3)8.2 injuries per million man-hours worked• Energy consumption:0.90 kWh/kilogramme produced• Water consumption:1.0 litres/kilogramme produced• Waste to be disposed of by landfilling7 grammes/kilogramme produced• Emissions of greenhouse gases:224 grammes CO 2e/kilogramme producedResults of sustainability inthe Finnish chemical industryWater consumption1995 2012–58%Landfilled waste1999 2012–42%Greenhouse gas emissions1999 2012–27%Improving energy efficiency: Energy efficiencyagreements, SpiCE3, CARE+, voluntary networksImproving safety: voluntary networks in safety atwork, security codes, process safety guidelinesMaterial efficiency: audit model, development projecton 2013Product safety: REACH, GPS, ICCA/CEFIC guidanceTransportation safetySustainability of products: development of calculationtools with partners, footprintsWell-being at work: Good Morning – Good TomorrowprojectDialogue between stakeholders, networkingLost time injuries1988 2012–81%Energy consumption1995 2012–24%Monitoringof progresswith keyindicatorsConsumption and emissionsare proportional to thevolume of production,injuries as LTI324 KEMIA 5/2013