It helps the chemical industry to operate safely, profitably and with due care for future generations and was commended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as making a significant contribution to sustainable development at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
In February 2006, Fran Keeth, then Executive Vice President of Shell Chemicals Limited, signed the Responsible Care Global Charter. By implementing this Charter, Shell chemicals companies will continue to strive to improve their HSSE performance, to advance sustainable development, to champion and facilitate the appropriate extension of Responsible Care across the business value chain, and to address stakeholder expectations in continuing to develop Responsible Care.
The Charter focuses the programmes of the 52 Responsible Care implementing countries on performance improvement through management system approaches and external verification, product stewardship and strong governance processes. The Charter also extends Responsible Care along the business value chain through enhanced product stewardship programmes.
