Responsible Care^® is a voluntary initiative within the global chemical industry to safely handle our products from inception in the research laboratory, through manufacture and distribution, to ultimate disposal, and to involve the public in our decision-making processes. Born in Canada in 1987, Responsible Care has quickly spread to 45 countries. While Responsible Care goes above and beyond what is legally required in most countries, we hold ourselves accountable by making Responsible Care a "condition of membership" in industry associations. Today, Responsible Care is taking leading chemical companies above and beyond their prior accomplishments, to achieve even higher standards of performance and generate greater value for their businesses.

In January 1999, Dow signed on to these more stringent Responsible Care Guiding Principles with other members of the U.S. American Chemistry Council (ACC). These Principles apply to Dow globally.

Aiming for Zero

Our industry creates products and services that make life better for people around the world - both today and tomorrow. The benefits of our industry are accompanied by enduring commitments to Responsible Care in the management of chemicals worldwide. We will make continuous progress toward the vision of no accidents, injuries or harm to the environment and will publicly report our global health, safety and environmental performance. We will lead our companies in ethical ways that increasingly benefit society, the economy and the environment while adhering to the following principles:

• To seek and incorporate public input regarding our products and operations.
• To provide chemicals that can be manufactured, transported, used and disposed of safely.
• To make health, safety, the environment and resource conservation critical considerations for all new and existing products and processes.
• To provide information on heath or environmental risks and pursue protective measures for employees, the public and other key stakeholders.
• To work with customers, carriers, suppliers, distributors and contractors to foster the safe use, transport and disposal of chemicals.
• To operate our facilities in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of our employees and the public.
• To support education and research on the health, safety and environmental effects of our products and processes to foster the safe use, transport and disposal of chemicals.
• To work with others to resolve problems associated with past handling and disposal practices.
• To lead in the development of responsible laws, regulations and standards that safeguard the community, workplace and environment.
• To practice Responsible Care by encouraging and assisting others to adhere to these principles and practices.

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Responsible Care is moving beyond codes of management practices to achieve better EH&S performance and obtain more business value for our members and Partners. The Responsible Care Management System (RCMs) replaces the current practice of applying six Codes (e.g., community awareness and emergency response, distribution, employee health and safety, pollution prevention, process safety and product stewardship) with a combined 106 management practices. Instead, relevant aspects of the existing Codes are subsumed into a RCMS that is based on benchmarked best practices of leading private sector companies, initiatives developed through the Global Environmental Management Initiative, International Standards Organization and other bodies, and requirements of national regulatory authorities.

> The basic framework for the RCMS includes:

Policy & Leadership
- Leadership Responsibility - Commitment

Planning (PLAN)
- Define Risks/Hazards - Objectives & Targets
- Process/Program Development - Communications

Implementation, Operation & Accountability (DO)
- Training - Documentation
- Procedures - Management of Change and Employee Empowerment

Performance Measurement & Corrective Action (CHECK)
- Self-Assessment - Incident Investigations
- Internal Audits - Records Management
- Corrective/Preventative Action - Measurements

Management Systems Review (ACT)
- Management Systems Review

For more information, refer to:

• U. S. American Chemistry Council Responsible Care®
• U.S. American Chemistry Council (ACC)
• International Council of Chemical Associations
• Canadian Chemical Producers Association
• European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)
• Dow Public Reports
• EH&S Goals for 2005

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