The chemicalindustry has moved a long way since it first embarked on its journey towards amore sustainable world. Cefic’s 2019 SustainabilityProgress Report shows how the sector moved from a mere vision toimplementing the SDG roadmap for the chemical industry. A roadmap thatcontributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) andmeets the ambitions of today’s policy makers.
The report capturesinitiatives taken by Cefic and its members as part of the chemical industry’soverall commitment to sustainable development. Through Responsible Care –a voluntary commitment of the chemical industry to improve safe production,handling and use of chemicals across supply chains – the industry contributesto ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’ (SDG 3). To ensure ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’(SDG 7), Cefic offers expertise and support to the activities of the EuropeanTechnology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem).Cefic is committed to addressing societal concerns such as ‘ResponsibleConsumption and Production’ (SDG 12). One example is the series of bootcamps on‘Greenand Sustainable Chemistry’, which offer a fertile ground for meaningfulcooperation between academia, NGOs and industry. The list of actions ourindustry undertakes is long, and ever-growing.
To journey toward asuccessful and sustainable Europe in 2050,the chemical industry wants to do more than deliver on the UN SDGs. Ourcommitment for the journey ahead is to become cleaner, safer and more circular.We want not only to continue to thrive for the next 30 years and beyond butalso to lead the transition for our industry globally by offering Europeansolutions to global challenges. Solutions which include producing more withless, increasing fairness and going digital. Cefic and its members willcontinue to identify actions in priority areas, together with other actors withthe same mission at hand.