AkzoNobel is a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and as a member subscribes to the principles of Responsible Care®. Product Stewardship metrics have been adopted by the ACC board. To help the public understand the risk assessment process, ACC member companies are expected to explain considerations and criteria used in their prioritization process. Click here to read about the Surface Chemistry Risk Characterization and Risk Management System.
Metric 1: Prioritization Process: Does your company have a process to prioritize its chemicals?
When conducting risk characterization and risk management in a tiered process a company needs to review and prioritize its chemicals. Surface Chemistry Americas is one of three surfactants sub-business units (SBUs) within the AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry Business Unit. The three SBUs manufacture and distribute the same products and therefore coordinate efforts in the areas of product stewardship and risk characterization. Surface Chemistry Europe is actively engaged in the REACH initiative in Europe. This legislation will drive future data generation and risk characterization processes for Surface Chemistry worldwide. The prioritization process for REACH is based on a combination of volume and hazard triggers. Properties of chemical substance could shift a chemical into a higher priority category, despite a lower volume, depending on the hazard.
For more information about REACH access the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website at http://echa.europa.eu/home_en.asp
Current Status – Surface Chemistry Americas
Risk assessments for approximately 65% (by volume) of CAS numbers in products sold in 2007 are publicly available. At the end of the earliest REACH target date the percentage of products with assessments completed will be greater that 80%. When the EPA Inerts Reassessments are complete the number of covered CAS numbers climbs to approximately 86%.
Metric 2: Communication of the Process: Is a summary of the process used to prioritize available to the public?
To help the public understand the risks associated with the chemicals we make, AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry Americas uses this internet site for communication of information about risk characterizations for our chemicals.
Additional Information
For additional information regarding contact the Regulatory Affairs and Quality Manager, Donna M. Hillebold at 312-544-7341 or via email at donna.hillebold@akzonobel.com
For more information about ACC follow the link below:
http://www.americanchemistry.com - American Chemistry Council
For more information about Responsible® Care follow the link below:
http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_responsiblecare/sec.asp?CID=1298&DID=4841
For more information about Product Stewardship follow the link below:
http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_responsiblecare/sec_members.asp?CID=1320&DID=4863
To learn more about risk methodologies visit the Alliance for Chemical Awareness (ACA) web site.
http://www.chemicalawareness.org/ - ACA (the Alliance for Chemical Awareness)