For Europe’s chemical logistics sector, ECTA provides the doorway to Responsible Care compliance. It has just updated its Responsible Care charter
In 2008, the European Chemical Transport Association (ECTA) signed an agreement with the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) to develop a Responsible Care programme for ECTA members. As part of that agreement, transport companies looking to join the ECTA Responsible Care programme were required to sign a letter to demonstrate their commitment to the Core Principles of Responsible Care.
In the years since, those nine basic principles have not changed. However, the world has moved on and in 2019 ECTA decided to refine some parts of the programme, which resulted in the ECTA Responsible Care 2025 programme. A further update has now been developed, ECTA Responsible Care 2030, with four specific areas being subject to redefinition or made more specific.
The limitation of waste: In addition to the focus on prevention of plastic pellet loss illustrated through ECTA’s support for Operation Clean Sweep, its members realise the importance of the circular economy and encourage the use of alternative fuels derived from waste streams and encourage the use of recycled materials.
The limitation of emissions: ECTA will continue to align with the targets set within the EU through the Green Deal and Fit for 55 programmes. It supports and encourages standardised emission reporting in line with ISO14083 and the GLEC Framework and believe in a far-sighted road map for emission reduction which includes:
- facilitating the switch from road to intermodal journeys
- new engine and fuel technologies, and
- supporting infrastructure required to promote widespread adoption of these technologies.
Over the coming years, many of ECTA’s members will need to meet the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). ECTA will strive to support and inform the members of their duties under these new directives.
The limitation of injury incidents: In order to continue to drive incident rates down, ECTA will seek closer collaboration with Cefic to influence the loading and unloading plants to keep driver and operator safety at the forefront of their operations. In addition, ECTA will continue to encourage its members and their supply chain partners to promote behavioural based safety initiatives.
Equality, diversity and inclusion: As a new focus area under Responsible Care, ECTA will create awareness and include commitments to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in support of UN social development goals. More specifically, ECTA will support a ‘Women in Logistics’ initiative to strive to create an environment and culture in chemical logistics that recognises the value of gender equality.
TOOLS TO HELP
ECTA now invites all of its stakeholders to join in its efforts to work towards improvements and to ensure that the environmental, social and economic values of ECTA’s Responsible Care 2030 programme are of significance in helping to achieve the challenging sustainability targets that have been set.
Meanwhile, ECTA is continuing to provide critical information to its members on sustainability issues through its Zero Emissions Knowledge Platform, as part of its Responsible Care Programme. The latest additions to the platform, which has its own website at https://knowledgeplatform.ecta.com, cover topics such as Scope 3 emissions calculation, hydrogen as a fuel for heavy goods vehicles, and the prospects of developing a global hydrogen supply network.
ECTA also organises webinars under the Knowledge Platform umbrella; the next such event is scheduled to take place on 14 May, discussing progress and challenges with the transition to zero emissions vehicles. ECTA also organises an annual Responsible Care training workshop in Brussels (and online), which this year is scheduled to take place on 19 September.
source:https://hcblive.com/ecta-intensive-care/
