Why another Environmental Management System?
Many observers may question the need for yet another Environmental Management System (EMS) in view of the existence of well established systems like the ISO 14001, the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) British Standard (BS) 7750, the American petroleum Institute's Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP, API Recommended Practice 75), the U.S. EPA Compliance-Based EMS, and the ACC's Responsible Care® program apart from a plethora of company specific EMS programs of larger corporations.

The answer to this question can be found by looking at the global acceptance and growth of the ISO 14001 program. Though a relatively late starter, according to the latest ISO 14001 survey, the annual growth rate of certifications in the chemical and allied industry sector globally is around 42%. Along with the spectacular growth, it has eclipsed and made obsolete programs like the BS 7750 that was withdrawn in 1997. Many organizations utilizing the ISO 14001 have reported tangible benefits directly impacting the bottom line. Further, given the global concern on environmental issues, demand drivers like the US EPA look favorably on organizations certified to ISO 14001 and Automotive OEM's like Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Toyota have issued mandates for their supply chain to be in compliance with the ISO 14001 standards.

The chemical industry, for its part has for long hailed the Responsible Care® program as its own version of EMS. The program has been considered more comprehensive given its additional focus on issues including health and safety, product stewardship and openness to host community. Notwithstanding the enhanced requirements, industries in this sector are forced to meet customer requirements for ISO 14001 certification in view of their skepticism over the Responsible Care® program in its current form. The two main concerns of customers:

• The program, however noble it may sound in intentions,
  is not structured in a true management system like the
  classic Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of the ISO 14001 program.
  
• The independent verification process termed as
  Management Systems Verification (MSV) is rather informal and lacks the credibility of a third party verification.

To answer the criticism, ACC choose not to withdraw the program, but to enhance the program by synergizing the best of Responsible Care® and ISO 14001. The resultant product is RC 14001!

By integrating RC standards with 14001, ACC also filled one major gap in ISO 14001 - emphasis on supply-chain greening. RC 14001 is now more appealing and demanding on social responsibility not only by the organizations but also the entire supply chain. In addition, transport-process specifications are also added to the management system.