INDONESIA - After several years of discussions, an important milestone was reached last October 23 when the Indonesian chemical industry launched the Responsible Care initiative. The launch took place during a seminar organized by the Komite Nasional-Responsible Care Indonesia (KN-RCI), the new organization dedicated to promoting Responsible Care in Indonesia. The seminar was the group’s first major outreach activity since its establishment in January 1997 by the Indonesian Chemical Industry Club (ICIC).

During the seminar more than 100 industry professionals discussed the value-added benefits of Responsible Care and its relationship to ISO 14000, and exhibited a growing awareness that Responsible Care is fundamental to their continued operation. Endorsements were made by senior government officials from BAPEDAL (Environmental Impact Management Agency), Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Ministry of Manpower, and CEOs of several chemical companies. Keynote remarks were made by the Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the U.S. Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), who was recruited by the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP).

The leadership role that multinationals can play in promoting Responsible Care in Indonesia was highlighted. A case study was presented by ICI Paints Indonesia, which in 1991 began implementing the principles of Responsible Care as part of its commitment to ICI group’s world-wide environmental objectives. By 1995, ICI Indonesia had achieved a 79 percent reduction in waste and a 100 percent increase in production.

Before the launch, KN-RCI conducted a campaign to raise awareness of Responsible Care among the 200-plus ICIC member firms, and gathered 30 signatures from CEOs committed to adopt the voluntary business standard. The interest generated by the October seminar led ten more CEOs to sign up, and more are expected to follow. The next step for the KN-RCI is to apply for certification by the International Council of Chemical Associations. US-AEP has been assisting KN-RCI in preparing the necessary requirements, including a description of the ratification process being followed by participating companies, how KN-RCI plans to comply with the fundamental features of Responsible Care, activities completed to date, an action plan for the next year and the resources available to carry it out. US-AEP has also provided the group with information materials used to publicize the program and developed links between KN-RCI and CMA.

The KN-RCI has also been active regionally. It sent a 17-member delegation to RCAP’97 in Tokyo last May where a paper was delivered by the former chairman of ICIC. In addition, ICIC is chairing the ASEAN Chemical Industries Club from November 1997 through November 1999, which will give KN-RCI’s efforts more exposure in the region.

Regional co-operation and information sharing on Responsible Care initiatives is being promoted by US-AEP, a public-private partnership funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program is working with chemical industry associations in ten Asian countries to help launch Responsible Care initiatives, share information through the Clean Technology and Environmental Management Information Center, bring speakers to local conferences, and provide training in co-operation with the CMA.