High-Level Panel - Chemicals & Waste

May 13, 2010

Business and industry talking points

• The Business and Industry Major Group is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve sustainable development outcomes for chemicals and waste.  Our discussions to date at this session of the Commission have identified significant progress in this regard, but several constraints and obstacles to achieving the sustainability objectives outlined at WSSD remain. 
• In the chemicals sector, these include lack of capacity in certain parts of the world to effectively manage chemicals, and ensuring that mechanisms are in place to ensure effective chemicals management across the supply chain and throughout the product lifecycle.  The private sector is working with other stakeholders through various mechanisms, including the SAICM process, to address these constraints through capacity building and strengthening product stewardship and sustainable business practices globally.
• Waste management also has a critical role to play in sustainable development.  The private sector supports moves to encourage waste minimization, and more efficient use and more extensive reuse of materials by viewing recyclable wastes, such as e-waste, as valuable resources.  Waste, such as biomass from the pulp and paper industry, can also be an important source of energy.  It is important that high standards of waste management are achieved and the range of options available is kept as wide and flexible as possible.
• In addition, the private sector has an important role to play as a solutions provider for sustainable development.  The chemical industry’s primary contributions in this regard include chemical safety, innovation, and capacity building.  In addition, the chemical industry helps to provide sustainable development solutions for other industry sectors, including energy, information technology and environmental industries, as well as the transport, mining and waste sectors that share the spotlight at this CSD session.
• Industry sectors such as mining and chemicals also contribute to sustainable development by using energy to save energy.  For example, the chemical industry is the principal supplier of energy efficient materials worldwide, from insulation to materials for wind and solar power.  Through Responsible Care®, it has a shared commitment to continuously improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its operations.
• Private sector technologies also make alternative energy technology possible, protect and clean the world’s drinking water and other natural resources, and help lower GHG emissions.
• To give an example, an International Council of Chemical Associations life-cycle analysis study released in 2009 (based on independent analytical work by the consulting firm McKinsey and Associates, and validated by the Öko Institute) reveals that GHG emission savings enabled by the chemical industry are more than double the industry’s emissions, i.e. products of the chemical industry enabled GHG savings 2-3 times greater than their emissions.
• To conclude, the private sector has a unique role to play in promoting sustainable development.  Its products and technologies will have a major role in preserving our resources for future generations through reducing emissions, conserving energy, and developing more sustainable materials, technologies, and business practices.  Business and Industry is a major contributor to green jobs and the green economy.

►Strategies for Sustainable Chemical Management, Responsible Care Global Charter (RCGC) and the Global Product Strategy (presentation by Martin Kayser, ICCA Chemical Policy and Health Co-Chair)