RC 14001

Responsible Care was launched in 1988 by the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) under comprehensive Environmental, Health, Safety and Security (EHS&S) performance improvement initiative. Under the initiative, there are stated principles for the management system in production, handling, use, transport and disposal of chemical products.

In the chemical industry, Responsible Care® is the global initiative, practiced in 52 countries, used to ensure the safe and secure management of chemical products. In the U.S., the American Chemistry Council (ACC) combined the requirements of Responsible Care® and ISO 14001 to create a standard, requiring mandatory third-party verification, for its membership. As a result, two certification choices are available:

RESPONSIBLE CARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RCMS)

Based on a plan-do-check-act philosophy, a responsible care management system allows a company to continually improve internal processes, while providing the flexibility to meet individual needs and facility requirements.

RC14001 - It combines RCMS® certification and ISO 14001 certification into a single, more cost-effective process. An RCMS is based on benchmarked best practices of leading private sector companies, initiatives developed through the Global Environmental Management Initiative, International Standards Organization and other bodies, and requirements of national regulatory authorities. RC14001 certification aims for continual improvement and demonstrated product stewardship.

KEY BENEFITS OF ACHIEVING RC 14001 CERTIFICATION TO YOUR ORGANIZATION

Benefits of certification to RC14001® and RCMS®:

Establishes company’s health and safety, security and environmental credentials
Establishes comply with the relevant regulations
Establishes innovation and a forward thinking approach to customers and employees

Increases access to new customers and business partners
Potentially reduces public liability insurance costs
Encourages to continually improve your management system using regular third-party audits to drive new initiatives

RC14001 REQUIREMENTS

RC14001 combines RCMS certification requirements and ISO 14001 requirements. The requirements are:

Responsible Care (RC) is based on seven Codes of Management Practice: Pollution Prevention, Distribution, Product Stewardship, Process Safety, Employee Health and Safety, Security, Community Awareness and Emergency Response.

RC 14001 DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

RC14001 is a Technical requirement that combines ISO 14001 with Responsible Care® requirements required under the RC14001 scope. The RC14001 management system documentation shall include

Environmental policy, objectives and targets,
Scope of the environmental management system,
List of activities carried out by organization their environmental aspect and impact
Framework for identifying significant aspect
Documents and records required for operation & control and
Documents and records for effective implementation and monitoring of environmental management system

WHAT IS SCOPE OF RC 14001?

RC14001 incorporates all of the requirements of ISO 14001 certification as well as the requirements of the Responsible Care code. It is the ideal standard for chemical manufacturing companies who want a certified system based on an international standard that is accepted by all types of organizations worldwide.