Our commitment towards safety, health and the environment

At INEOS ChlorVinyls we will continually strive to meet and where possible exceed strict safety, health and environmental performance targets. We are committed to continuous improvement in all aspects of our operations.

INEOS ChlorVinyls SHEQ Policy

INEOS ChlorVinyls aims to be amongst the chemical industry leaders in safety, health, environmental protection and customer satisfaction, ensuring our products meet society's increasing environmental requirements.

Policy:

1. We will comply with safety, health and environmental legislation in all countries, and other requirements to which INEOS ChlorVinyls subscribe, taking any additional measures considered necessary.
2. We will strive to continually improve the safety, health and environmental impact of our operations on our employees, those working on our behalf, our customers and the public.
3. We will enhance our competitive position in order to be seen by our customers as a reliable long term supplier of products and services who provides real value for money.
4. We will manage SHE as an integral element of all our activities, by requiring that all employees and those working on our behalf adhere to the SHE standards and SHE management systems.
5. We will adhere to the guiding principles of the CIA Responsible Care programme, and continue to participate in sustainable development activities throughout the supply chain as we proceed towards building a business that is economically, socially and environmentally acceptable.

Case study: UK PVC Co-Ordination Group

In March 1999, UK manufacturers of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) demonstrated their commitment to improving their environmental performance through the signing of an Environmental Charter. The Charter addresses the full range of environmental issues associated with PVC manufacture, and commits manufacturers to taking a wider responsibility to ensure that PVC exerts a low level of harm to the environment.

The Charter was developed and agreed under the auspices of the PVC Co-ordination Group, which comprises UK retailers Asda, CWS, Tesco and Waitrose, and UK PVC manufacturers EVC and Hydro Polymers (now both part of INEOS ChlorVinyls).

The Charter has the full support of the UK retailers who, having initiated its development, recognise the high level of commitment being made by the manufacturers under the Charter. Charter signatories are committed to seven actions. The first of these is to support the development of, and comply with, an Eco-efficiency Code of Practice for the manufacture of PVC. INEOS ChlorVinyls recognises that some members of the public have concerns about the safety and environmental impact of PVC manufacturing activities. We recognise the need to demonstrate clearly and fully to the public that we aim to manufacture PVC to best possible standards, and that we will continue to improve our performance through investment in improved management and technology.

The Code of Practice sets out the minimum environmental standards to be achieved in the manufacture of PVC, together with measurable targets for continuous improvement in environmental performance. The stringent criteria contained in the Code provide a challenging set of standards for INEOS ChlorVinyls to adhere to. Compliance with the Code of Practice and associated elements of the Environmental Charter will provide retailers and other interested parties with the means by which they can assess the environmental impacts of the PVC they purchase, and satisfy themselves that it is being manufactured in a responsible manner according to best practice.

Towards 2010 Targets

These are the targets that INEOS ChlorVinyls will work towards by the year 2010:

	safety towards zero injuries at work
	health towards zero work-related ill health
	environment towards environmental sustainability