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Reducing Emissions

  • Between 2005 and 2006, HAP air emissions from all Responsible Care companies remained constant.
  • Since 1988, core Responsible Care companies5 have reduced emissions of core HAP chemicals2 by 78 percent.
  • Responsible Care companies3 have reduced emissions of all TRI listed HAP chemicals4 by 73 percent, since 1988.
  • Since the inception of the program in 1988, Responsible Care companies and the broader business of chemistry1 have reduced emissions of core chemicals2 by 83 percent, while increasing production by 50 percent during the same period. This trend, which is based on the period from 1988 to 2006, demonstrates advancements in eco-efficiency; that is, the ability to produce more with less impact on the environment.
 
HAP Air Releases6 for Core Chemicals2 and Core Responsible Care Companies5 and the Business of Chemistry1 with Industrial Production (IP) Index7 for the Business of Chemistry1
 
 
  1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Core Responsible Care Companies
Total HAP Air Releases8		 172 149 130 115 104 85 70 60 53 51 51 53 47 41 42 40 43 37 38 Not Available
Business of Chemistry
Total Releases8		 552 469 429 383 376 316 283 279 249 215 190 172 168 132 139 131 128 108 95 90
Business of Chemistry
Industrial Production Index
(where 2002=100)		 75 77 78 78 79 80 82 84 85 90 92 94 95 93 100 101 106 109 113 114
 
 
 
 
 
HAPs Data6 for Core Chemicals2 and Core Responsible Care Companies5
 
 
  1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
HAP Air Releases 161 145 126 113 102 81 67 58 51 49 41 38 35 30 29 27 27 22 22
*Releases in millions of lbs.
 
 
 
 
 
HAPs Data6 for All Listed Chemicals4 and All Responsible Care Companies3
 
 
  1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
HAP Air Releases 191 176 158 141 129 106 93 87 78 72 67 61 58 56 52 48 48 42 40
*Releases in millions of lbs.
 
 
Notes
1The Business of Chemistry: Based on the U.S. government’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 325. Includes inorganic and organic chemicals, synthetic materials, specialties, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, and other chemical products. Where company-specific data are not available, particularly in the area of economics, business of chemistry data are used to approximate Responsible Care companies. Responsible Care companies represent a sub-segment of the business of chemistry.

2Core HAP Chemicals: Chemicals that have been listed and reported to EPA under the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 313, since 1988. Chemicals not included in the core chemicals listing are delisted chemicals, chemicals added in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, and aluminum oxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, or sulfuric acid. A measure of core chemicals demonstrates progress over time on a static list of chemicals, thereby reducing perceived increases or decreased in emissions caused only by the addition or deletion of chemicals from the SARA 313 list.

3(All) Responsible Care Companies: Include all companies that are current members of the American Chemistry Council and, therefore, Responsible Care participants, and which reported TRI data in any given year. This term includes companies that are part of the “core” group (see below).

4All Listed HAP Chemicals: All chemicals listed and reported to the EPA under the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 313, and that are subject to TRI reporting. (Most, but not all HAPs are reportable under TRI.) Includes chemicals added to or delisted from TRI since 1988.

5Core Responsible Care Companies: Companies that are current members of the American Chemistry Council and, therefore, Responsible Care participants, and have facilities with TRI data for all years represented. A measure of core companies demonstrates progress over time on a static list of facilities, thereby reducing perceived increases or decreased in releases caused by the addition or deletion of facilities.

6HAP Air, Data: Data for releases of chemicals listed and reported to the EPA under the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 313. Includes releases to air as measured and reported by individual member companies on EPA’s SARA 313 report. Responsible Care reporting does not include underground injection or, to avoid double-counting of releases, off-site transfers for disposal. The EPA’s TRI Report includes both underground injection and off-site transfers as releases. The TRI Data for the Business of Chemistry is from EPA’s TRI Explorer for NAICS 325.

7Industrial Production (IP) for the Business of Chemistry: These data are based on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board’s index of industrial production for NAICS 325 and where 2002=100.

8HAP Air Data: Data for releases of chemicals listed and reported to the EPA under the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 313. Includes releases to air only, verified by individual member companies from EPA’s SARA 313 report.