Some companies set themselves stretch goals that, although short of consultant Elkington's call for radical solutions, are nonetheless notable. DuPont, for instance, has recently set itself goals that promise to implement both sustainable development and Responsible Care objectives. Like ACC and CCPA, the group has linked sustainable development with Responsible Care in its latest statement of principles. A new voluntary program, announced earlier this year, is a certification and not a verification program, Aaron explains, because it involves professional examiners. However, Busson says that European consumers' attention has shifted from concerns over manufacturing plant operations to concerns over chemicals used in consumer products.
People are more confident in our ability to manage plants.
The environmental solutions envisioned in sustainable development could move the industry toward the radical solutions consultant Elkington calls for. Meanwhile, Responsible Care has set the groundwork to rebuild public confidence, although others, such as the ACC Public Advisory Panel, suggest the industry has to do more. Actually tracking performance in a consistent and understandable manner is a start. And both ACC and CCPA acknowledge that setting long-term performance goals and meeting those goals will help to bolster public confidence.