SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2008

For More Information:
Angelina Panettieri
Assistant Manager, Communications
(202) 721-4123
panettieria@socma.com

Washington, DC – The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 Performance Improvement Awards, sponsored by SOCMA’s ChemStewards® department. The Performance Improvement Awards honor member facilities demonstrating outstanding commitment to continuous improvement in environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) practices. The winners will be publicly recognized during SOCMA’s Annual Dinner on December 8, 2008. (Reporters are invited to attend. Details below.)

“These companies have made themselves examples to the industry with their commitment to improved EHS&S performance and community engagement,” said Joe Acker, president of SOCMA. “On behalf of SOCMA and ChemStewards, I thank the winning facilities for their continuing efforts. They deserve to be commended.”

Recipients earned awards in four categories: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Educational Outreach Awards.

The 2008 Gold Performance Improvement Award will be given to two facilities for their commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities, making performance improvement a mantra within their organizations and actively involving key stakeholders in their communities. These winners are:

• FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants, Inc. – New Castle, DE
• Honeywell Specialty Chemicals – Seelze, Germany

A total of fifteen Silver Awards will be presented to facilities showing excellence in their efforts towards one of the five ChemStewards® Core Principles: Stakeholder Communications, Product Stewardship, EHS&S in Planning and Operations, Employee Training and Engagement, and Resource Management and Waste Minimization.

Additionally, eleven SOCMA member facilities will be awarded with the Bronze Performance Improvement Award, which goes to facilities maintaining strong EHS&S programs. The names of these facilities as well as the Silver Award winners can be found on SOCMA’s website at http://www.socma.com/ChemStewards/index.cfm?subSec=23.    

Finally, SOCMA will honor KMCO, LP with the association’s Educational Outreach Award, which is sponsored by the Chemical Educational Foundation. The company made exemplary efforts in expanding their school and community outreach efforts.

Award winners will be available for interviews during the event. Please contact SOCMA for arrangements.

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SOCMA is the leading trade association, serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical industry since 1921. SOCMA’s nearly 300 members employ more than 100,000 workers across the country and produce 50,000 products valued at $60 billion annually. For more information please visit www.socma.com.

ChemStewards® is SOCMA’s flagship environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) continuous performance improvement program.  ChemStewards was created from industry’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint left by member’s facilities.  Industry created ChemStewards to meet the unique needs of the batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry. As a mandatory requirement for SOCMA members engaged in the manufacturing or handling of synthetic and organic chemicals, ChemStewards is helping participants reach for superior EHS&S performance.  To learn more visit www.chemstewards.com.