International Council of Chemical Associations

September 2006

World Chlorine Council Report

Membership–The WCC currently represents 23 national/regional associations in 27 countries accounting for over 70% of global chlor-alkali production. WCC’s outreach to the Russian industry contributed to the formal creation of RusChlor in 2005. With the potential inclusion of the Chinese Chlor-Alkali Industry Association (CCAIA) as a corresponding member, WCC membership is approaching over 90% of global production. WCC discussions with CCAIA track closely ICCA’s own membership efforts with the broader Chinese Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association of which CCAIA is a sector group. Work also continues through the WCC Global Network to reach industry contacts in priority developing countries with a focus on over 600 facilities in 79 countries.

International Advocacy – At the international level, WCC iscurrently engaged in over 14 international treaties or intergovernmental programs that have the potential to impact chlorine based processes or products. In addition, WCC continues to support ICCA advocacy efforts on issues of joint interest to our industries such as SAICM. WCC also works to coordinate ICCA’s efforts on the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) treaties. In 2006, WCC advocacy efforts are focused on the following priority issues:

  • Stockholm POPs Convention – The potential consideration of chlorinated compounds as candidate POPs, country implementation efforts, and finalization of guidelines for best available techniques and best environmental practices for management of unintentional POPs including key processes using chlorine.
  • Basel Convention – Development of the Basel/Stockholm POPs Waste Guidelines and the proposed listing of various chlor-vinyl wastes.
  • World Bank/International Finance Corporation – IFC proposed policy restricting investment for chlor-vinyl projects and World Bank/IFC Guidelines for the chlor-vinyl sector.
  • UNEP Global Mercury Programme – Implementation of the UNEP Global Mercury Programme, future UNEP Governing Council decisions regarding mercury, and participation in the Global Mercury Chlor-Alkali Partnership.
  • UN-ECE Heavy Metals & POPs Protocols – The review of chlorinated compounds as candidate POPs and the ongoing evaluation of emission limit values for existing mercury chlor-alkali plants.
  • Codex Alimentarius – Code of Practice for dioxins and risk assessment for use of chlorine in food processing.
  • World Health Organization – Review of dioxin TEFs and TEQs.
  • Rotterdam PIC Convention – Listing of chlorinated chemicals or chemicals of importance to chlorine based processes.

Stewardship Workshops – The WCC continues to organize stewardship workshops to promote best practices in environmental, health, and safety. To date workshops have been held in Brazil, Argentina, China, India, and Russia. Additional or follow-up workshops are being planned. In addition, specialized workshops that focus on best practices for chlor-alkali production utilizing mercury cell technology have been conducted in Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico and Russia. As a result of WCC’s ongoing outreach in China, the International Conference on China Chlor-alkali Industry Sustainability was held on 24-25 April 2006 in BeijingChina. The Conference was jointly sponsored by the World Chlorine Council, the Global Vinyl Council, the Chinese Petroleum & Chemical Industry Association and the Chinese Chlor-Alkali Industry Association. WCC’s efforts with the Chinese industry should also help reinforce the value of CPCIA joining ICCA and more actively participating in ICCA activities.

HPV/Chemicals Assessments – As part of the overall ICCA high production volume (HPV) chemicals commitment, WCC identified 126 chlorinated chemicals for which it would seek to coordinate companies and/or consortia efforts. WCC has identified sponsors to conduct the screening tests for the chlorinated compounds still in production. The industry is working to provide the required information for these chlorinated chemicals, but significant challenges remain for company completion of HPV data requirements. The work on 22 chemicals remains “in progress”. WCC will continue to coordinate closely with ICCA on any follow-up HPV activities.

Sustainability – In 2005, the WCC completed an assessment of progress on implementing the WCC Sustainable Development Commitments. In preparation for the next round of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the WCC is in the process for preparing a new sustainable development report for 2007 that will highlight the chlor-alkali sectors contribution to sustainable development and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Partnerships – As part of its overall efforts, the WCC is engaged in a number of partnerships with key intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Examples of WCC partnerships include:

  • Global Mercury Partnership– The WCC has been an active contributor to the UNEP Global Mercury Programme and is a participant in the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership for the Reduction of Mercury in the Chlor-alkali Sector. As part of this effort in 2006, WCC provided technical support for a workshop in Russia and have since helped coordinate a tour of state-of-the-art chlor-alkali facilities in Europe for representatives of the Russian chlor-alkali industry. WCC also entered into a memorandum of understanding with UNEP and received a UNEP grant to support WCC’s stewardship efforts with mercury-based chlorine producers in Mexico.
  • Humanitarian Water Partnerships –As part of its Safe Water Delivered Safely campaign, the WCC continues to be an active participant in several global and regional partnerships designed to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation. These partnerships highlight the role of chlorine-based disinfectants and PVC pipe in producing and delivering safe drinking water and increase recognition of the chlor-alkali industry’s contributions to sustainable development. Partners in these initiatives include the World Health Organization, the International Red Cross, the World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

ICCA Global Product Strategy (GPS) – As an ICCA sector group, WCC supports implementation of the GPS. WCC is primarily engaged on GPS implementation through its participation on the ICCA TAG. WCC’s work in the areas of product stewardship guidelines, partnerships, assessing chemicals, and downstream user outreach may be particularly relevant for GPS implementation.

On a regional level, the Canadian Chlorine Chemistry Council and the U.S. Chlorine Chemistry Council initiated a comprehensive effort to evaluate over 800 chlorinated compounds that have been included on various national, regional, and international regulatory lists. The purpose of this assessment was to identify chemicals that are a priority for further industry and/or company efforts and has involved strong input from key downstream users. The results of this process will be shared within the WCC and may provide a case study for future work under the GPS.

Future Meetings – The next plenary meeting of WCC will be on 15-21 October 2006 in St. Petersburg, Russiain conjunction with the Global Vinyl Council annual meeting. The WCC Governing Council will also meet in St. Petersburg on 22-23 October, 2006. These meetings are being jointly organized with Russian producers through RusChlor, the Russian chlor-alkali industry association.

Action Required – No action requested; for information/coordinationpurposes only.