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September 14, 2022

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‘Leading the way amidst chemical supply chain challenges’ – SHP hears from the CBA

The past few years have seen the chemical supply chain face various challenges. SHP hears from Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association (CBA), as he outlines how the association is exercising leadership during these uncertain times…

Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association (CBA)

In recent times, the chemical supply chain has faced some unprecedented challenges – besides dealing with a global pandemic. It has had to contend with multiple disruptions in the supply chain and faced huge price increases in the cost of moving freight, while contending with raw material shortages, rapidly rising energy costs, and even the closure of manufacturing plants.

These issues have been aggravated by the conflict in Ukraine, which in addition to exacerbating existing issues, has also had several direct impacts, including added pressure in the supply of raw materials and commodities. Transportation has also been affected, not just in the ports, as has been widely reported on, but in less obvious ways. For example many Eastern European truck fleets have significant numbers of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers who are Ukrainian nationals who have returned to their country to fight in the conflict.

Brexit too has had far-reaching consequences for the sector, the most obvious of which is the need to complete customs formalities and procedures. The landscape changed overnight, and while many companies found a way to adapt, for some this meant the need for more drastic measures. These included UK businesses opening separate EU entities, or even migrating operations to the EU, due to post Brexit factors such as ‘Rules of Origin’, which prevent them from using the UK effectively as a trading hub between the EU and rest of the world – something that had previously been a significant benefit to UK chemical distributors.

All these elements have combined to disrupt, slow down or create barriers to the movement of goods and delays in manufacture. What’s more, factors such as UK REACH and the widening gap between EU and UK regulations mean chemicals currently used in the UK may be prohibited or simply become commercially unviable. The impact of this could result in serious manufacturing challenges or even the non-availability of products down the line.

Taking charge on all fronts

The CBA has been the voice of the UK chemical supply chain industry for almost a century. With its own in-house experts covering all aspects of the chemical supply chain, it has and continues to be, extremely pro-active in helping members adjust to ongoing changes and disruptions.

To ensure members are educated and informed, the CBA provides access to a Members Helpdesk, which offers dedicated, one-to-one advice on a wide range of topics, regular briefings and events, a monthly technical e-bulletin, ‘Member Engagement Days,’ and training workshops – including bespoke training as part of its ‘Compliance on Demand’ offering. Recently, it also introduced ‘Online Clinics’ and ‘Best Practice Workshops’ on a wide variety of subjects.

Another key focus area for the association is proactively supporting and improving the safety performance of all stakeholders in the chemical supply chain. To this end, it provides on-site compliance checks and training across a wide range of regulatory and compliance matters, including Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH), Spill Response, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).

Additionally, the CBA offers Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) services to members, as well as training through its own in-house DGSAs. Besides being part of the Health and Safety Executive’s COMAH Strategic Forum, it also has its own dedicated COMAH Safety Leadership Forum, which shares information, experiences and best practice with members.

The association also runs various committees and working groups, which focus on technical, operational, trade, and sustainability matters, as well as a specific Health and Safety Committee. These consist of CBA’s own staff, along with representatives from member companies who provide specialist expertise, input and evidence, and which further contributes towards achieving the objectives and the overall strategy of the association.

Helping the chemical supply chain become more sustainable, the association has long been involved in leading efforts to achieve targets. For almost thirty years, the CBA has been actively involved with the Responsible Care (RC) programme, a global, voluntary initiative by the chemical industry which provides an ethical framework for the safe use and handling of chemical products.

It has also produced guidance on climate change in partnership with the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) and the Non-Ferrous Alliance (NFA) and, in association with other organisations, developed new waste packaging supplementary guidance within the scope of the European Waste Framework Directive. This includes a structured approach to developing a climate change risk assessment and action plan for COMAH businesses.

What’s more, several of the CBA staff have been certified as being Carbon Literate, resulting in the association now offering Carbon Literacy training to members. The certified training, which provides insight to help individuals and companies make informed choices to reduce their carbon impact, enables member companies to roll out Carbon Literacy to their own organisations.

The influence and reach of the CBA is not just limited to the UK. It has extensive interaction and engagement with overseas governments, also national authorities, whilst working with organisations such as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Group of Seven (G7), as part of its objective to promote and share safe and best working practices throughout the global chemical supply chain.

Driving the industry forward

With a century of experience behind it, the CBA is a proven and steadfast leader that all companies in the chemical supply chain can rely on for representation, training, guidance and assistance on issues around trade, compliance, regulation, sustainability, and more – in fact, the complete chemical supply chain.

As we continue to navigate through such challenging times globally, and with constant changes to and divergence in regulation and policy, the CBA will continue to use its position as a leader and influencer to ensure the future success of the chemical industry.

For more information about the CBA, click here.

 

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