Dow Chemical 2013 Annual Report Download - page 84

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Environmental Matters
Environmental Policies
Dow is committed to world-class environmental, health and safety (“EH&S”) performance, as demonstrated by industry-
leading performance, a long-standing commitment to Responsible Care®, and a strong commitment to achieve the Company’s
2015 Sustainability Goals – goals that set the standard for sustainability in the chemical industry by focusing on improvements
in Dow’s local corporate citizenship and product stewardship, and by actively pursuing methods to reduce the Company’s
environmental impact.
To meet the Company’s public commitments, as well as the stringent laws and government regulations related to environmental
protection and remediation to which its global operations are subject, Dow has well-defined policies, requirements and
management systems. Dow’s EH&S Management System (“EMS”) defines the “who, what, when and how” needed for the
businesses to achieve the Company’s policies, requirements, performance objectives, leadership expectations and public
commitments. To ensure effective utilization, the EMS is integrated into a company-wide management system for EH&S,
Operations, Quality and Human Resources.
It is Dow’s policy to adhere to a waste management hierarchy that minimizes the impact of wastes and emissions on the
environment. First, Dow works to eliminate or minimize the generation of waste and emissions at the source through research,
process design, plant operations and maintenance. Second, Dow finds ways to reuse and recycle materials. Finally, unusable or
non-recyclable hazardous waste is treated before disposal to eliminate or reduce the hazardous nature and volume of the waste.
Treatment may include destruction by chemical, physical, biological or thermal means. Disposal of waste materials in landfills
is considered only after all other options have been thoroughly evaluated. Dow has specific requirements for waste that is
transferred to non-Dow facilities, including the periodic auditing of these facilities.
Dow believes third-party verification and transparent public reporting are cornerstones of world-class EH&S performance and
building public trust. As such, numerous Dow sites in Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and North America have received
third-party verification of Dow’s compliance with Responsible Care® and with outside specifications such as ISO-14001. Dow
continues to be a global champion of Responsible Care® and has worked to broaden the application and impact of Responsible
Care® around the world through engagement with suppliers, customers and joint venture partners.
Dow’s EH&S policies helped the Company achieve excellent EH&S performance in 2013. Dow’s injury/illness rates and
process safety performance were excellent in 2013, and the Company is favorably positioned to achieve its 2015 sustainability
goals in these key areas. Further improvement in these areas, as well as environmental compliance, remains a top management
priority, with initiatives underway to further improve performance and compliance in 2014.
Detailed information on Dow’s performance regarding environmental matters and goals can be found online on Dow’s
Sustainability webpage at www.dow.com. The Company's website and its content are not deemed incorporated by reference into
this report.
Chemical Security
Public and political attention continues to be placed on the protection of critical infrastructure, including the chemical industry,
from security threats. Terrorist attacks and natural disasters have increased concern about the security and safety of chemical
production and distribution. In addition, recent catastrophic incidents ranging from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear events
in Japan to the explosion and ensuing destruction and fatalities in West, Texas have focused attention on the safe operation,
response capability and community engagement of our manufacturing facilities. Many, including Dow and the American
Chemistry Council, have called for uniform risk-based and performance-based national standards for securing the U.S.
chemical industry. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (“MTSA”) of 2002 and its regulations further set forth risk-based
and performance-based standards that must be met at U.S. Coast Guard-regulated facilities. U.S. Chemical Plant Security
legislation was passed in 2006 and the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) is now implementing the regulations known
as the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards. The Company is complying with the requirements of the Rail
Transportation Security Rule issued by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”). Dow continues to support
uniform risk-based national standards for securing the chemical industry.
The focus on security, emergency planning, preparedness and response is not new to Dow. A comprehensive, multi-level
security plan for the Company has been maintained since 1988. This plan, which has been activated in response to significant
world and national events since then, is reviewed on an annual basis. Dow continues to improve its security plans, placing
emphasis on the safety of Dow communities and people by being prepared to meet risks at any level and to address both
internal and external identifiable risks. The security plan includes regular vulnerability assessments, security audits, mitigation
efforts and physical security upgrades designed to reduce vulnerability. Dow’s security plans also are developed to avert