Public image of the chemical industry

The Public Image of the Chemical Industry, Research Conducted for the Chemical Industries Association, Final Report, MORI, London, UK, 2002. 

More and more chemical companies do recognize the fact that their image, their reputation, plays a very important role in successful business. A proper image of the company is necessary to ensure public support for its activities. A study done in the United States showed that only the tobacco industry and the nuclear energy sector had a worse reputation than the chemical industry. The situation in Europe is probably not very much different. On the other hand, process intensification, deeply anchored in the philosophy of sustainable development, in safe and environmentally friendly processing, presents perhaps the simplest, the most obvious key to the improved image of the chemical industry. 

For the VCI, the issue of public perception is mainly focused on the image of the chemical industry in Germany. However, since Germany is the third largest chemical-producing nation in the world and exports over half its output in terms of value, and since German subsidiaries abroad manufacture products to a further... 

Environmental and health hazards associated with chlorine-based herbicides have impacted the production of these chemicals, and the consumption of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides has decreased by more than 95% since 1974. However, as this market segment constitutes < 1 % of the total chlorine consumption, the chlorine industry is unlikely to be affected by the restrictions on the Cl2-based agricultural chemicals, although debates and discussions on the pesticides have created a bad public image for the chemical industry. 

The present image of the chemical industry among the general public is not a good one but the machinery is now in place for positive change. We have seen how research in academic and industrial laboratories can produce new materials capable of meeting the challenges that the new... 

The chemical industry is one of the safest industries, but its safety record in the eyes of the public has suffered. Perhaps this is because sometimes when there is an accident in a chemical plant it is spectacular and receives a great deal of attention. The public often associates the chemical industry with environmental and safety problems, which results in a negative image of the industry. 

Is there any such thing as a public image for the whole chemical industry Does a positive industry image, assuming it exists, add value to individual companies Under today s earnings and competitive pressures, the value of public image- and acceptance-building is sometimes questioned. After all, the important automotive, food, electronics, telecommunications, and other industries do not appear to... 

Worldwide, in 1987 through 1989 the industry, whether in specialties or in basic chemicals, has certainly had its most prosperous years ever. The chemical industry, on the whole, does not, however, enjoy a very favorable image in the eyes of the public. The harmful spillovers caused by untoward accidents are given wider publicity by the media than the benefits the industry provides. In consequence, administrations that were anxious to soothe the more or less justified fears of their citizens have brought out a spate of regulations often more restraining and therefore more costly than is really necessary. 

The term industry refers to positions adopted by large trade associations, which comprise several companies that express potentially different views. One outcome of the Public Images of Chemistry in the 20th Century conference held in Paris, France, in September 2004, was that industry could improve its reputation by more openly recognising the risks as well as promoting the benefits of chemicals [177],... 

Despite the effort that has gone into implementing Responsible Care globally, public perception of the industry is still very low. Probably not surprising. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) tested the blood of 14 European Union Environmental Ministers to determine levels of persistent chemicals (they all had man-made chemicals in their blood) and recent studies have indicated that Arctic animals have high levels of the brominated compounds that are typically used as fire retardants. With that kind of news in the media, it is hard to imagine a positive industry image. 

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