PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP KEY OBJECTIVES

Immediate/ short-term focus

• Continue to execute key operational activities and established major programs
• Maintain chemical compliance for SABIC products
• Support growth programs to ensure future licenses to manufacture and sell are available globally
• Ensure that customers obtain information regarding SABIC products to meet their safety and sustainability ambitions

Mid-term focus (2-3 years)

• Establish new Responsible Care® product safety code management practices to drive continuous improvement in product stewardship
• Support SABIC sustainability initiatives such as portfolio sustainability assessments (PSAs) and life cycle evaluations that require product safety and regulatory information
• Increase transparency of information on key product safety criteria

Longer-term focus (4+ years and beyond)

• Continue to build sustainable chemistry programs and initiatives
• Maintain priorities outlined in our Responsible Care^® 2.0 self-assessment initiative
• Enhance our status in the industry as a thought leader

SAFER CHEMISTRY

An essential part of our efforts to lower the human and environmental hazard profiles of our products and raw materials is our Safer Chemistry program, a voluntary initiative aiming to substitute, eliminate, or reduce the use of Chemicals of Concern (CoC) beyond current global regulations.

We understand the expectations of brand owners, NGOs, and ESG-rating and investor communities to drive hazardous chemical management and the expectation to increase transparency. We share this ambition and aim to continue providing information about our Safer Chemistry approach and progress.

Safer Chemistry is an evolving journey that started within SABIC in 2021. After scrutinizing the first two batches of 25 CoCs over the past two years, we developed a third batch of 25 CoCs in 2023 for assessment in 2024. This third batch was selected and prioritized based on the results of SABIC’s PSA assessment.

INNOVATION PARTNER

Similarly, SABIC’s process for the development and commercialization of new products includes review of potential environmental and health risks and mitigation of any significant risks identified. Mitigation measures considered for significant risks include substitution, hazard warnings to purchasers, or discontinuation of the product. As a Responsible Care® company, SABIC applies risk assessment principles set forth in that program’s product safety code management practices.

SABIC uses the innovation portfolio management tool, Accolade, which helps enable Product Stewardship to engage with the company’s corporate Technology & Innovation organization to help identify potential new hazards and risks early in project development via a stage gated process. Several hundred innovation projects underwent a Product Stewardship review for hazard potential, regulatory compliance, and overall risk to human health and the environment. Also in 2023, the Product Stewardship team enhanced the product safety questionnaire within Accolade to incorporate our Safer Chemistry concepts, with follow-up training for product developers scheduled in 2024.

HAZARD COMMUNICATION

Accurate, compliant, and up-to-date product safety information and labeling are critical to SABIC’s relationships across the value chain and customers across the globe. A primary focus of the Product Hazard Communications pillar is to ensure that we respond promptly to the large volume of customer inquiries we receive each year so that they, in turn, are better able to comply with applicable chemical substance regulations, laws, and market demands to support our customers’ sustainability ambitions.

The main conduit for processing our inquiries continues to be our Customer Declaration Portal, a tool that enables SABIC to field customer inquiries and ensure they are directed to the appropriate expert.

Read more about our product stewardship program, including our global product compliance and integration with other EHSS aspects at SABIC.

_{Disclaimer: This abridged interactive version of the SABIC Integrated Annual Report 2023 is based on the original PDF report published on this website. In case of any discrepancy, the original PDF report will prevail.}