GPCA's sustainability session to focus on responsible care and role of plastics

In line with this year's theme of 'Breaking through the crisis to pursue sustainable growth', the Forum is dedicating an entire afternoon session to discuss sustainability. The four papers presented at the session will focus on three most important industry concerns today: the Responsible Care initiative, the role of plastics in driving sustainability, and carbon management.

"With the increasing emphasis worldwide and in the region on 'green' issues and the use of plastics, the session is expected to generate much interest and discussion among the delegates as well as the media. Along with financial profits, social responsibility and sustainability have become increasingly important for the petrochemicals and chemicals industry,"

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General of GPCA said.

The sustainability breakout session is scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. on December 10. The Fourth Annual GPCA Forum is taking place December 8-10, 2009 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE. The Forum, co-organised by Chemical Week, is GPCA's flagship event.

This concluding session of the Forum will have three key speakers highlighting the various aspects of sustainability in the industry and its relevance in the growth of the petrochemicals industry in the region and internationally. The session will also focus on bringing and adopting Responsible Care within the region's Petrochemicals and Chemicals industry.

Dr. Al Sadoun will preside over the sustainability session, which will open with a presentation titled 'Delivering solutions to the sustainability challenge via Responsible Care' by Cal Dooley, President and CEO, American Chemistry Council. Responsible Care is a chemical industry initiative launched in 1985 to underline the industry's commitment to achieve continuous improvement in the environmental, health and safety performance of producers around the world. Dooley is expected to speak on the achievements and latest developments related to Responsible Care and its success in strengthening the industry's dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders. Responsible Care is now an industry practice in 53 countries or regions.

GPCA is giving great importance to the segment on plastics. 'The role of plastics in driving sustainability' will be presented by Laurence Jones, Vice President, Corporate Support, Borouge, and a member of GPCA's Plastics Committee who will address the role of Plastics in day to day life, the need for organised recycling and waste management measures in the region. At a time of increasing anti-plastic sentiment in the region, GPCA wants to highlight the positive role played by plastics in the modern world.

Peter Saling, Head of Eco-Efficiency Analysis, BASF SE, will present 'Carbon Management and Sustainability: The BASF Case Study' and Grant Little, Senior Project Originator, Masdar, will present 'A Middle East Perspective of Carbon Management'. Delegates will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive discussion with speakers at a 45-minute panel discussion that will follow the presentations.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources H.E. Ali Al-Naimi, who is also the Chairman of Saudi Aramco, will deliver the opening keynote address at the Forum on the morning of December 9. Bahrain's Central Bank Governor H.E. Rasheed M. Al-Maraj will address the Forum on the second day, about 'Financing Opportunities and Risks for Mideast Petrochemical and energy Projects in a Global Crisis'.

Other key speakers at the GPCA Forum include are: Stephen Pryor, President, ExxonMobil Chemical; Klaus Engel, Chairman, Evonik Industries; Brad Bourland, Chief Economist and Managing Director, Proprietary Investment, Jadwa Investments; Greg Garland, President and CEO, Chevron Phillips Chemical; Paul A. Laudicina, Chairman and Managing Director, A.T. Kearney; and Mark Garrett, CEO, Borealis.

On December 9, 2009, the first day of the Forum, Dr. Vijay Govindarajan, one of the world's leading experts on strategy and innovation and author of international best seller Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators, will speak at the Human Resources Breakout Session. In line with the theme of this year's Forum 'Breaking through the crisis to pursue sustainable growth', Dr. Govindarajan's special session will discuss 'Leadership in an Era of Constant Change'.