Sound chemicals management

The International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) has released the May 2009 issue of its Good Practice newsletter: Action for a safer world. It is themed around the need for sound chemicals management and looks to the UN’s Second International Conference on Chemicals Management in Geneva, May 11-15. This will be the setting for the launch of ICMM’s own action plan on chemicals management for the mining and metals sector: Minerals and Metals Management 2020.

Contributors such as Rio Tinto CEO (and ICMM member) Tom Albanese and ICMM’s John Atherton draw attention to the importance of life cycle management, which can contribute not only to material or product safety, but also to greater efficiency and increased market share. They also welcome the UN’s Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), which calls for shared responsibility and commitment to chemicals management throughout the life cycle of the material.

Other contributors include Barrick’s Melissa Barbanell with an article on mercury management, and James Fava, Guido Sonnemann and Mike Mozur of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle initiative. Finally, the 60 second profile features the OECD’s Rob Visser. www.icmm.com