DSM Agro in Geleen (the Netherlands) is the first company in the world to reduce its emissions of dinitrogen oxide (N2O) to zero. The emission of greenhouse gases from a nitric acid plant has never before been so greatly reduced. In doing so the company makes an important contribution towards the solution of the climate change problem. Today therefore the VNCI (Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry) awarded DSM Agro with the prestigious Responsible Care Award 2008. The award is made annually to the company that has made impressive progress in the area of Safety, Health and the Environment and that is an example to other companies. The award ceremony took place during the VNCI’s annual meeting in The Hague (the Netherlands).

The project’s impact is great; as a greenhouse gas, the effect of dinitrogen oxide is around three hundred times that of CO2. In the last quarter of 2007 alone DSM reduced its emission of dinitrogen oxide by 6,500 tons. That is the equivalent of two million tons of CO2. It has the same effect as though there were one million less cars on the Dutch roads or if 500 million trees were planted in the Netherlands. “A performance on a world scale and worthy winner of the Responsible Care Award 2008” according to Wim Hafkamp, Chairman of the jury for the Responsible Care Award.

Honourable mention
Bio MCN, a methanol producer from Delfzijl (the Netherlands) received an honourable mention from the VNCI during the annual meeting. The company has developed a technique by which it can develop methanol, a by-product of bio diesel, a process that normally requires natural gas. As this does not require fossil fuel the production of methanol by Bio MCN is more sustainable.

The VNCI has put forward both projects for the European Responsible Care Award that will be presented in October by CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Association.

Responsible Care
The Responsible Care Program is a worldwide initiative by the chemical industry. It is focused on the continual improvement of companies’ performance in the field of Safety, Health and the Environment.

The VNCI uses the Responsible Care Award to draw further attention to the idea of Responsible Care. Since 1999 the association has given the award to the most prominent and inspiring contribution. The entries are judged by an independent jury of representatives from government, environmental organizations and chemical companies.