The 18th Asia Pacific Responsible Care ® Conference (APRCC) which took place on 22 and 23 October, 2025 in Nusa Dua Resort, Indonesia brought together industry leaders, experts and regulators to strengthen the safe use of chemicals in the region. The program under the theme Empowering Responsible Care® Leadership: Advancing Chemical Safety and Security for Sustainable Industry, focused on the key role that leadership plays in promoting sustainable chemistry and protecting people, communities, and the environment.

Mr. Jeff Kovacs, Chairman of ICCA Responsible Care® Leadership Group, with Mr. Yoshizumi Sasaki, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Responsible Care® Organization (APRO) and Mr. Edi Rivai, Chairman of Responsible Care® Indonesia (RCI) led discussions about sustained leadership in action within the chemical industry. Their investment in promoting a culture of accountability was echoed both in plenary sessions at the conference.

In the first session, on Responsible Care® Leadership and Continuous Improvement, leadership stressed the indispensable role in driving continuous enhancements in chemical safety and sustainability. The panel, moderated by Mr. Daniel Forest, American Chemistry Council (ACC), and composed of Mr. Jeff Kovacs (ICCA RCLG), Mr. Yoshizumi Sasaki (ICCA APRO), Mr. Barry Drayer (RC NZ), and Mr. Terence Koh (SCIC), shared their experiences and strategies for strengthening Responsible Care® practices around the region

The second session on Global Chemical Management, which brought together Ms. Sue May Teoh (ExxonMobil), Ms. Siripon Piya-Arksornsak (RCMCT), Ms. Karen Peng (Merck Taiwan), and Mr. Fabien Henry (Nickel Institute) to address issues such as regulatory frameworks, harmonization efforts, and best practices in managing chemicals globally, was moderated by Mr. Sutthipas Wongsiripon (RCMCT) as it took place with the ongoing conflict over who should control toxic substances.

Session three focused on Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG). Moderated by Dr. Masayu Elita Hafizah (PT Evonik), a panel comprising Mr. Wittaya Guntawang (PT Chandra Asri Pacific, Tbk), Dr. Masayuki Fujita (Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd, JCIA), Mr. Bernard Leong (PCS Pty. Ltd, SCIC), and Dr. Masamichi Nishihara (Kyushu University) stressed the need to introduce ESG standards into chemical industry operations, which are for sustainability, respond to climate change, comply with carbon regulations, and investigate emerging clean energy sources such as hydrogen.

In the fourth plenary session, Plastic Circularity: Innovations for a Sustainable Industry, Mr. Hanggara Sukandar (PT Trinseo Materials Indonesia) as moderator, led Mr. L. Adypurnama Teguh Sambodo (Deputy for Food, Natural Resources, and Environment, Ministry of National Development Planning), Mr. T. Bagus Tri Lusmono (PT Asahimas Chemical), Mr. Fahrurrozi (PT INEOS Aromatics Indonesia) and Engr. Albert Samuela (SPIK), in an exploration of the regional plastics pollution driven through circular economy initiatives, examines the efforts by industry partners, especially outside traditional plastic product areas but within Southeast Asia itself, to transform high-value-added plastic chains.

In the fifth session, Chemical Safety Management, Engr. Gretchen F. Enarle (SPIK President) led discussions with Ms. Laila Fitri Handayani (PT BASF Indonesia), Mr. Kevin Li (AICM), Mr. Singgih Setiawan (PT Chandra Asri Pacific, Tbk) and Mr. Barry Dyer (RCNZ) about ways to enhance chemical safety through improved processes, risk assessments, being ready for emergencies, and involving all stakeholders in industry shared responsibility.

The sixth session, Chemical Security Management in Industry, was hosted by Mr. Dato’ Muhtar Hashim (CICM). With Mr. Riswan Sipayung (PT Dow Indonesia ), Mr. Muhammad Anas Danial (CICM), Mr. F. Purwanto (PT Pupuk Kaltim;) and Mr. Daniel Forest (ACC) as panelists, it emphasized the need for security and safety to mesh nicely to mitigate risks of sabotage, theft, or terrorism not only within chemical plants but also throughout supply chains.

Finally, in the session on Smart Industrial Safety for a Sustainable Green Chemical Industry, Dr. Atsumi Miyake (Yokohama National University) was moderator. Mr. Tomoya Soma (Argopilot Corporation), Dr. Masayuki Tanabe (JGC Corporation), Dr. Yoshiyuki Yamashita (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology), Dr. Taufiek Bawazier (Ministry of Industry of Indonesia), Mr. Akihiro Yamaguchi (METI Japan) joined forces in this forum to tackle such next-generation techniques of industrial safety as AI, IoT, and digitalization, particularly where they relate to problems led by aging equipment, creating a largely unemployable workforce, not only disasters but its management across industries in-plant safety systems.

The conference also featured active participation from delegates of the Chemical Industries Association of the Philippines (SPIK), including Directors Engr. Romeo Dela Cruz, Engr. Reinier Bagabay, Engr. Albert Samuela and Ms. Antonette Fallarme. SPIK’s participation illustrates the Philippine chemical industry’s commitment to Responsible Care practices and safety innovation, as well as its work across Southeast Asia on sustainable chemical management.

At the end of the conference, Mr. Rivai, Mr. Sasaki, and Mr. Kovacs re-emphasized the key elements of cooperation, collaboration, and leadership in Responsible Care® to facilitate future progress in the years leading up to the next RCCC in 2027.

The organizing committee, led by the Responsible Care® Indonesia, with Mr. Setyabudhi Zuber playing a key role in coordinating the event’s logistics and ensuring its success, showed a strong commitment and high level of leadership to bring together industry stakeholders, regulators, and experts for meaningful dialogue on a way forward in chemical safety, security, and sustainability work across the region.