Investigating the industry specific CR activities of its members and using the criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative as a starting point, an ITCO CR Workgroup defined 18 key priorities that are of particular importance to reach a harmonious balance between economic, environmental, local, ethical and legal aspects in the tank container industry.
Following a transition period of up to two years all ITCO members will be asked to sign the CR Code of Practice. In the meantime, ITCO will promote and measure the implementation of the Code, while the association will at the same time update the Code as CR further matures in the industry. The tank container industry – with some 450,000 tank containers in operation – puts special emphasis on health, safety, quality and protection of the environment. In an industry to a large extent dealing with hazardous goods, this is crucial for sustainable success.
Furthermore the tank container industry is a global industry. The detailed understanding of local differences – legally and culturally – has always been integral to its operations.
In general, companies within the tank container industry currently prove CR activities through programmes, audits or certificates of SQAS, CDI, ISO, AEO, SGS, Responsible Care, nicer globe, and many more. The ITCO Code of Practice defines the principles of good CR that underlie all existing efforts.
ITCO president Heike Clausen said: “We at ITCO believe that well-defined, integrated and communicated CR activities are a necessity for a successful, sustainable business. Therefore we developed the ITCO CR Code of Practice as minimum requirement that everybody in our diverse industry should commit to. However, we encourage all tank container companies to go beyond the Code and look into their very specific business to identify CR areas for improvement.”
For further details and a copy of the CR Code of Practice, visit www.itco.org