voiceover: A key component of the modern world economy, the chemical
industry delivers products and innovations to enhance everyday life.
It is also an industry in transformation where chemical executives and workers
are delivering growth and industry changing advancements while responding
to pressures from investors, regulators, and public opinion, discover how
leading companies are approaching these challenges here on the chemical show.
Join Victoria Meyer, president of Progressio Global and
host of the chemical show.
As she speaks with executives across the industry and learns how they are leading
their companies to grow, transform, and push industry boundaries on all frontiers.
Here's your host, Victoria Meyer.
Victoria: Hi, this is Victoria Meyer.
Welcome back to The Chemical Show.
This is the first in a series of interviews that I recorded at ACC's
Responsible Care and Sustainability conference, which was held in
Miami on May 6th through 9th.
In these interviews, we're discussing not just Responsible Care and
Sustainability, but also careers,
leadership, corporate priorities, and value creation.
They're really special interviews, and I hope you listen to each and every one.
During this series, you'll be hearing from some executives that
spoke at ACC's recent Conference, including Chris Jahn, President and
CEO of American Chemistry Council.
Michael Heinz, Chairman and CEO of BASF corporation in North America.
Bonnie Tully, president of Evonik in North America.
Daryl Roberts, Chief Engineering and Operating officer for DuPont
and and Kevin Norfleet, global sustainability director for Celanese.
So, first of all, two thank yous, I want to give out on today's episode
to Karen Kirchnick for the invitation and to Kelly Montez de Oca, who
helped coordinate these interviews.
This is really where I want to start this episode today is just the level
of unwavering commitment to a better world that was exemplified through
these executives and through the hundreds of people in attendance.
Plus of course, the thousands of people across the chemical industry,
you and I, um, and our peers and people we know that are working in
and working for a better future.
Um, one of my favorite sayings, and it has been for a long time is better
living through chemistry, which as it turns out is a tagline that has
been used by DuPont for decades.
Um, until the mid eighties, when they stopped using it, I would love to see
it refreshed because I think it's there.
And I guess in many ways, ACC has refreshed this.
Um, and with their first ever sustainability report, ACC is
coining the phrase "Sustainability Starts With Chemistry'.
Fundamentally, to get to the sustainable future that we want, we need to use
chemistry and chemicals to innovate, create new products and more.
So before I jump into my interview with Chris, I'd like to share a few things
that stood out from the conference.
And in his opening keynote, Chris Jahn noted that Responsible Care represents
the industries license to operate, and that's maybe a bit of a paraphrase,
but I think what's, what comes through
from that conference as well as from the interviews that I did with these
executives that you'll hear is that Responsible Care really provides
strong foundational principles for companies across the industry.
And that's something very well recognized, right?
An emphasis on safety, environmental practices, and continuous improvement
for employees, stakeholders, and the communities we operate in.
And actually, as I discussed with Bonnie Tully, and you'll hear that
In our interview I've always worked in an industry where Responsible
Care principles were in place.
You grow up in the industry and you accept and expect that these strong
safety principles are in place.
And so that's certainly what we're seeing.
The 2nd thing that really came through in the conference is
this commitment to collaboration.
Across member companies across the ACC and other organizations and
frankly, to create alignment on common frameworks and objectives.
Responsible Care is a great example.
The new sustainability report and sustainability targets and
initiatives are great examples.
The work that's going on to negotiate and develop the UN Plastics
Treaty, which is ongoing currently.
And Chris and I talk about is another great example of collaboration
towards a common purpose with different approaches, right?
Different companies have different approaches and different needs, but this
underlying theme of we are going to figure this out together really comes through.
The other aspect of this commitment to collaboration is the fact that, you
know, sustainability is an evolution.
Right.
We're requiring new products and new chemistries.
And a lot of this relies on getting EPA registrations, approvals and ensuring
that we're able to use some of these new chemistries in our sustainable future,
whether it be for semiconductors or for electric vehicles, or for bio based
products that the chemical industry and the many scientists and Business
people and engineers are developing.
So a real great need to just step up that pace of approval, continuing
to work for greater collaboration across the industry and its partners.
The other thing that came through in the conference is this theme that
sustainability is not just about big projects and big investments.
That everyday behaviors and incremental improvements has a big impact.
And that's something that Bonnie Tully noted during the executive panel
at the event, and that Bonnie and I talked about during our conversation.
But I think it's easy sometimes for us to think particularly in small companies that
don't necessarily have the same reach that don't have the same footprint that, well,
it's not as big of a priority for me.
The reality is it is a big priority.
The way to achieving results is different.
And we can't lose sight of the fact that while there are some
significant investments going on, there are significant new
technologies coming to bear.
And I think about the, the whole role of plastic circularity and the new
technologies and the new companies that are really helping to drive that future.
The reality is there's a lot of incremental steps across the industry
that companies are continuing to take that makes significant improvement.
And then the final thing on this is customers and business partners
are seeking sustainability, right?
And, and Daryl Roberts in the executive panel at the event talked about the fact
that this is not just a conversation starter, but it is a requirement for
doing business with many companies.
And so this is an ongoing focus.
Part of the conversations we're having here, part of the conversations you and
I have on The Chemical Show regularly part of the conversation we'll be
having at The Chemical Summit this year.
And I think this whole aspect of these things, much of which was brought
together at this conference, and much of which is brought together in ACC's
first ever sustainability report which brings together a shared perspective
across member companies, including data about the progress that we're making on
sustainability and the theme that I think we're going to continue to hear, which
is Sustainability Starts with Chemistry.
So onto my conversation with Chris Jahn, I hope you enjoy it.
Let me know what you think.
And I hope to see you again soon.
Victoria (2): This is Victoria Meyer.
Welcome back to The Chemical Show.
Today I am speaking with Chris Jahn, who is the president and CEO of
ACC, the American Chemistry Council.
We are at the ACC's Responsible Care and Sustainability Conference.
So our Conversation today is going to focus in a little bit on that
as well as on a few other things.
So Chris Thanks for joining me today.
Chris Jahn: Thank you for having me.
Victoria (2): Excellent, so how did you get involved with the chemical industry?
Yeah.
So you came out of university as a political science major, if I'm correct.
And you started in politics and then you moved quickly into chemicals, it seems.
Chris Jahn: Indeed.
So I've been in the industry now for about
20 years.
But, did not set out to on this path.
And long story short is, as you said.
Worked on Capitol Hill for 10 years.
I worked for my home state congressman and then senator,
and I worked on environmental issues health, transportation,
safety issues.
So the issues that I talked about on stage today, I've been working on for,
I hate to admit this, over 30 years now.
Yeah.
And so, I like to say that my career was built on dumb blind luck and there's
a lot of element of truth to that.
The, story really is, is that working on these issues on the Hill,
interacting on a variety of important issues that have impact on the world.
Always open the next door.
And so I've been very fortunate to work in the chemical space for the last 20
years in a variety of different roles and sectors but all with the goal
of helping our members be successful in interacting with the government.
Victoria (2): Yeah.
So when you started out working in politics, I'm going to, I'm going
to take us astray a little bit.
Sure.
Did you think that you would end up in politics, in Congress or et cetera?
Chris Jahn: No way, no how do I want to be a member of Congress or Senator
or I've lived inside the belly of that beast and it is not something that is
good for your family or your lifestyle.
It's a very brutal and demanding job and I have a lot of respect
for the people who do it.
And for the people that we see on the news and we complain
about every day, that's the 5%.
The 95 percent of them, whether you agree with them or not, they're good
people doing the right thing and doing what they think is the appropriate
way to address the issues of the day, but just, it's really hard.
You got to raise money all the time.
And that's not for me.
Victoria (2): Yeah, interesting.
I when I was in business school, I took a class from a person who
was the former Secretary of Labor and she would bring politicians in
occasionally to do stuff and it was always like number one 95 percent of
the politicians are Working people.
Right.
And they're really nice.
And she's like, and you know, it's okay to like them even if
the point of view is different.
And so it was interesting.
It was just a whole it was a short glimpse into the inside of that.
And obviously you have a big glimpse into the inner workings of how this all works.
Chris Jahn: Yeah.
Yeah.
It's like I said, it's it's fascinating there and there can come from all
in all shapes and sizes from all different places in the world.
And You know, it's really exciting to work with them on a daily basis.
Victoria (2): Yeah, it's great Well, and obviously your experience has made
you well suited to help navigate ACC and its interactions So when we think about
ACC and just what are your priorities?
Today, you know, 2024, which seems like we've gone through a lot of change
in the industry in the past, just a couple of years, even what are the
priorities that you are focusing on?
Chris Jahn: Yeah.
So Victoria, we're guided by
four strategic pillars, that's what we call them.
So it's advocacy, obviously based in Washington, DC, that drives all
that, what we do, but responsible care, sustainability, which we're
talking about here this week.
And then industry reputation.
And the idea behind that is those four things work together.
Those pillars work together from this standpoint of, as
our members take action through
responsible care, through their sustainability agendas to make the world
healthier, safer, more sustainable, more productive, that will improve
the industry's reputation over time.
And if we improve the industry's reputation over time, that then
creates a better political playing field for us, reduces our policy risk,
reduces our political risk, and then we can be more successful
on our advocacy agenda.
And so we're making some progress on there and we, you know, you
were in the morning session.
I saw you in the crowd and we talked about all the great things we're
doing, just to summarize real quickly is, Air pollutants down greenhouse
gas emission intensity better making progress on so many different areas
in sustainability, Responsible Care.
We're five times safer than all manufacturing, we're three
times safer than other companies in the chemical industry.
And that's only going to make us more effective advocates
for our members going forward.
So I'm really proud of that track record.
Victoria (2): Yeah, I think it's great.
And I think obviously it's everybody coming together in alignment
collaborating to set that direction.
So how do you guys make that happen, right?
So, there is such diversity amongst the member companies of ACC, amongst the
politicians and the nation, as well as the states that you're interacting with.
How do you create that alignment?
Chris Jahn: Yeah.
So that's, that's the magic or the art of association leadership.
And I didn't know that getting into this, but it's it's also what
gets you out of bed in the morning.
Cause it's really exciting to work for people who matter for an industry that
matters, but also pull them all together so that they can row in the same direction
for the betterment of the industry.
So what we are at ACC is we're very member centric.
So the members are at the center of everything we do.
And they come in to the boardroom wearing the industry hat.
So yes they compete in the marketplace and they want to be successful, but
with their NACC, we're trying to move the whole industry forward.
And so you may have an issue or a challenge that.
that.
is not specifically important to me from the chemical side of things, but the
precedent that that regulation might set for you could impact me down the road.
And so our members do, I think, a really great job of trying to find
that alignment, something above least common denominator so that
we can work together to achieve a
successful policy outcome so that when the next issue comes up.
We can be successful there too.
So it all starts with our members and they really drive that going forward.
And then we try to amplify and supplement those points of view so we
can get successful efficacy outcomes.
Victoria (2): Yeah.
That's great.
It's maybe a great segue into the plastic treaty negotiations, right?
So I know last week there was round four, I believe, of negotiations
for the, the UN Plastics Treaty.
Can you talk about that?
So tell us about that, where we're at, what you see happening.
Chris Jahn: Yeah.
So, so Victoria, they're trying to do a global plastics agreement and
plastic pollution in two years.
The United Nations not known for getting anything done in two years, so
believe it or not, most international agreements, including for example,
climate take about a decade.
So number one, they were trying to move really quickly.
Yeah,
at least for the U.
N.
Second, they are about we're more than 60 percent way through that time.
And we've done probably 25 percent of that work.
So it's going to be a challenge of laying this plane at the end of
the year on a successful agreement.
Having said that, we
really want that to happen.
We want an agreement that ends plastic pollution in the environment.
But still takes advantage of the opportunities that plastic provides
for health care, for automobiles, for carbon reductions, all the good
things that plastics are responsible for, and that's driven by circularity.
And so we're really excited about the opportunity to be able to do that.
Now, the question is, can that happen?
I think the positive outcome in Ottawa last week is that they did agree to.
Work in between sessions.
They call that intersessional work.
And so be able to get a final agreement in Korea in November, they're gonna
have to make a lot of progress.
Two key issues that they're talking about right now
is one is financing.
So there's somewhere close to 3 billion people in the world who
do not have access to modern waste management.
Which is obviously what's part of driving the plastic waste in the environment.
Right?
Right.
And that's not places like the EU or the United States.
That's in Africa, that's Southeast Asia.
And so how do we help finance modern waste management so that
we can keep pollution from getting
environment, including plastic pollution.
And then the second big issue that's going to have to be addressed.
Is what some are calling, you know, chemicals of
concern or plastics of concern.
And what we are saying at ACC is let's keep the main thing, the
main thing, which is any plastic pollution in the environment.
And, not unlike in Washington this is a a big year for the
world in terms of elections.
It's not just the United States.
Yeah, so it's a lot of people are talking about that.
And so in D.
C.
What we, sometimes you have what we call a Christmas tree.
So it's the last bill that's moving out of Congress and everybody
tries to attach their pet issue to it.
Well, that's also happening in this plastic screen.
So people want to address chemical issues.
They want to address air issues and they're trying to attach that to the
treaty and we're saying, Hey, wait a minute, we're trying to address
plastic pollution in the environment.
Let's focus on that.
We can get an agreement on that.
This is, you know, mission accomplished and we there's other places to address
those issues, whether it's climate, there's a global framework on chemicals.
This is all a lot more than you wanted to know.
Maybe it's not good.
I love it.
But there are places to address legitimate issues of concern and
we should address them there.
And the UN has forums in which to do that.
So that's what we're pushing for.
Victoria (2): Yeah, I agree.
I mean, the whole aspect of scope creep, right?
With every project, you know, it's always good to go back to,
okay, what was our mission here?
And let's not allow scope creep.
And it sounds like just like the home renovation I did a few years ago.
There was a lot, but you got a lot of scope creep with one of my friends calls
it the, if you give a mouse a cookie problem, right, you do one thing and then
you do the next thing and the next thing.
So, and, and I guess navigating scope creep cause I Congress,
everybody has their own pet project um, issue is, is challenging, right?
Chris Jahn: Yep, absolutely.
And so, there's a lot of pressure on world governments to take
action on a variety of issues.
Absolutely.
And they're trying to sincerely and genuinely respond to that
pressure, and I understand that.
But at the same time, to your point, what are we here to do?
Let's get it done, and then we can move on to those other issues and those other
forms to address those legitimities.
Victoria (2): What happens if it's not done by November?
Chris Jahn: So they could just keep going.
I mean, they can choose to keep negotiating.
There's no they've set a goal, and we would like them to reach the
goal so we can start implementation, because it'll take a while to
address this issue over time.
Right.
But if they want to keep working on it, they can keep working on it.
And, you know, now look, there's elections in the EU next month.
There's elections in the United States in November.
There's a lot of things that can happen internationally over time.
And, you know, it gets harder the longer you take.
So there'll be some pressure to, to get this done by the end of the year.
But if we need to keep going, we keep going.
I'd rather get it right the first time than do something that
doesn't make sense and then try to fix it for the next 10 years.
Victoria (2): Right.
Absolutely.
And, and as you know, everybody says, said, you say, I've heard you say
this, I've heard others say this.
We want any policy, any regulation that goes in, it's to be science
based to be you know, I put it as you have to be able to operationalize it.
You know, if you put something in place that you can't actually
do, that's aspirational, but are you ever going to get there?
So it has to be science based, risk based.
Yeah.
And able to be implemented.
Yep.
Yeah, absolutely.
So speaking of implementation, you have ACC's just launched
its first sustainability report.
So what drove that?
What did you learn along the way and how is it going to be used?
Chris Jahn: So what drove that was a desire among ACC and its members
to be able to tell our story.
So I know you just had a podcast on storytelling.
Yeah.
So, kind of fitting with that same idea of we make modern life possible,
we make the world healthier, safer, more sustainable, more productive.
Most people don't actually know that.
And so we want to start, you know, frankly.
Being a little more proud of the industry and taking credit for that.
Literally everything that's manufactured starts with chemistry.
Chemistry is the science behind sustainability.
And so we wanted to drive that message home by giving concrete examples of that.
So, just take for example, the Inflation Reduction Act.
So my DC guys always come to this DC lens.
But, if you're looking at alternative sources of energy, if you're looking
at a lower carbon emissions future, our members are responsible for all of that.
Carbon capture, Hydrogen, solar, wind.
I mean, I could talk about this for on and on and on.
But the point being, we are driving sustainability.
You need us to get that done.
And so we want to take some credit for it, quite honestly, where
our members are very proud of it.
And it's not just enabling sustainability for downstream industries, which is
tremendously important, of course.
But it's also our members are making progress on reducing emissions.
And in their own facilities and driving technology as far as that goes as well.
So really excited about where we are and where we're going, what the future
looks like in the sustainability space.
And we wanted to tell that story.
Victoria (2): That's cool.
And, and does this report include consolidated data from member companies?
Chris Jahn: Yes.
So we actually have tons of data about our members and the
progress they've made over time.
And you know, it's one of the, Both provide that as well.
Some case studies about, you know, cool projects that are our members are pursuing
and you know, under responsible care.
Some of your listeners will know this.
That's a mandatory program of membership.
So it's third party audited and we are collecting now sustainability
data that our members have to give us.
Regards to air emissions and some other key topics.
So yes, we'll, we'll be able to track our progress over time as
the industry continues to get better and better and better.
This is not your grandfather's chemical industry and really excited about
where the future is going to take us.
Victoria (2): And then I know one of the keynotes today was about.
AI and use of AI in industry and really data and data analytics ties into that.
How is ACC approaching that?
Are you guys starting to use AI in, in your processes as
you collect and analyze data?
Chris Jahn: Yeah.
So we're in terms of AI, that's, I think, a tremendous opportunity, both for the
association itself and for our members.
So you heard some examples during the session today about what our members are
doing using AI to make their Production processes, for example, more efficient.
I think as you look at R and D, there's another tremendous opportunity
for our members to accelerate that progress and drive innovation.
I think for ACC the way I look at is two different ways.
One is both internally and how we can be more productive
and efficient for ourselves.
And we've got
some projects in the queue, not quite ready for prime time yet, but we'll
make our team more efficient on behalf of our members going forward
and and then more kind of publicly I look at government regulations.
So that's one of the things we're obviously focused on at ACC.
And how can we help governments be more science and risk based going
forward and move more quickly?
So
we've got a huge problem with EPA right now.
We've got about the new chemicals program at EPA is about 400
chemicals in the queue right now.
They're supposed to be addressed no later than six months.
You develop a a new chemical.
Chemistry.
It's going to solve all these problems.
It's going to
be more sustainable and EPA has got 180 days to decide if I want to
approve it or not.
Right now, it's taking about an average of two years.
We've got members who got products are waiting five years for approval.
That's unacceptable to us.
So what we want to do is talk with the agency about how can we leverage
AI to move that process more forward more quickly.
So we think that the technology has got tremendous application in a government
space that can help us have more effective science based regulation going forward.
Victoria (2): Smart.
Makes sense.
So final question here.
Leadership.
You are a leader yourself, leading a organization, a big organization,
and you interact with leaders across the industry on a daily basis.
And, and.
Leaders in politics on a daily and regular basis.
What characteristics stand out for you when you think about, you know, is
there, is there a few characteristics that really stand out in terms of these
leaders and what has allowed them to be at such great levels of leadership?
Chris Jahn: Yeah, so we're blessed at ACC to have tremendous leaders.
Our board, our executive committee, our officers work
with them on a regular basis.
You know, the
smartest people you ever, ever met.
But that's not what necessarily jumps out to me.
What jumps out to me is number one integrity.
And you don't always hear that in Washington, right?
But the idea is that you can count on me to deliver on what I say I would do.
That's an ethos of responsible care.
We're accountable for our actions and we track our actions.
But it's also integrity in terms of.
Making sure that the industry is doing the right thing the right way.
And that really drives us.
And I know perhaps that's not the perception of people outside the
industry, but we take that very seriously.
And so that's something I'm proud to work with people who integrity comes first.
I think that the second thing then and it goes hand in hand with that is really
this idea of continual improvement.
And that's an ethos of responsible care as well.
And I just said before, you know, it's, this is not your
grandfather's chemical industry.
We are making tremendous progress in our industry.
Really proud of that.
And we're going to continue to do that going forward.
It's important to do that cause it's the right thing to do, but it's important
to do that to help advance humanity.
So here's the thing.
We're going to solve tremendous global challenges.
From the chemical industry.
So take, for example, we talked about climate change, Our members drive all that
technology, all the progress that's being made in a lower carbon emissions future.
It is not some entrepreneur with a crazy app that's going to solve that problem.
It's engineers and scientists solving problems at scale.
That's what's going to address climate change.
And it's really cool to work with people who are driven every day to wake up and
solve the world's biggest challenges.
That's really exciting, and that's
what I think of when I think of our members.
Victoria (2): Awesome.
Thanks.
Well, Chris, thank you for joining me today.
I really appreciate it.
Chris Jahn: Thank you for having me.
That was fun.
voiceover: We've come to the end of today's podcast.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us and want to learn more.
Simply visit TheChemicalShow.
com for additional information and helpful resources.
Join us again next time here on The Chemical Show with Victoria Meyer.