The Association of International Chemical Manufacturers (AICM), a global industrial organization, completed its Open-to-Public (OTP) event, an annual campaign, to enable the public to gain a fresh perspective on chemistry and better understand the social responsibility of chemical companies, in Shanghai early this month.

AICM's member companies organized a variety of OTP activities in more than 30 cities across China in 2023, attracting more than 1,000 volunteers and over 30,000 participants. These activities have enhanced the interaction and connection between international chemical companies, government departments, chemical parks and local communities.

The OTP and related activities, which began in 2009, have spread across China for 15 years, continuously promoting the sustainable development concept of the chemical industry to the public.

AICM represents an association of nearly 70 major multinational companies in the chemical industry operating in China.

Safety has been a top priority in the chemical industry since its inception, and it is also the cornerstone of the concept of "Responsible Care". With the development of the times, sustainable development concepts such as carbon neutrality have gradually become an important part of "Responsible Care", said Li Lei, AICM's chairman and vice-president of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC).

AICM will continue to work together with its member companies to actively practice the "Responsible Care" advocacy and continually promote industry development, Li added.

AICM also launched the Laboratory Safety Improvement Project, or the Uni-lab, in China in 2023. This project is dedicated to strengthening the exchange and collaboration between universities and chemical companies, to improve laboratory safety at universities.

Led by AICM, the project brings mature experiences in laboratory management, practices, and safe chemical handling standards from industry into the classroom, thereby nurturing students' levels of safety management and safety awareness.