By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : March 06, 2018 8:18 pm
The chemical industry should make concerted efforts to achieve the goal of sustainable development by using the latest advancements in science and technology in all its areas of functioning, said Srikant Jena, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fert
The chemical industry should make concerted
efforts to achieve the goal of sustainable development by using the latest
advancements in science and technology in all its areas of functioning, said
Srikant Jena, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, while addressing
the two day seminar on ?Challenges and Opportunities for Education and Research
for Development of Sustainable Chemical and Allied Industries? organized by
Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai. He said that innovation through
research and development holds the key to sustainability in the chemical
industry. And the role of Institute of Chemical Technology shall also be
essential in meeting the challenges and opportunities for education and research
for development of sustainable chemical and allied industries.
Jena said that synthetic chemicals are used to make virtually every man-made
product and play an important role in the everyday life of people around the
world. As with other large manufacturing industries, the chemical industry can
also have a negative impact on human health and the environment when the
production and use of chemicals are not managed responsibly. He further said
that from the use of non-renewable resources for fuel and feed-stocks (e.g. oil
and gas), to the release of pollutants from factories during production, to the
disposal of final products that contain hazardous waste, each stage of the
lifecycle of a product produced by the chemical industry adversely affects human
being and the environment.
The mnister said that the concept of sustainability and sustainable development
have been engaging the attention of policy makers, academicians, scientists,
corporate bodies and the general society. He said the sustainability is a path
forward that allows meeting environmental, economic and societal needs without
compromising the progress and success of the future generations and sustainable
development will happen only if three goals ? economic, environmental and
societal - are harmonized. He further said that the chemical industry as well as
the Chemical Technology institutes recognize and acknowledge the importance of
sustainability. Globally, the chemical industry has already taken some
initiatives towards sustainability and sustainable development. Initiatives such
as Responsible Care, Self-Monitoring Systems, and other voluntary programmes
such as Sustainable Technology (SUSTECH), and Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management (SAICM) are all part of this effort.
Outlining the growth of Indian chemical Industry, he said that the Chemical
industry globally is estimated at US $ 3.4 trillion and is one of the fastest
growing sectors of the manufacturing industry. The Indian Chemical industry has
also been growing steadily and the credit for this growth goes to all of you.
The chemical industry in India, since independence, has been contributing
significantly both to the industrial and economic growth. The fact that the
chemical sector accounts for about 18% of the output of the manufacturing
sector, 14-15% of total exports and 8-9% of total imports of the country is a
matter of great satisfaction. Chemicals including petrochemicals sector
contributes 3% to India?s GDP. It is a matter of pride that Indian Chemical
Industry ranks 6th in the world in terms of volume and 3rd largest in Asia.