Product stewardship
We recognize that some of the raw materials used in our products can be hazardous when not properly handled. We must manage these substances responsibly and safely in our operations, and communicate risks and train others across our value chain to protect the health of the people who work with these materials and the environment. Successfully managing product stewardship is critical for our business to succeed. Through our work to identify and mitigate potential environmental and societal risks of our products from development to manufacturing through use and disposal, we continue to provide value to our customers and ensure the sustainability of our business.
Our Product Stewardship Management program is designed to ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards as well as Axalta’s internal policies and practices. The program is guided by experts on products and the regulatory requirements in different jurisdictions who oversee program execution and maintain and update the standards and protocols that guide the process. Our governance, operations, procurement, risk management, and Environment, Health, Safety and Security programs work in tandem to manage safety and stewardship across the product lifecycle.
Axalta’s Product Stewardship Management program adheres to the technical specifications of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Responsible Care® Management System. The ACC is widely recognized as the leading global industry organization that provides standards for the safe handling of chemicals as outlined in the organization’s Responsible Care Guiding Principles. The use of chemicals in our operations and formulations makes it incumbent upon us to follow best practices in the use of relevant materials. The program ensures that safety data information is available on our product manufacturer safety data sheets (MSDS). Safe use information is also provided on product packaging. Our goal is to promote safe handling and to reduce potentially negative consequences of coating materials and processes. Responsible Care® takes into account each phase of the coating lifecycle — from raw materials, formulation, and delivery to use by the customers and disposal.
Global product review
At Axalta, product stewardship is an integral part of the product development process, which includes cross functional engagement within the business. Each business team has a Regional Product Stewardship Coordinator assigned to oversee the various components of the product stewardship program. We track the volumes imported or used in manufacturing of all substances, where required by different regulatory agencies in locations we do business. New products go through a product stewardship assessment prior to commercialization. We ensure regulatory compliance at commercialization and update supplier changes through our Management of Change (MoC) process. Product stewardship reviews are conducted on existing product lines every three years, and action items are tracked to ensure completion. Any reported product stewardship incidents, which could range from a significant product recall to a minor labeling error, are reviewed, a root cause analysis completed, and a corrective action plan implemented. Management reviews of product stewardship are conducted to inform leadership, increase awareness of stewardship issues, and align initiatives with business strategy.
Customer learning and development
Axalta is committed to working with our customers around the world. One way in which we support them is through our 46 learning and development centers. At these facilities, we help our customers improve their skills using our products, such as how to use our products in the safest manner and most efficiently. We provide both classroom and hands-on training to show customers how to safely handle, manage, and dispose of Axalta products. Engagement with our customers at these centers also allows us an opportunity to hear our customers’ needs and find opportunities to make our products and services more sustainable. In 2015, we opened new or expanded centers in Houston, TX, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Utsonomiya, Japan.
Customer education at a learning and development center.