Sabic continues to place great emphasis on environmental management programmes at its affiliates.

The company is committed to continual improvement and maintaining the stringent environmental standards set by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.

As a result, a system has been implemented that embodies the principles of the ISO 14001 International Standard for Environmental Management.

In parallel, an environmental policy statement now includes Sabic's corporate vision and guiding principles.

Last year, Sabic completed a businesswide evaluation of new environmental requirements that apply to its operations and the company is working proactively with the regulatory authorities to implement longterm improvement programmes.

Sabic has also moved ahead with projects that conserve natural resources, through waste minimisation, recycling, and conservation.

Affiliates have embarked on water conservation programmes to reduce consumption of this precious resource, also producing significant cost savings.

Meanwhile, Sabic Research & Technology (R&T) was awarded the GCC Prize for "Best Environmental Research" in 2001.

The award was in recognition of the development of a new process to purify carbon dioxide (C02) produced as a byproduct in its plants.

The process allows Sabic to use previously wasted C02 as a costeffective feedstock for petrochemical production and has the additional benefit of recovering water for reuse in its plants.

It also results in the destruction of volatile organic air pollutants that would otherwise be difficult to control.

Safety, says the company is always a top priority and it works continuously to meet both ethical and compulsory safety requirements.

During last year, Sabic continued to integrate and promote further safety practices in daily operations with the goal of minimising injury and loss in both human and material terms. The Sabic Safety Standards Manual was developed last year and is being implemented throughout Sabic and its affiliated companies from January 2002.

In addition to that, the Sabic Safety Award has been announced to encourage companies to enhance safety management systems and promote safety at all levels.

Sabic's safety record in 2001 was excellent and 13 Sabic affiliates recorded no lost workday injuries at all.

Overall, the number of lost workday injuries decreased by 12 on the previous year and the company achieved more than 64,000,000 safe manhours with no lost time injuries.

Balancing industrial productivity with protection of the environment has long been a maxim of the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu's in its mission to protect these ecosystems.

Where industrial development has occurred - including at the many different Sabic affiliates - it has occurred under the guidelines of the Royal Commission's rigorous policies.

Industrial development and environmental quality began at Jubail and Yanbu with careful planning and design. This has been maintained and strengthened over the years by constant monitoring and enforcement, study and research.