To be eligible for the Responsible Care Company of the Year award, companies must demonstrate they have surpassed specific Responsible Care performance criteria, including: a safety performance rating in the top 10 percent of companies in their size category; no significant process incidents in the previous year; positive performance measures in the areas of transportation safety, process safety and emissions reduction; and demonstrated improvements in HSE&S performance, product stewardship, distribution safety and emergency preparedness.

Eastman has incorporated Responsible Care principles in its business for almost 25 years. Some of the company’s key accomplishments during 2012 include: the lowest recordable injury rate in the company’s history, implementation of a corporate safety brand that underscores the company’s commitment to safety, sponsorship of three companies to become Responsible Care certified; and Responsible Care Management System certifications at the corporate headquarters and six sites in the United States.

Each year, ACC names three Responsible Care Company of the Year recipients - one each in the small, medium and large company categories. Eastman is the “large company” recipient. Other winners are Solvay North America and Niacet Corp.