Overregulating the chemistry industry jeopardizes innovation, jobs, and economic growth. Learn more.
As Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Care®, Mitch Toomey is responsible for leading the strategic implementation of ACC’s world-class EHS&S performance initiative and executing the industry’s commitment to sustainability – through innovation, collaboration, and technologies that enhance the safety and environmental impacts of ACC member products and operations.
In his role at ACC, Mitch is focused on strengthening industry’s role as a solutions provider across six key areas: monitoring and improving air quality; conserving and protecting drinking water; increasing product and process safety; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; expanding recycling; and creating a more diverse workforce.
Prior to joining ACC in September 2022, Mitch served as Director of Sustainability for BASF Corporation, the world’s largest chemical company. At BASF, Mitch led a team working across twelve businesses to embed sustainability in the company’s business strategies, including leadership of long-term renewable power purchasing agreements, non-fossil feedstocks for circular economy value chains, and customer-centric portfolio evaluations and expansions based on emerging sustainability drivers. Mitch also led the BASF Sustainability Champions Network and Leadership Sustainability Council.
Before BASF, Mitch spent more than 15 years with the United Nations and UN Development Programme (UNDP), where he helped champion the United Nations global social responsibility and sustainability movement. He also led UN engagement and expert dialogues for the 2012 Rio Conference on Sustainability, launched the UNDP Innovation Facility, and served as lead author for the UNDP Knowledge Management Strategy.
Prior to joining the UN, Mitch worked in the private sector building two startups, and working as a management consultant helping traditional firms migrate to digital markets and sustainable business models.
Mitch earned both an MBA and BA from New York University. An avid outdoorsman, Mitch also holds a Wilderness Expedition Leadership Certificate from the National Outdoor Leadership School.
While we recognize there are a variety of ways that stakeholders define sustainable chemistry, ACC advocates for a risk-based, holistic approach to sustainability. We all have a common goal: to innovate products and design processes with greater sustainability for people and the planet.
We recognize that due to our industry’s size, scale and energy intensity, reducing our emissions is a challenge. The chemical manufacturing industry is under increasing pressure to reduce our emissions.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend and speak at the Reuters Responsible Business USA Summit in New York City. The two-day conference in early April convened sustainability professionals from a range of industries, and while many came with distinct perspectives, there were a lot of commonalities as well.
ACC and its member companies are taking action to help protect water resources in the communities where they operate.
The concepts of “sustainability” and “sustainable development” are increasingly becoming integrated into the international lexicon. Businesses, governments and NGOs are building sustainability into their priorities and action plans. But the concept of “sustainability” is nothing new.