Introduction
Petrochemistry has done wonders in the fields of health, hygiene, housing, food and technology, making our lives far easier than they have ever been in the previous centuries. However, all scientific and technological advances must be handled with care if we are to "meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"; that is what sustainable development is all about.
All these advances entail a certain amount of risks. This medicine might cure your headache; but it might trigger off a pain in the stomach. Even if we go back to the mists of time, when the discovery of fire was a major breakthrough, we find that men knew that principle: fire would keep them warm and cook their food, but they had to make sure it did not spread and endanger their lives!
In petrochemistry as in any other technological or scientific field, everything must be done to reduce and control risks. Sustainable development is not an empty word for the European petrochemical industry, which is committed to the responsible management of its products. Turn to the above menu and find out how the industry addresses these crucial issues.
