Cefic is a committed partner to EU policymakers, facilitating dialogue with industry and sharing their broad-based expertise. They represent 29,000 large, medium and small chemical companies in Europe, which directly provide 1.2 million jobs and account for 14.7% of world chemical production. Based in Brussels since their founding in 1972, they interact every day on behalf of their members with international and EU institutions, non-governmental organisations, the international media, and other stakeholders.Cefic is an International Non Profit Association (AISBL-IVZW) under Belgian law. The Association is governed by its present Statutes. Cefic is registered in the EU Transparency Register.
Their 670 members and affiliates form one of the most active networks of the business community, complemented by partnerships with industry associations representing various sectors in the value chain.
Representing the entire range of chemicals production, Cefic is organised around 6 programmes covering:
A Public Affairs Unit bringing together the core competencies of Communications and Advocacy/ Public Affairs plans the preparation and delivery of messages on key subjects which are of key importance to the sustainability of the Chemical Industry.
The 3 Industry sectors look after specific issues related to individual substances or groups of substances:
The Cefic International Chemicals Management unit strengthens and coordinates European input to International Chemicals Management across Cefic programmes and its membership, and integrates it in Cefic's main activities.
Cefic is an active member of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) which represents chemical manufacturers and producers all over the world and seeks to strengthen existing cooperation with global organisations such as UNEP and the OECD to improve chemicals management worldwide.
To coordinate the activities of its members, the ICCA secretariat rotates every two years between Cefic and the American Chemistry Council. As of January 2017, Cefic will hold the secretariat for two years, with the CEO of Clariant, Mr. Hariolf Kottmann acting as ICCA President and Marco Mensink as Council Secretary.
The European chemical industry is a €673 billion industry and the world’s top exporter and importer of chemicals, with a record €43.5 billion trade surplus in 2014.
As one of the largest and most diversified industries globally, the European chemical industry supplies virtually all sectors of the economy, providing innovative and sustainable solutions to today’s economic and environmental challenges. It plays a vital role in providing all manufacturing sectors, as well as the construction, health and agricultural sectors, with essential products and services. It has created wealth and employment for millions of European citizens over the years. In the European Union (EU), it is the leading manufacturing sector in terms of value added per employee.
As a key partner to the EU institutions, the European chemical industry strongly supports and implements the Europe 2020 targets. The industry is facilitating an economy based on knowledge and innovation to achieve smart growth, promoting more resource-efficient processes to achieve sustainable growth, and encouraging a high-employment economy throughout the value-chain to achieve inclusive growth.
Competition is fiercer than ever, especially from companies in Asia and the Middle East, which often have easier access to raw materials and a cheaper supply of energy and labour. However, the European chemical industry is more than a supplier of products, it is a provider of worldwide sustainable solutions. Examples include efficiencies made through recycling and water management processes, breakthroughs in materials created for sustainable building and transport, and developments in areas such as nanotechnology, advanced materials and biotechnology. The industry is benefiting from its historic advantages of innovation, long-standing customer relationships, an efficient network of SMEs and large companies and a highly-skilled workforce. This is why the European chemical industry is one of just a handful that has retained its place as a leader, even in times of global economic change.
