Responsible Reflections Blog

In the coming weeks, Houston, TX, would have hosted its first national final of the You Be The Chemist^® Challenge – a competition for 5th–8th grade students that highlights the importance of chemistry and encourages a future career in science. Regrettably, the coronavirus outbreak forced the decision to cancel the event. Yet, while we won’t have an overall champion crowned this year, we can still celebrate the achievements of those who advanced through the early rounds to become state winners.

This is the final post in a two-part series on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and the chemical industry. Part one looked at how the crisis has impacted companies so far and what their response has been. Here, we’ll cover how organizations are adjusting to remote work and look to what the future might hold.

COVID-19 is changing the world, and while chemical manufacturers and distributors have not been spared, not all outcomes are negative. Learn about the impact in this two-part series.

For many chemical distributors, freight rail provides an essential avenue to deliver the products Americans rely on every day. This National Transportation Week, as our supply chains adjust to accommodate new demand amid the coronavirus pandemic, it has never been so important for rail customers — many of which are NACD members — to be able to rely on efficient and affordable rail services in order to run their businesses successfully and serve their customers.

Every year, North American Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week reminds us of the importance of safety and health in the workplace. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, NAOSH Week is ever more relevant. Many of us are working from home. Some of us are being asked to perform job functions we may not be used to. As chemical distributors continue to warehouse, blend, and deliver the chemicals used to make products needed to address the national public health emergency and keep America running, Responsible Distribution safety and health practices of excellence continue to support everyone from the warehouse to the boardroom.

Until recently, chemical producers and distributors have been fairly slow to react to the new opportunities posed by digital tools and technologies. Other industries such as banking and manufacturing have already embraced the advent of digitalization and have been able to both streamline operations and improve productivity as a result. However, opinions are changing and chemical distributors are becoming far more aware of the benefits and a little less reluctant to invest and innovate, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United States is facing one of the worst threats to our public health and economic growth in our nation’s history due to the rapidly increasing spread of COVID-19. The response from our government to ensure Americans are undertaking social distancing measures – while the right decision to control the spread of the coronavirus – will no doubt have a significant impact on the economy and the bottom lines of chemical distribution companies for weeks and months to come. Yet, in the face of those our challenges, I'm proud to say our members are doing everything they can to support the response efforts in their communities.

With new developments on a minute-by-minute basis, it should be no surprise that even our most long-standing and competent institutions are struggling to keep up with the COVID-19 outbreak. As our government continues toward a hopeful point of stability in the face of the pandemic, at times it has felt as though American businesses are being given helpless or disjointed recommendations when trying to respond. Unable to wait for firm procedural guidance, business leaders have had to make unilateral changes to protect employees and customers.