The Council of the Chemical Industries Association agreed on 25 September 2003 its vision of a sustainable chemical industry, summarised as: "Meeting Needs and Expectations". The CIA's vision is of:
"A competitive and economically sustainable industry, adopting innovative business solutions that help satisfy society's needs while:
optimising the use of resources
ensuring that we have taken all reasonable steps to prevent harm to human health and the environment
demonstrating good practice in ethical behaviour
respecting the culture and rights of individuals
adopting the highest standards of corporate governance and accountability."
Commenting on the vision, CIA Director General, Judith Hackitt, said: "This is an important step for the chemical industry on our journey of sustainable development. Contrary to opinions recently expressed by pundits, our decision demonstrates that it is possible for a trade association to adopt a near-term advocacy role that is consistent with, and supportive of, a longer-term sustainability strategy."