Responsible Practices

Stepan Company works to demonstrate ethical, responsible and sustainable business practices across our value chain and at all levels of the company.

Accountability and Compliance

Our goal is to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, to demonstrate accountability to our stakeholders and to promote continuous improvement in the ethical and responsible management of our business. Responsible management for Stepan includes a strong focus on safety and quality across all stages of development and production. Stepan is a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and a charter member of Responsible Care®. Our sites are also all certified according to ISO 9001:2015. 

Stepan works to promote safety and transparency through information made available according to frameworks such as the Globally Harmonized System for Chemical Classification and Labeling, the European Chemical Agency Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, and REACH-like regulations from other countries. We are committed to registering products and substances for use by our customers in REACH territories, where possible, and will support registrations of substances by customers where appropriate. Our goal is to work in partnership with our customers to enable the use of our products in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.

Voluntary Frameworks

Stepan works to promote a workplace environment based on respect and integrity. Across our global facilities, employees are trained on ethics and compliance related issues, including those defined in our company Code of Conduct, and on the importance of speaking up to communicate any concerns. In addition, Stepan participates in voluntary frameworks that evaluate performance related to environmental issues, human and labor rights and governance, including reporting to CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA), EcoVadis, and others. Stepan currently ranks at the EcoVadis Gold level, placing us in the top 6% of participants in our sector. 

In 2018, Stepan became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. Stepan values are consistent with The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, and we will continue to be rooted in ethical, safe and sustainable practices. 

Stepan's Research & Development

Our ambition is to innovate with foresight and impact, bring science to sustainability and turn local insights into global solutions.

Product Compliance

We promote transparency and safety with product information that is consistent with globally recognized practices.  

Third Party Partnerships

We aim to partner with third parties that align with our commitment to ethical and responsible business practices.

Performance with Integrity

Stepan works to ensure that the rights of our employees are respected and that we hold ourselves to the highest standards for business integrity.

Investing Toward Continuous Improvement

Compliance with external frameworks brings value to our customers, our employees and the communities in which we operate.

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