The Power of Partnership
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a strong belief in the
importance of collaboration and partnerships. For the past several years, ACC’s
partnership with the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) has enabled our two organizations to work
together to promote policies and initiatives that help improve the health,
safety and sustainability of our buildings and communities.
That’s why I’m particularly pleased that one of my first public opportunities
as ACC President and CEO, was the chance to participate in the first-ever Global
Health and Wellness Summit, held earlier today at USGBC’s Greenbuild
2019 conference. At Greenbuild, product
manufacturers, architects, designers, standard setters and others come together
toidentify and
champion solutions to improve resilience, sustainability and quality of life in
our buildings and communities.
ACC co-sponsored this summit in partnership with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), to bring together stakeholders to discuss
how we can work together to help advance holistic approaches to health and
wellness in buildings, positioning materials science as a lens through which
building design and operations decisions can be improved.
Progress and breakthroughs in materials science made possible by
chemistry are the driver for the cutting-edge products and technologies
that help advance our health and wellness.
And this is
particularly apparent in the building and construction sector. The innovative
products of chemistry – from energy-efficient foam insulation and silicone
caulks and sealants that protect the building envelope, to durable, germ-resistant
vinyl flooring, to plastic pipes that are virtually leak-free – provide
numerous benefits that help enable green, sustainable buildings.
ACC and our
members realize that there is still more to do, which is why we are seizing additional opportunities to work with others to advance practical
solutions through public and private partnerships.
Sustainable design is about building the future, not just a
structure. Effective sustainable design includes a comprehensive approach to
selecting and integrating products and processes that account for human health,
environmental protection and long-term occupant satisfaction.
The collaboration that ACC is undertaking with USGBC, IWBI
and others will help drive measurable results, not only on advancements in
sustainability, but also to provide practical solutions that will help improve
the health, safety and fulfillment of people in buildings and communities
around the world.
I am committed to
both extending and reimagining the chemical industry’s leadership role in the
built environment. I look forward to working with these organizations and other
leaders to help expand, advance and cement our industry’s role as a valued
partner as we work together to address the world’s sustainability challenges.
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