Cuyahoga River fire in Cleveland, Ohio, 1969

Lax Regulations Burn Rivers

April 22, 2025
This Earth Day, the chemical industry finds itself at a crossroads in an era of deregulation.

“This framework moves beyond traditional financial metrics to holistically evaluate our success, with environmental stewardship being a core pillar,” he told Chemical Processing. “This means that in my role, sustainability isn't just a side project; it's a fundamental lens through which we assess our value and impact across the organization.”

He explained that the company has made a “shift in how it demonstrates its worth to clients by moving away from solely focusing on financial savings – while still important – to accurately measure our solutions' tangible environmental benefits, including water, energy, waste, and associated greenhouse gas savings.”

This Earth Day, I am focusing on 55 years of progress on Cleveland’s waterways, which have come a long way since the days when local reporters described the Cuyahoga River as the river that “oozes rather than flows” and in which a person “does not drown but decays.”

I’m also counting on Jani’s vision of the future of chemicals – used with precision, responsibility and purpose. After all, the chemical industry is the mother of all industries, and she can lead by example. 

About the Author

Traci Purdum | Editor-in-Chief

Traci Purdum, an award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering manufacturing and management issues, is a graduate of the Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent, Ohio, and an alumnus of the Wharton Seminar for Business Journalists, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

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