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• ACC to introduce new Responsible Care codes in 2013
  The American Chemistry Council will issue updated product and process-safety codes for Responsible Care next year, said Sven Royall, chairman of the Responsible Care board committee. "Instead of waiting for the government to act, we are taking affirmative action through our new product safety code to manage chemicals throughout their life cycles," Royall said. "The entire industry faces enhanced scrutiny whenever a single concern arises. The new product safety code calls for collective and collaborative action along the supply chain," he added. Chemical Week (subscription required) (12/14)     

• Learn more about Responsible Care and its commitment to safety and sustainability      

Nanomaterial Product Growth Amid Reg Uncertainty NANOPARTICLES - Vague regulations have caused uncertainty among nanomaterial producers: limiting potential innovative research and applications, while also allowing manufacturers to implement applications without the need to assess safety. This Bloomberg BNA Insight analyzes all perspectives. Download the free white paper now and get 7 days FREE access to Chemical Regulation Reporter.

• Industries voice concerns that EPA particulate standard could limit growth
  The Environmental Protection Agency has completed tougher particulate-pollution standards for power plants and diesel engines. The rules "impose significant new economic burdens on many communities, hurting workers and their families," said Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., Mary Landrieu, D-La., and other lawmakers in a letter to the agency. Reuters (12/14), InsideEPA.com (free content) (12/14)     

• Read more from ACC on the new EPA standard      

• Editorial: La. funding for Sasol project is a winner
  Sasol's planned petrochemical facility in Louisiana will be an economic boost for the state, according to this editorial. Gov. Bobby Jindal offered incentives of more than $135 million for the project, which is expected to cost $16 billion to $21 billion. While the state money has not been secured, "there is little to no likelihood that the state will back out on the Jindal commitment in future years," the editorial argues. The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) (12/16)     

• North American resin distributors post gains in 2012
  Resin distributors say they are bullish about the North American plastics market for 2013 after a strong year to date, according to this article. PlasticsNews.com (12/14)     

• Other News

• ACC: Calif.'s evidence against xylene lacks causal relationship
  ChemicalWatch.com (free content) (12/14)     

• EPA to scrap cadmium-reporting regulation
  ChemicalWatch.com (free content) (12/14)     

• Honeywell's Minn. research lab is a model of innovation
  Honeywell's research-and-development lab in Golden Valley, Minn., is a technological-innovation leader. "The key for all of this is you see Honeywell spending on R&D, driving innovation and driving it to be commercialized. This is a company that starts with customer needs and works backwards to meet those needs," said analyst Steven Winoker of Wall Street research firm Sanford C. Bernstein. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (12/15)     

• Arkema touts low-footprint, high-performance bio-based resin
  Arkema's Altuglas unit has developed a high-performance alloy made from polymethylmethacrylate and polylactic acid that exhibits enhanced thermal capabilities and durability because of its bio-based content. "We are leading with performance. ... We are using our experience to develop sustainable acrylic formulations that offer alternatives to nonrenewable high-performance resins," said Matthew Crans of Altuglas. PlasticsToday.com/Green Matter blog (12/14)     

• Tell your workers that it's OK to fail
  Bosses should tell their workers that failure is to be expected and even welcomed, OptionEase CEO Kim Kovacs says. Failure is a learning experience, Kovacs explains, and also a sign that you're testing the failure points of your company's business model. "If you can recognize the failure before it becomes epic, that's a really good thing. You're going to learn way more every time you fail at something than when you are succeeding," she says. Inc. online (free registration) (12/13)     

• Leadership tips for first-time bosses
  Many first-time bosses have delusions of "managerial grandeur," writes Amanda Pouchot. Rather than aiming to become a superhero CEO, it's better to lower your expectations a little and focus on self-improvement and leadership development. "Learning to be a better manager comes from having time to experience and develop new skills. That seems obvious, but there are plenty of founders and first-time managers who have yet to realize it," Pouchot writes. CNNMoney/Fortune/You Can't Fire Everyone blog (12/14)     

• ACC Weekly Economic Report
  The economic reports last week were mostly positive. Consumers appear willing to take on more debt, a sign that household deleveraging has ended and that household spending is taking over as an economic driver. The three price reports showed a big drop in energy prices and continued modest growth in core prices (excluding food and energy). Thus, inflation remains muted. This will help consumers. Retail trade rebounded in November and excluding sharply lower gas station sales, showed that the holiday shopping season got off to a good start. The industrial sector rebounded from disruptions in October due to Superstorm Sandy. While overall output remains below pre-recession levels, some industries (notably motor vehicles, aerospace, computers and electronics) have passed their peaks.
  
  Stay informed. Subscribe to ACC's Weekly Economic Report.     

Top five news stories selected by ACC SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• ACC member company CEOs highlight list of industry leaders (ICIS Chemical Business (U.K.))

• Air Products to shutter Texas facility (American City Business Journals)

• Dow Chemical applies for Texas ethylene building permit (Bloomberg)

• OSHA inspectors will use variable quizzes at chemical sites (Bloomberg BNA (free content))

• Manufacturers hold off on investments ahead of "fiscal cliff" (Reuters)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Action is the antidote to despair." --Joan Baez, American singer