Chemical logistics is becoming increasingly regulated. New environmental requirements, higher customer expectations, and stricter supply chain standards mean transport providers are expected to demonstrate that their operations meet recognized industry practices.
For manufacturers and shippers in the chemical sector, the question is no longer just “Can this logistics partner move my cargo?” It’s also “Can they prove they manage risk the way the industry now expects?”
This is exactly what SQAS (Safety & Quality Assessment for Sustainability) was designed to evaluate.
Developed by Cefic in 1992, SQAS is an independent, recurring operational assessment carried out by accredited assessors. Rather than focusing on individual shipments, it examines how a company manages its day-to-day operations—from risk management and employee training to emergency response, behavioral safety, transport security, environmental performance, subcontractor management and continuous improvement.
Because the methodology is standardized across the industry, it allows chemical manufacturers to compare logistics providers using the same assessment criteria.
93% overall, with five sections scoring 100%
Our latest SQAS Transport Service Assessment, carried out in Sofia, Bulgaria, resulted in an overall score of 93%.
Our team achieved the maximum score of 100% in five key operational areas:
- Risk Management — identifying, assessing and mitigating operational, security and environmental risks.
- Human Resources — competence management, employee training, SHEQ awareness, and occupational health & safety.
- Emergency Preparedness & Response — emergency planning, response procedures, emergency exercises and business continuity.
- Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) safety culture, near-miss reporting and continuous improvement of safe behaviours.
- Security — cargo protection, subcontractor security management, access control and theft prevention.
Two further sections also scored above the European average: Control of Operations (96%) and Management of Subcontractors (94%). Both are particularly important in a multi-country transport network, where consistency across offices and partners plays a critical role in maintaining service quality and operational control.
New requirements, successfully completed
This year’s assessment also included Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) for the first time.
Operation Clean Sweep is an international program designed to prevent plastic pellet loss throughout the supply chain by evaluating operational procedures, employee awareness, emergency preparedness and environmental protection measures.
Its inclusion comes at an important time. Plastic pellet loss is now recognized as one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution in Europe, and new EU legislation requires operators and carriers handling plastic pellets to actively prevent and contain losses.
Our first OCS assessment resulted in a score of 88%, providing both our team and our customers with independently assessed confirmation that the right foundations are already in place as these new requirements take effect.
Why this matters for companies shipping with us
For chemical manufacturers and distributors, supplier assessments like SQAS are no longer simply а “nice to have”. They are increasingly becoming part of procurement processes, supplier qualification and customer audits.
An independently assessed logistics partner gives you something no sales presentation can: third-party evidence that risk management, security and environmental procedures are consistently applied, not simply documented.
You may never see these processes directly. But they’re what keeps a shipment complaint at the border, recoverable if something unexpected happens, and fully auditable when your own customers ask how your supply chain is managed.
As expectations around safety, security and environmental performance continue to rise, independent assessments are becoming one of the clearest ways to demonstrate operational discipline and to give customers greater confidence in the logistics partners they choose.
Looking for an experienced logistics partner for the chemical industry or other specialized sectors?
Contact our team at hello@gopettrans.com.
