may pay up to $10 for managing them (Votta et al. 1999). Suppliers traditionally
link profits to the volume of chemicals sold and therefore strive to increase volumes.
A recent trend among producers of chemicals, whose core activity was to
develop and sell chemicals, is now moving towards managing chemical use by
CMS, which allows for keeping their profits up and at the same time reducing
chemical users’ risks and costs for chemical management. CMS is a business model
in which chemical suppliers and customers engage in long-term partnerships for
supplying and managing chemicals and related services (Votta 2001). In this model,
suppliers’ responsibilities over the chemicals’ life cycles are extended and the interests
of chemical suppliers and users are united. Both parties strive to reduce consumption,
since suppliers are not paid per volume but per function the chemicals
fulfil (Mont et al. 2006; Votta 2003). For example, instead of being paid for each
litre of paint sold, suppliers are instead paid for each car painted. In order to provide
CMS, a combination of different elements is needed. Four main elements can be
distinguished in a CMS contract: products, services, financial arrangements, and
responsibility allocation (Fig. 11.2). Customised partnerships are developed in
CMS by combining these four elements.