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New European Union Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
15 Oct '20
2 min read
Pic: Shutterstock
The European Commission recently adopted the European Union (EU) Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. It is the first step towards a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment announced in the European Green Deal and will boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals, and raise protection of health and the environment against hazardous chemicals.
This includes prohibiting the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products like toys, childcare articles, cosmetics, detergents, food contact materials and textiles, unless proven essential for society, and ensuring that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably. The Chemicals Strategy fully recognises the fundamental role of chemicals for human well-being and for the green and digital transition of European economy and society.
The strategy sets out concrete actions to make chemicals safe and sustainable by design and to ensure that chemicals can deliver all their benefits without harming the planet and current and future generations.
This includes ensuring that the most harmful chemicals for human health and the environment are avoided for non-essential societal use, in particular in consumer products and with regard to most vulnerable groups, but also that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably, according to an EU press release.
Several innovation and investment actions will be foreseen to accompany the chemicals industry through this transition. The strategy also draws the attention of member states to the possibilities of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to invest in the green and digital transition of EU industries, including in the chemical sector.
In 2018, Europe was the second biggest producer of chemicals, accounting for 16.9 per cent of sales. Chemical manufacturing is the fourth largest industry in the EU, directly employing approximately 1.2 million people.
This includes prohibiting the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products like toys, childcare articles, cosmetics, detergents, food contact materials and textiles, unless proven essential for society, and ensuring that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably. The Chemicals Strategy fully recognises the fundamental role of chemicals for human well-being and for the green and digital transition of European economy and society.
The strategy sets out concrete actions to make chemicals safe and sustainable by design and to ensure that chemicals can deliver all their benefits without harming the planet and current and future generations.
This includes ensuring that the most harmful chemicals for human health and the environment are avoided for non-essential societal use, in particular in consumer products and with regard to most vulnerable groups, but also that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably, according to an EU press release.
Several innovation and investment actions will be foreseen to accompany the chemicals industry through this transition. The strategy also draws the attention of member states to the possibilities of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to invest in the green and digital transition of EU industries, including in the chemical sector.
In 2018, Europe was the second biggest producer of chemicals, accounting for 16.9 per cent of sales. Chemical manufacturing is the fourth largest industry in the EU, directly employing approximately 1.2 million people.
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