Global chemical production is growing rapidly, supporting the green and digital transitions but also creating risks for health and ecosystems. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today,鈥痥ey policy measures foreseen in the European Commission鈥檚 chemicals strategy for sustainability offer significant potential to ensure consumer safety, cut pollution and clean up material flows.
Chemicals play a key role听across听economic sectors in Europe and globally, including agriculture, energy,听healthcare,听and manufacturing.听Almost听all consumer听goods听contain chemicals听to improve product functionality.听At the same time,听evidence听suggests that听肠丑别尘颈肠补濒听辫辞濒濒耻迟颈辞苍听has exceeded safe limits听at听global听level.听Our听pervasive use and release of chemicals means that today, the bodies of European听citizens听are contaminated with a large number of chemicals 鈥� some at levels听damaging to health.听Europeans听are听also听concerned about听the听negative impacts听of chemicals听on health and the environment.
According to the听EEA briefing听鈥�鈥�,听the听increasing听production and consumption of chemicals听creates听challenges听at global scale,听ranging from听negative听impacts on people鈥檚听health听and听pollution听of our environment听to听reinforcing听our听dependency on fossil fuels听and听contributing to听greenhouse gas emissions.听Evidence suggests that we have now exceeded the planetary boundary for chemical pollution.听Chemicals听in products听also听present a barrier to听re-use or recycling,听hampering听resource efficiency and听the听transition to听circular economy.
The EEA听briefing听highlights the importance of delivering on听key听actions,听foreseen in the听European Commission鈥檚听, to听ensure听safe products for citizens,听keep ecosystems clean and听healthy and support the transition to a circular economy.听These听include:
- Promoting听chemicals that are听safe and sustainable by design,听harnessing听the innovative capacity of the chemical industry to provide technologies, materials and products that are non-toxic, low-carbon and fit for听circularity;听听
- Phasing out听uses听of听harmful substances听that are听not essential.听Harmful chemicals听should be听used only when听they are听necessary for鈥痟ealth,鈥痵afety鈥痮r if鈥痗ritical鈥痜or the functioning of society鈥痑nd if there are鈥痭o acceptable alternatives; and听
- Managing听the risks of听chemicals in groups, rather than one-by-one,听to expedite听protection of citizens and the environment.听听
The听European Commission鈥檚听听is part听of the European Green Deal听aiming听to听better protect citizens and the environment and to boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals in Europe.听
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