EC publishes EU chemicals sustainability strategy

On 14 October, the European Commission released the EU's Sustainable Chemicals Strategy, which is an important step towards the EU's goal of a toxic-free environment and zero pollution. The new strategy aims to better protect citizens and the environment and to promote safe and sustainable chemical innovation.

The new strategy proposes a series of actions, including: banning or restricting the use of the most hazardous chemicals in consumer products, incorporating "cocktail effect" toxicity test evaluation, phasing out fluorinated organic compounds (PFAS) across the EU, increasing investment and innovation in safe and sustainable chemicals, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of key chemical supply chains, establishing a "case by case" chemical risk and hazard assessment process, promoting global adoption of high chemical standards, and no longer exporting chemicals that have been banned in the EU.

Europe is now the world's second largest producer of chemicals, accounting for 16.9% of global sales in 2018. The chemical industry is the fourth largest industry in the EU, directly employing around 1.2 million people. 59% of the chemicals produced are directly supplied to other industries such as health, construction, automotive, electronics and textiles. Global chemical production is expected to double by 2030.