Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability must harness the enormous potential of Europe’s chemical industry to deliver European Green Deal objectives
Brussels, 29th June 2020 – Chemicals are key components of materials used in wind turbines, solar panels, electric batteries and building insulation in addition to playing a vital role in everyday needs of society, from medicines to clothes. The COVID19 pandemic has also shown a key role our industry plays in producing essential supplies during this unprecedented public health crisis. Chemical processes and products are present in every imaginable industrial ecosystem in Europe today, which makes us an important player in the post-COVID19 economic recovery.
“This is why we see this strategy as an opportunity for European and member state authorities dealing with climate, circular economy, innovation, trade, enforcement and digital policies to work more closely with the chemical industry to deliver on the European Green Deal objectives, accelerate the post-COVID19 Green Recovery and strengthen EU’s strategic value chains” –
Sylvie Lemoine, Cefic’s Executive Director Product Stewardship
This holistic strategic approach would also help maintain a high level of protection for people and environment and support the industry’s investments into developing safer and more sustainable substances on European soil.
“The upcoming strategy should be based on three pillars – improvement, innovation and enforcement – to make this vision a reality”
Sylvie Lemoine, Cefic’s Executive Director Product Stewardship
It should be based on further improving the implementation of REACH, which is already the most sophisticated regulatory framework on chemicals in the world providing one of the highest level of protection in the world. A more effective implementation of REACH will bring more consistency in application of already more than 40 pieces of legislation, governing production and use of chemicals.
Moving towards the principle of ‘one substance-one assessment’ for substances should result in greater predictability for industry and improve people’s trust in regulatory opinions issued by various EU agencies.
Developing a new EU ‘Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design’ standard and increasing funding for new predictive toxicology tools would accelerate development of innovative and safer alternatives to hazardous substances. Finally, stricter enforcement of all EU chemical and environmental laws for imports would ensure no chemicals enter Europe that do not comply with its rules.
Download Cefic’s submission to the European Commission’s Roadmap for an EU Chemicals strategy for sustainability.
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