The Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) was launched by President Von der Leyen and Executive Vice President Timmermans on October 14th, 2020, as a core element of the Green Deal launched. Apart from a challenging regulatory agenda, the CSS also holds opportunities. The European chemical industry regards the Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approach in the CSS as lever to create business opportunities and growth. With the right enabling conditions in place, an environment could be created in which industry can transition while remaining world leaders in safe, innovative, climate and environmentally friendly chemical production. Predictability of goals within timelines that are ambitious yet feasible, and the availability of resources, financial and non-financial, are critical success factors.
Cefic has therefore identified four major areas for supporting measures when implementing the SSbD approach:
1) A clear and predictable strategic direction and pathway inserted into a broader CSS framework and overarching vision as well as clarity on definitions of concepts and criteria, and on targeted chemicals, coordinated across the European Commission DGs, and elaborated in close dialogue with industry partners throughout the value chain.
2) Innovation support by the European Commission that stimulates and encourages collaboration over the value chains and addresses collectively and faster application-specific priorities.
3) The market uptake of safe and sustainable chemicals in product applications needs to be incentivised within the single market, and a fair competition with the less sustainable incumbents should be guaranteed.
4) As the world’s standard-setter, the EU should take the global leadership role to create a level playing field between different geographies and ensure enforcement of applicable EU legislation at its borders.