On June 24, 2019, the European Union published a report titled “Chemicals Innovation Action Agenda: Transition to Safer Chemicals and Technologies,” which reviews the efforts of “frontrunner companies” to substitute substances of concern out of their supply chains and provide lessons learned from their experiences. The agenda “sets out a series of actions designed to scale investment and innovation in safer chemicals and technologies to accelerate their adoption” and was created through collaboration with “organizations from a range of industry sectors that have invested in chemicals, processes, and product innovations” along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Wider input from stakeholders was also collected during a workshop with 70 participants in January 2019.
The report sets out the following four priority action areas for future efforts:
- “Establish consistent criteria and definitions for safer chemicals and technologies, informed by increased data generation and sharing.”
- “Encourage supply chain collaboration and action to accelerate innovation, commercialization, and scaling-up of solutions.”
- “Establish an EU-wide Safer Chemicals and Technologies Innovation Support Network.”
- “Create focused and coordinated financial incentives for safer chemicals and technologies.”
The study was commissioned by the EU Directorate General for Environment and led by the consulting firm Wood and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts.
Reference
European Union (June 24, 2019). “Chemicals innovation action agenda: Transition to safer chemicals and technologies: final report – Study.”
