There is not one ocean or continent on Earth that is not contaminated with a toxic cocktail of many different synthetic chemicals. We know our bodies also contain these chemicals and that they impact on our health. CHEM Trust is a global charity registered in the UK working to ensure that these harmful chemicals are replaced with safer alternatives. Our work particularly … [Read more...] about CHEM Trust is seeking new Trustees to join our Board
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European Parliament resolution calls for a rapid reform of FCM laws
In October 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Farm to Fork Strategy, supporting targets and measures to reduce pollution along the value chain including EU Food Contact Materials (FCM). Parliament called on the European Commission to bring forward the date of the publication of their proposal for a new regulatory framework. Action on the most … [Read more...] about European Parliament resolution calls for a rapid reform of FCM laws
Why it’s time for a bold UK Chemicals Strategy
As we wait for a draft of the long-awaited UK Chemicals Strategy, concerns are mounting that UK rules may fall short of what is needed to match EU action. The last time the UK published a Chemical Strategy was the year the euro was launched as a currency, Toy Story 2 was a box office hit, and we were all worrying about the millennium bug – 1999. “Sustainable production … [Read more...] about Why it’s time for a bold UK Chemicals Strategy
Climate change and chemicals: what are the connections?
“Three interconnected planetary crises: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution: are putting global economic and social well-being at risk”. This is how the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) framed societal challenges in its February 2021 strategy. CHEM Trust has previously written about how chemical pollution is one of the key drivers of the biodiversity … [Read more...] about Climate change and chemicals: what are the connections?
The EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability – one year on
We are facing a chemical pollution crisis: a cocktail of synthetic chemicals in hundreds of everyday products is putting human health and wildlife at risk. While the EU’s chemical legislation REACH is world-leading, it has been too slow in identifying and regulating the most hazardous chemicals. There are also gaps in the way that the EU regulates chemicals in some product … [Read more...] about The EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability – one year on
EU Court hearing on GenX: company Chemours challenges EU authority
Today CHEM Trust together with ClientEarth (the environmental law charity) are participating in a public hearing at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Both organisations are supporting the EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Government of the Netherlands against a challenge by the chemical company Chemours regarding the identification of their compounds, known as … [Read more...] about EU Court hearing on GenX: company Chemours challenges EU authority
Sewage sludge: Why we must stop pollution at source
In this guest blog for CHEM Trust, Francesca Bevan, policy & advocacy manager for chemicals at the Marine Conservation Society, shares the important messages from their new report: Sewage sludge: Why we need to stop pollution at source Pollution, both chemical and plastic, has been cited as one of the main direct drivers of the current biodiversity crisis. Stopping … [Read more...] about Sewage sludge: Why we must stop pollution at source
Chemical pollution is impacting UK marine and freshwater wildlife
Pollution, including chemical pollution, has been recognised as one of the five direct drivers of the biodiversity crisis by the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). In England, none of the 4,679 inland water bodies assessed by the Environment Agency in 2019 received good chemical status. All have levels of chemical … [Read more...] about Chemical pollution is impacting UK marine and freshwater wildlife
The polluting chemical in our sofas – and polar bears – that shows that REACH controls are failing
Some people may think that chemicals have to be shown to be safe before they are used the products in our homes. Unfortunately, this is not yet the case and in this blog we will examine a chemical that is routinely used in sofas and which has been described as 'inert' by one company. Meanwhile, scientists have found that it contaminates polar bears in the Arctic, dust in our … [Read more...] about The polluting chemical in our sofas – and polar bears – that shows that REACH controls are failing
PFAS in food packaging: New European wide investigation
A new report published today by eight non-profit organisations, including CHEM Trust, shows that ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS are present in disposable food packaging and tableware used by popular fast food chains and takeaway restaurants across Europe. This new joint report, Throwaway Packaging, Forever Chemicals: European-wide survey of PFAS in disposable food packaging and … [Read more...] about PFAS in food packaging: New European wide investigation