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
Chemicals
Great Britain falling further behind EU protections on chemicals
CHEM Trust has long had concerns that the UK system of chemical management (UK REACH) would not have the regulatory capacity to match EU action on chemicals; with just a fraction of its budget and staff and without access to the European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) chemical safety database. The UK has also shown less willingness to regulate than the EU. These concerns are fast … [Read more...] about Great Britain falling further behind EU protections on chemicals
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
Hormone disrupting chemicals may also harm children’s brains – scientists call for action
Phthalates and bisphenols are names of groups of chemicals that are becoming part of everyday language. Many people are learning that these synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be found in our bodies, and that we should avoid everyday products containing them. CHEM Trust has long been concerned about the wide variety of uses of phthalates and their presence in … [Read more...] about Hormone disrupting chemicals may also harm children’s brains – scientists call for action
UK NGOs outline 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemicals Strategy
Today CHEM Trust has written to the UK Government, alongside 26 UK public health and environmental NGOs, to outline 12 Key Asks that must be prioritised in the UK’s new Chemicals Strategy. If implemented, these asks would provide strong protection from hazardous chemicals for people, wildlife, and the environment. Synthetic chemicals are used in many different applications … [Read more...] about UK NGOs outline 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemicals Strategy
UK REACH restrictions: first signs of UK regulatory divergence on chemicals
Earlier this week, the UK Government provided the first concrete example of UK divergence from EU protections for the environment and public health from hazardous chemicals. It announced which restrictions on chemicals will be considered by the new UK chemicals regulatory regime (UK REACH - which covers England, Wales and Scotland) in its first year. Restrictions are a way … [Read more...] about UK REACH restrictions: first signs of UK regulatory divergence on chemicals