Sweden announces the high ambition alliance on chemicals and waste Chemicals play an important role in the manufacturing processes of a great number of consumer products, and the production and use of chemicals are increasing year by year. Global supply…
The Greenpeace Detox campaign is showing results
Seven years after Greenpeace launched its Detox campaign comes a report showing how 80 fashion companies that committed to cut hazardous chemicals from their clothing production by 2020 have all achieved significant progress.
The world needs a Paris Agreement on toxic chemicals
Ministers and vice ministers from eight different countries came together and wrote a joint statement, insisting on a global political commitment to tackle the problem of toxic chemicals in the world. The eight Ministers say they will press for discussions regarding a global agreement.
The world’s biggest cosmetics brands say NO to PFCs
A year ago, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation started an internet campaign called Surfejs aiming to remove perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) from cosmetics. More than 1,500 consumers sent e-mails to eight of the biggest cosmetics producers in the world, encouraging them to remove PFCs from their products. Until recently, five of these companies had announced that they would begin phasing out these toxic chemicals as soon as possible. Now, another company has announced that they will do the same thing.
The United Nations says SIN List is a frontrunner
Two years ago, a draft version of a report reviewing different initiatives for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) was published. But, after receiving huge amounts of criticism from industry it fell into oblivion. Or so it seemed anyway. Now the final report has been launched.
You’ve got mail, Björn Hansen
Dear Björn, I hope that you have settled in well in Helsinki and that you are beginning to find your feet at ECHA. In your new position I expect that you will focus on making the agency’s work more efficient. I also hope that you will guide the agency towards a greater focus on human health and the environment.
This is what it takes to make circular economy work
What is the one key thing that is needed for circular economy to work? That the Ikea’s, Apple’s and H&M’s of the world see a value in recycled materials and re-use it in new products on a large scale.
Toxic scandals can be costly affairs
There have been several scandals involving large companies’ use of hazardous substances in their products. And these are always very costly affairs. Especially in terms of environmental damage, but also in terms of economy and brand reputation. The latest in the row comes from New York, where the state has sued 3M and five other companies for causing “extensive contamination” to the nearby environment.