What a year. So much has happened yet so little has changed: we’re still having the same fights over certain chemicals, arguing over the same policy points, and getting into the same heated debates with the chemical industry. Honestly? It’s been more than a little disappointing seeing all the regulatory backsliding — backsliding that will inevitably lead to more harm to people and the environment.
Despite that, 2025 was a big year for ChemSec. In a world where every setback feels like a loss, victories can sometimes fall by the wayside. But there were positive trends this year, too, and they are worth noting. These aren’t just highlights, they’re arguments for better regulation, signs of a shift in thinking, and reasons why we still have hope for the future of green chemistry.
1. Downstream companies are moving away from forever chemicals
Earlier this year, IKEA publicly backed a comprehensive PFAS ban by joining the PFAS Movement, a powerful coalition of more than 120 companies, together valued at over $130 billion. Consumer-facing brands are increasingly moving away from hazardous chemicals, sending a clear signal to the chemical industry: PFAS are no longer where the money is.
The public is demanding safer products with more transparency, and downstream companies are listening.
2. It’s never been easier to replace dangerous chemicals
ChemSec Marketplace now offers more than 800 safer solutions, including over 100 PFAS alternatives and a brand-new category dedicated to replacements for harmful cooling gases (F-gases) — which account for more than 60% of all PFAS emissions in Europe.
As regulations on hazardous chemicals continue to gain momentum, Marketplace is increasingly becoming a one-stop shop for companies looking to clean up their supply chains, stay compliant and remain competitive. The easier substitution becomes, the more likely companies are to take the plunge.
3. More investors are taking note of risky chemical management
Despite political attacks on ESG investing, financial institutions are becoming increasingly concerned about the risks of hazardous chemicals. This year, ChemSec’s Investor Initiative on Hazardous Chemicals (IIHC) grew to more than 75 members, representing over $23 trillion in assets under management. That’s more than the GDP of China and Japan combined!
With that level of financial leverage, pressure for safer chemistry is no longer hypothetical — it’s inevitable.
4. Chemical producers are starting to exit ‘forever chemicals’
The world’s largest chemical group, BASF, has announced that they will phase out PFAS by 2028. American chemical producer Ecolab is following suit, making this look less like an isolated signal and more like a growing trend. In fact, 13 chemical companies have now publicly committed their intention to phase out, reduce or avoid highly persistent chemicals altogether. ChemScore 2025 shows there’s still plenty of room for improvement, but it also makes one thing clear: the industry is starting to recognise which way the winds are blowing.
ChemScore 2025 gave us a clear picture of where chemical producers currently stand in their sustainability practices (and there’s plenty to improve to be sure), but it also showed that the industry is starting to recognise which way the winds are blowing.
5. The gap between public concern and policy is narrowing
Despite a sustained push for deregulation from parts of the chemical industry, policymakers are showing a growing willingness to engage with the issues that citizens care about. Over the summer, EU environment commissioner Jessika Roswall and Danish environment minister Magnus Heunicke helped lead an unprecedented effort to publicly test the blood of EU leaders for PFAS.
All 24 leaders tested were found to be contaminated, and half had levels above thresholds where health impacts cannot be ruled out. Knowing PFAS are everywhere is one thing. Seeing your own exposure, measured to the decimal, is another. We’re hopeful this moment will leave a lasting impression on lawmakers, especially when it comes time to decide on a universal PFAS restriction.
6. The most harmful chemicals are becoming harder for companies to ignore
This year, ChemSec added 21 new substances to the SIN List, including a totally new hazard class: neurotoxicants. Neurotoxicants pose risks to the brain and nervous system even at low levels of exposure, yet remain widely underregulated across Europe. Their inclusion in the SIN List helps pave the way for future regulation under REACH — and gives proactive companies a head start in phasing out dangerous substances before bans arrive.
7. Personal accountability for top polluters may give CEOs pause
In a landmark ruling, an Italian court sentenced 11 chemical company executives to up to 17 years of jail time for PFAS pollution that contaminated drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.
Will this new level of personal accountability make CEOs think twice before greenlighting blatant chemical pollution in the future? Time will tell, but we’re hopeful that the Wild West era of chemical management could finally be coming to a close (alright so this one isn’t a ChemSec win directly, we just liked this news so much we couldn’t help but share it again).
