Sustainable Chemistry an NGO perspective Alexandra Caterbow WECF Chemicals and Health
WECF Women in Europe for a Common Future International network with 150 member organisations in 50 countries Offices in D, NL, FR, CH, Georgia UNEP partner, ECOSOC status Co-Lead: Women Major Group UN SDGs
WECF - Working for a healthy environment in 4 areas Energy et Climate Water & Sanitation Raise the voice of women for sustainable development Agriculture & Biodiversity Chemicals & Health
What we do Strengthen NGOs and Women Advocacy on international and regional level Implementation Projects
Chemicals & Health Mission Protection of human health and environment from hazardous chemicals
NGO interest Most of the NGOs working on chemicals want to achieve a toxic-free future: - Reduction of exposure - Phase out and ban of hazardous chemicals - Save substitution
NGO interest Most of the NGOs working on chemicals want to achieve a toxic-free future: - A precautionary system (regulation that includes polluter pays, reverse burden of proof, precautionary principle, right to know) - Clean up and compensation of already done damage - Use of safe chemicals/technology and safe non-chemical alternatives, e.g. agroecology
How does SC fit into that? Reduction of exposure: - Achieved if only non-harmful chemicals are on the market in the future - Requires more R&D and incentives (positive, punitive) Phase out and ban of hazardous chemicals - Legacy chemicals are not automatically banned our phased out
How does SC fit into that? Save substitution - Easier when green chemicals are available - Push from policy makers A precautionary system (regulation that includes polluter pays, reverse burden of proof, precautionary principle, right to know) - Is needed to achieve a push for SC (R&D, incentives, substitution, early warning system)
How does SC fit into that? Clean up and compensation of already done damage - Here SC does not help much - A strong political will, sufficient funding and more responsibility of polluters is needed Use of safe chemicals/technology and safe nonchemical alternatives - Thinking beyond SC - Use of chemicals is not always neede, e.g. flame retardants, parabens - Agroecology
Important for NGOs - SC should not be a PR program to promote what industry is already doing - SC is about the life cycle impacts of chemicals, not to refer to exposure reduction - Companies that make authentic moves to safer chemicals need to participate in policy discussions
Important for NGOs - Non-chemical alternatives are equally important - Governments should create a real level playing field for industry - We need ratings and benchmarks (e.g. GreenScreen) to assure that hazards are being reduced or avoided
Important for NGOs - Resources for CEIT and developing countries not only to manage dangerous chemicals, but to avoid them and design better ones
Important for NGOs - Internalization of cost: at the moment most of the cost from hazardous chemicals (health, environment, surveillance etc) lies with society and taxpayers The global chemical industry has an annual turn-over of approximately USD $1.5 trillion per year (trillion = thousand billion). If, for example, a global cost recovery scheme recovers USD $1.5 billion annually, the total burden on the chemical producing industry would come to 0.1% of the industry s annual turnover one cent for each ten dollars in sales.
Example textiles: antibacterials Some antibacterials (e.g. triclosan, nanosilver, triclocarban) are used in textiles There is no consumer demand for this Chemicals are being washed out, to a greater or lesser extend For some substances health and environmental impacts are almost not known Some are known be harmful for health and environment
Examples of Initiatives SAICM chemicals in products (UNEP) needs: - robust implementation to meet the goals: (1) By 2018, at least 50 developing and transition countries will undertake a broad awareness raising and capacity building campaign on the chemicals in products programme including the roles of the private sector and consumers; (2) By 2019, at least 20 developing and transition countries will begin implementing the chemicals in products program; (3) By 2020, at least 15 developing and transition countries have identified gaps in existing legislation and developed regulations to address information disclosure - motivation to include information disclosure - real multi-stakeholder participation (e.g. textiles project in China)
Examples of Initiatives Textile Partnership (BMZ, GIZ) - Implementation and capacity development is key - It is time to deliver! 10YFP Sustainable Consumption and Production (UNEP) - e.g. develops guidelines for labelling and information disclosure -> no harmonized approach
Thank you for your attention! Contact: Alexandra Caterbow alexanra.caterbow@wecf.eu