If you’re interested in the EU Green Deal and how it will affect the solvents market, please watch this complete webinar (it’s 1.5 hours) from the European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG). Just like the implementation of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) years ago in Europe, the EU Green Deal is expected to impact the European chemicals industry supply chain.
In October last year, The European Commission adopted the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, which is the reportedly the first step towards a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment announced in the European Green Deal. The Strategy is expected to boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals, and increase protection of human health and the environment. This includes prohibiting the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products such as toys, childcare articles, cosmetics, detergents, food contact materials and textiles, unless proven essential for society, and ensuring that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably.
The Strategy sets out concrete actions to make chemicals safe and sustainable by design and to ensure that chemicals can deliver all their benefits without harming the planet and current and future generations. Several innovation and investment actions will be foreseen to accompany the chemicals industry through this transition. The Strategy also draws the attention of Member States to the possibilities of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to invest in the green and digital transition of EU industries, including in the chemical sector.
The Strategy envisages the EU industry as a globally competitive player in the production and use of safe and sustainable chemicals. The actions announced in the Strategy will support industrial innovation so that such chemicals become the norm on the EU market and a benchmark worldwide.
Just like the implementation of REACH, the implementation of this Strategy will certainly be a huge challenge – just consider working on lifecycle analysis of each and every chemical and products, and the massive collaboration needed within the chemical supply chain. However, the beauty of this strategy is being proactive in designing sustainable chemicals where companies will be mindful of their impact from their feedstock use, to processing, their consumption and end-of-life options.
The webinar is part of a series of stakeholder days on the European Green Deal promoted by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC). You can check out CEFIC’s stand on the European Green deal on this link.
This webinar from ESIG held on 14 January 2021 was devoted to the circularity and sustainability aspects of the Green Deal and the role of solvents in the societal and regulatory context.
