THE CHEMICALS STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY: How Can the European Union Set an Example for the World?

The report evaluates the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, highlighting key internal goals such as a "toxic-free environment" and the transition to "non-toxic material cycles." It critically examines the EU's international commitments, arguing that for the EU to be a global leader, it must eliminate double standards regarding the export of banned chemicals, support the listing of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) without exemptions, and provide substantial funding and capacity-building for third countries.

• The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability aims to achieve a "toxic-free environment" as part of the European Green Deal's "zero pollution ambition," though it currently exists as a communication with an indicative action plan rather than binding legislation.
• The EU proposes several transformative internal policy shifts, including a "generic approach to risk management" to prevent harmful chemicals in consumer products, the definition of "essential uses" to limit the most harmful chemicals, and the requirement for some polymers to be registered under REACH.
• The EU's commitment to the 2030 Agenda's goals for chemicals management is hindered by the fact that the total consumption of toxic chemicals within the EU increased between 2013 and 2018.
• To lead internationally on the Stockholm Convention, the EU should stop promoting loopholes like recycling exemptions for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and avoid proposing excessively high low POPs content values, such as the 10,000 mg/kg proposed for short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP).

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). THE CHEMICALS STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY: How Can the European Union Set an Example for the World? https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CSS-Analysis_Final.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. THE CHEMICALS STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY: How Can the European Union Set an Example for the World? n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CSS-Analysis_Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=THE CHEMICALS STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY: How Can the European Union Set an Example for the World? |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CSS-Analysis_Final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndchemicals, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{THE CHEMICALS STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY: How Can the European Union Set an Example for the World?}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CSS-Analysis_Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }