A chemicals strategy for a sustainable chemicals revolution

Synthetic (manufactured) chemicals are a part of everyday life – they are everywhere and in everything. They can enter the environment through consumer use or industrial processes. Once in the environment, some end up in our bodies, in wild flora and fauna, or in the atmosphere, potentially driving climate change.

Chemicals production and consumption is set to double by 2030, from a $5 trillion industry globally in 2017, with production set to increase, mainly in emerging economies. If chemicals production is doubled, chemical pollution must not double as a consequence – rather we should aim to significantly reduce it from current levels.

Current international attempts at the massive undertaking of addressing chemical pollution are not working. For the world to solve the major environmental and health challenges we face, there must be a sustainable chemicals revolution. We can only achieve this through senior-level engagement with the chemical sciences community through an authoritative, intergovernmental science-policy interface.

Early in 2020, we engaged with scientists in our community to develop our vision for a chemicals strategy, relevant to any nation in principle. We identified four pillars on which any chemicals strategy has to be based: education, innovation, circular economy and regulation. National governments must invest in these areas and create a responsible framework of action for chemicals management.

The UK context for a new chemicals framework

The UK must decide how to manage chemicals after the Brexit transition period ends. It should adopt a pragmatic risk-based approach in future chemicals policies, with science at their heart and high environmental standards.

Building on our initial vision for chemicals strategy, we have drafted a document outlining the drivers and scope for a new UK-wide chemicals framework.