Walk into any supermarket or department store as a consumer, you will find products that make our modern lives more convenient.
From cleaners and cosmetics to toys and textiles, items that promise to make chores easier, help us look and feel better, or provide entertainment line the shelves.
What you can’t see from a glance at these products is the complex chemical makeup many contain.
While chemicals undeniably have practical applications, there is a dark side to many that are in widespread use today.
Hazardous Chemicals in the Consumer Market
Hazardous chemicals are substances that can negatively impact human health and the environment. Effects range from acute poisoning to neurological disorders, endocrine disruption, and cancer.
Beyond human health, chemical pollution threatens entire ecosystems by harming pollinators, accelerating antimicrobial resistance, contaminating soil and water, and putting pressure on coral reefs.
The global chemical industry also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. It’s easy to picture chemical pollution from factories billowing smoke or farmers spraying pesticides on crops. However, the reality is that hazardous chemicals have become deeply integrated into our everyday lives through the products we use and consume.
A 2019 UN report found that nearly three-quarters of the substances produced in Europe pose threats to human health and the environment. Many are consumer products like furniture, electronics, toys, and food.
Regulation and Monitoring of the Chemical Industry
The growth of the chemical industry and global trade in recent decades has led to the proliferation of chemicals worldwide, but regulation and monitoring haven’t kept pace.
Major regulatory frameworks like the EU’s REACH program and the US’s Toxic Substances Control Act are steps in the right direction. However, critics argue they don’t go far enough.
Rapid action is needed to ban the most hazardous substances, incentivise the development of safer alternatives, and improve transparency around chemical use.
So, who needs to step up to create change?
Government regulations play a crucial role in restricting toxic chemicals, but real progress also requires commitment from businesses, investors, and consumers.
Here’s a look at how each group can help facilitate the transition toward safer chemicals:
Regulators: Inform, Restrict, Incentivise
Governments are responsible for protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. They can achieve this by restricting chemicals, incentivising businesses to change, and improving transparency.
The EU’s REACH program mandates companies to assess the chemicals’ risks and provides a process to restrict the most hazardous substances.
Although REACH has made significant strides, many believe it requires strengthening to meet sustainability goals. Critics argue regulators need to set clear reduction targets with concrete timelines, emphasising the need for improved Information dissemination. Full chemical disclosure across supply chains would help businesses avoid toxins.
Businesses: Change Practices, Future-Proof Brands
Leading companies are going above and beyond regulations to eliminate toxins. Proactive policies not only enhance reputations with consumers but also position them ahead of evolving standards.
Firms that resist shifting practices take on financial and reputational risks. Supply chain pressure also motivates change.
Numerous businesses have formed groups like ChemSec to collaborate on substitution efforts. Retailers like Coop proactively restrict chemicals, even pulling products with unreplaceable toxins off shelves.
Brands like H&M and IKEA work together to address challenges like tracing chemicals in recycled textiles.
Investors: See the Risks, Seize Opportunities
Investors are starting to recognise the vast risks implied by chemical production and use. Stricter regulation increases costs for companies to reformulate products and modify processes when toxics are restricted.
Firms not planning for this through their chemical management strategies face underperformance.
However, opportunities exist too.
Investing in companies producing safer alternatives allows investors to tap into growing market demand while supporting better chemical management practices.
Consumers: Ask Questions, Demand Answers
Surveys show consumers are worried about how chemicals affect their health and the environment, but there’s still limited awareness of risks posed by everyday items.
Consumers should leverage their power by asking brands about chemical use and seeking safer options. Consumer-focused apps make it easier to get toxicity information and make informed choices. Just scanning a barcode can reveal issues.
Asking more questions empowers customers and drives the market away from hazardous chemicals.
Conclusion
Actual progress requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders in the chemical ecosystem. From regulators setting bold restrictions to companies changing how they formulate products to shoppers voting with their dollars, every group has the power to reduce the harms posed by unnecessary hazardous chemicals.
There are always trade-offs between functionality, cost, and safety but with stronger partnerships, transparency, and commitment to protecting human and environmental health, a future with dramatically lower chemical risks is within reach.
Expand your knowledge further by visiting our post on The Impact of AI on the Job Market, read here.
Researched by Adejoke Toye
