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Legislation is not in place in every country to manage chemicals of concern.  The OECD Compare your Country Interactive mapping tool shows where legislation is in place and in development to manage industrial and consumer chemicals. 

The tool also includes a series of country profiles, providing details of legislation, the year of adoption and the approximate number of industrial chemicals assessed per year.

Safer States is an alliance of diverse environmental health organizations and coalitions from across the United States committed to building a healthier world.  The website features an interactive map showing chemical-related policies, including those related to building materials.  A Bill Tracker provides further detail of the action taken by individual states to regulate chemicals, covering PFAS, toxic flame retardants, heavy metals, BPA and phthalates.

Chemicals are essential for the well-being, high living standards and comfort of modern society. They are used in many sectors, including health, energy, mobility and housing.

However, most chemicals have hazardous properties which can harm the environment and human health.

The EU already has sophisticated chemicals laws in place, but global chemicals production is expected to double by 2030. The already widespread use of chemicals will also increase, including in consumer products.

The European Commission published a chemicals strategy for sustainability on 14 October 2020. It is part of the EU’s zero pollution ambition, which is a key commitment of the European Green Deal.

Byggvarubedömningen, or BVB, is a building materials assessment tool for the Swedish construction market. BVB provides an evaluation standard based on seven factors: Chemical content; Input materials; the construction phase; the management phase; Demolition; Residual and waste products; Indoor environment. These are weighted to come up with a final score: either "recommended", "accepted" or "to be avoided".

This webpage shows which countries around the world have implemented national asbestos bans.

This webpage summarises actions undertaken by the US Environmental Protection Agency to protect the public from exposure to asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). One of EPA’s priorities is to protect the public from adverse health effects of asbestos, a known carcinogen.

UNEP page on flame retardants, covering common types and their uses in different products, including insulation.

Guidance from the Green Science Policy Institute on specifying healthier insulation, including research on flame retardants.