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Case studies

Tarkett Sustainable Flooring Case Study

November 2019

Tarkett have introduced an eco-innovation programme with the aim of providing more comfortable, healthy and people-friendly indoor spaces without compromising performance and design experience. Key initiatives include:

Phthalate free technology in their New Generation Vinyl flooring;
Low VOC emissions in flooring;
ReStart Takeback and Recycling Programme, and use of recycled materials in new products.

Emerging Policy Issues: Chemicals in products

Topics: Chemicals in building products

Case studies

Future Policy Award 2021: Sweden, Region Stockholm - Chemicals in products

by

World Future Council

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September 2021

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Although chemicals are important components in many products, they may be released at any stage of the product life cycle, resulting in potential exposures of humans and the environment. The second 2021 Gold Awardee addressing Chemicals in Products is Sweden, Region Stockholm: Phase-Out Lists for Chemicals Hazardous to the Environment and Human Health (2012-2016, revised for 2017-2021).The World Future Council focuses on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation

Emerging Policy Issues: Chemicals in products

Case studies

Future Policy Award 2021: Sri Lanka - Pesticides

by

World Future Council

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September 2021

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The Special Award Highly Hazardous Pesticides is one of the most ambitious and impactful solutions that minimizes the adverse effects of pesticides, which cause disproportionate harm to the environment and human health. Pesticides can cause severe environmental hazards, high acute, chronic toxicity and are also a very common suicide agent. Particularly, in Sri Lanka, two thirds of suicides were due to self-poisoning with pesticides. The Special Award Highly Hazardous Pesticides was awarded to Sri Lanka’s Control of Pesticides Act No

Emerging Policy Issues: Highly Hazardous Pesticides Chemicals in products

Case studies

Future Policy Award 2021: Philippines - Lead in Paint

by

World Future Council

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September 2021

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Lead is a cumulative toxic element particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women. Lead can be present at high levels in paint and is a major health concern specially in low and middle income countries. Philippines legislation towards lead-safe paint has provided safer alternatives to protect human health and the environment, actively involving all stakeholders. The Special Award Lead in Paint was awarded to Philippines’ Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds (CCO, 2013-24).The World Future Council focuses

Emerging Policy Issues: Lead in paint Chemicals in products

Case studies

Future Policy Award 2021: Colombia - Environmentally Persistent Pharmaceutical Pollutants

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World Future Council

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September 2021

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Despite the fact that pharmaceuticals are indispensable for human and animal health, they may cause undesired adverse effects. Specifically, environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (EPPPs) are slowly degradable or nondegradable, presenting a special risk when they enter, persist or disseminate in the environment. Colombia’s Resolution 371, addressing EPPPs, was awarded for regulating waste management from hazardous products.The World Future Council focuses on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation worldwide

Emerging Policy Issues: Pharmaceutical pollutants Chemicals in products

Case studies

Women Leaders: Addressing Chemicals and Waste Issues

by

IPEN

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June 2022

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People of all gender identities must have the same rights and opportunities to participate fully in their communities, free from the health threats posed by toxic chemicals. It is especially important to understand the factors that put women at risk from chemical health threats.

The IPEN report “Women Leaders: Addressing Chemicals and Waste Issues” highlights women’s leadership through ten organizations from around the world working to address chemical health threats. The report was developed within the framework of the United Nations Environment Program and its Global Environment Facility (GEF), under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), executed by the SAICM Secretariat. It was produced with support from the Swedish Government.

Women face greater risks from chemical exposures and experience higher rates of adverse health outcomes because of their physiology, different types of occupational exposures, and differential exposures to chemicals, including from personal care and household products. Women are also exposed to chemicals — such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, lead in paint, and chemicals in toys — that pose health threats during pregnancy and to their developing children.

These toxic exposures can lead to serious health problems that impact women’s lives and their opportunities to participate in their communities fully and equally. This is especially so for women in low-income communities who are often managing multiple pathways for toxic exposures and multiple obstacles to gender equality.

Women cannot be empowered nor gender equality achieved while exposures to hazardous chemicals put them at risk for cancer, chronic illnesses, infertility, and damage to their nervous systems.

In 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Gender Equality” is one of the goals (Goal 5) and the SDGs also recognize that gender equality is a prerequisite for reaching most of the other goals. Reducing and eliminating chemical exposures will also be essential for achieving all of the 17 goals.

The stories that follow highlight women across the globe who are leading work in their communities, nations, and internationally for stronger protections from harmful chemicals. Supporting their work and the work of countless other women who are leading similar efforts will be critical for achieving the SDGs.

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Case studies

Future Policy Award 2021: Kyrgyzstan - Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

by

World Future Council

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September 2021

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Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals is a non-binding internationally agreed-upon system managed by the UN which defines and classifies the hazards of chemical products. Kyrgyzstan’s Resolution No. 43 on Approval of the Chemical Hazard Classification System and Hazard Information Requirements (2015) has legally bound GHS.The World Future Council focuses on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation worldwide. The Future Policy Award 2021 highlights exemplary

Emerging Policy Issues: Chemicals in products

Case studies

Procuring sustainable furniture in Denmark - GPP in practice

May 2023

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A case study as part of the European Commission's Green Public Procurement resources. This example from Denmark shows how by using an overarching, centralised procurement strategy across more than 60 municipalities, the Danish government were able to address sustainability hotspots from wooden furniture, by bulk procurement of products that met ambitious sustainability criteria.

The bulk sourcing enabled cost savings, and criteria set ensured that furniture did not contain chemicals of concern identified by both Danish restricted substance lists and the REACH list of substances of very high concern (SVHC). Products were required to meet higher standards of chemical safety, with dismantling criteria also set to improve circularity.

Case studies

Biomimicry Case Study - PureBond® Technology: Wood glue without formaldehyde

May 2023

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In recent years the majority of glues used in wood composite boards have been urea-formaldehyde (UF) and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins. However, these products may cause human health issues due to off-gassing of formaldehyde, which is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a potential human carcinogen, which can also cause irritation of the eyes, nose, lungs and throat.

However, development of no-added formaldehyde (NAF) glues and resins is a growing area, which not only provide a safer indoor environment, but also can reduce the use of fossil-based feedstocks, and are biodegradable. This case study looks at how NAF adhesives based on abundant soybean feedstocks, taking inspiration from processes in nature can address this chemical hotspot, and how the product was intially researched by Dr. Kaichang Li of Oregon State university, and came to market through collaborations with Columbia Forest Products and Hercules. Soy-based adhesives can now demonstrate cost-competitiveness with UF adhesives, and are being widely procured for buildings seeking to achieve complaince with air quality regulations and higher building rating scores.

Case studies

Case Study on Flooring: An example of chemical considerations for sustainable plastics design

by

OECD

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May 2023

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This case study aims to increase the awareness of environmental and health impacts and potential policy interventions to lead to sustainable plastic products from a chemicals perspective using flooring as an example.