Library

List of chemicals of concern created by the architectural and design company Perkins + Will

The Six Classes is a visionary program of the Green Science Policy Institute, whose aim is to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in consumer and other products. It focuses on entire classes or groups of chemicals of concern, rather than phasing out problematic chemicals one at a time.

This approach of tackling entire groups of chemicals is needed because more than 80,000 chemicals are used in the U.S. Many have not been well studied and their impacts on human and environmental health are not understood. Even so, some chemicals known to be harmful are commonly found in consumer products. Moreover, when a harmful chemical is phased out, often after years of research and advocacy, the replacement may be a “chemical cousin” with similar structure and potential for harm.

The Six Classes approach can prevent such “regrettable substitutions” and accelerate reductions in toxics use.

In its work on each of the Six Classes, the Green Science Policy Institute convenes scientific experts, motivates needed studies, and publishes research results in peer-reviewed journals. Its findings are communicated widely, as part of its work for science-based change and for moving towards safer chemicals and/or technologies. A key element of the approach is to bring together scientists and decision-makers from business, government, academia, and nonprofits to develop coordinated strategies for reducing the production and use of chemicals of concern.

This report provides an overview of the current status and conditions of the Circular Economy in the electronics value chain in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region, identifies key areas of concern, provides appropriate recommendations, and proposes priority actions to improve circularity of the sector. The recommendations and roadmap focus on the individual life cycle stages of the electronics value chain, as well as on aspects that cut across the value chain. The transition towards a more circular electronics sector in Central and Easter Europe (CEE) would require a holistic and coordinated approach to progress toward a more circular electronics value chain in the CEE region.

This publication was prepared under the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) full-sized project 9771: Global best practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). This project is funded by the GEF, implemented by UNEP and executed by the SAICM Secretariat.

UNEP's new Eco-innovation Electronics Supplement was created to respond to the electronics sector's need for more guidance in building resilient, competitive, and sustainable business models for SMEs. Designed together with the World Resources Forum and to be read alongside UNEP's Eco-innovation (Eco-i) Manual, the supplement provides electronics specific examples, learning case studies, and advice on applying the eco-innovation methodology and its opportunities in the electronic sector.

This publication was prepared under the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) full-sized project 9771: Global best practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). This project is funded by the GEF, implemented by UNEP and executed by the SAICM Secretariat.

This policy brief summarizes some of the issues/options being floated for consideration by the INC negotiators, as well as two crosscutting challenges identified in the submissions that the instrument should address, namely significant information/data gaps and problematic aspects of trade.

The SAICM Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Cape Town, established a community of practice on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) to foster discussions, exchange of best practices, and recommendations to address HHPs amongst relevant stakeholders. This is a summary of the discussion on The importance of farmer and farmer organisations' perspectives on Highly Hazardous Pesticides, which took place on 12 December 2022.

Presenters: Prof. Hanna-Andrea Rother (UCT), Andrew Ardington (RegenAg SA)

The Secretariat of the Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) have launched a Community of Practice (CoP) on Chemicals and SDGs to bring representatives from different sectors together and to create a learning network around issues related to addressing Chemicals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a summary of the discussion on Environmental Injustice Issues to Consider for Chemical Risk, which took place on 23 November 2022.

Presenters: Rico Euripidou (groundWork)

The Secretariat of the Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) have established a Community of Practice (CoP) on Lead in Paint to bring representatives from different sectors together and to create a learning network around issues related to the elimination of Lead Paint. This is a summary of the discussion on Compliance with Lead Paint Laws, which took place on 16 November 2022.

Presenters: Steve Wolfson (US EPA), Dr Faridah Hussein Were (University of Nairobi), University of Nairobi (Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Philippines), Isabel Artagaveytia (Uruguayan Ministry of Environment)