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Women Leaders: Addressing Chemicals and Waste Issues

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IPEN ,

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June 2022

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

SAICMUCT CDSG CoP Discussion 3 2022 digest

Community of practice summary of discussions

Plastic pollution: ideas for addressing chemicals in plastics

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SAICM

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October 2022

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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 Plastic pollution: ideas for addressing chemicals in plastics, which took place on 19 October 2022.

Presenters: Brenda Koekkoek (UNEP), Jost Dittkrist (UNEP), Dr. Eeva Leinala (OECD), Mochamad Adi Septiono (Nexus3 Foundation)

Topics: Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Management

Community of practice summary of discussions

Chemicals and Biodiversity

April 2021

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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 Chemicals and Biodiversity, which took place on 28 April 2021.Presenter: Neville Ash (UNEP-WCMC)This discussion focused on the relationships and

Topics: Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Management

Community of practice summary of discussions

The Role of Alternatives in Phasing out HHPs

May 2021

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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 Role of Alternatives in Phasing out HHPs, which took place on 19 May 2021.Presenters: Francesca Mancini (FAO), Mark Davis (CPSP), Alex Stuart (PAN UK), Sheila Willis (PAN UK)There may often be a perception that HHPs

Emerging Policy Issues: Highly Hazardous Pesticides

Topics: Knowledge Management

Community of practice summary of discussions

Promoting youth engagement with different stakeholders in chemicals and waste

May 2021

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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 Promoting youth engagement with different stakeholders in chemicals and waste, which took place on 26 May 2021.Presenters: Dickson Ho

Topics: Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Management

Community of practice summary of discussions

Reformulation is entirely possible

June 2021

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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 Reformulation is entirely possible, which took place on 9 June 2021.Presenters: Dr Branko Dunjic (NCPC Serbia), Vojislavka Satric (NCPC Serbia), Jeiel Guarino

Emerging Policy Issues: Lead in paint

Topics: Knowledge Management

Community of practice summary of discussions

Chemicals in toys

June 2021

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The SAICM Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Cape Town, established a community of practice on Chemicals in Products to bring representatives from different sectors together and to create a learning network around issues related to addressing Chemicals in Products (CiP). This is a summary of the discussion on Chemicals in toys, which took place on 17 June 2021.Presenters: Olga Speranskaya (HEJSupport), Varuzhan Gyurjyan (Mankan LLC), Gohar Khojayan (AWHHE), Thony Dizon (EcoWaste Coalition), Ram Charitra Sah (CEPHED)This SAICM/UCT discussion

Emerging Policy Issues: Chemicals in products

Topics: Knowledge Management

Case studies

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

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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.