Clean Production Action will mobilize stakeholder support for strong chemical footprint reduction targets in the UN’s Beyond 2020 Framework for Chemicals
Clean Production Action (CPA) will advocate for the need to reduce chemical footprints by 2030 at the upcoming United Nations’ International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in - Bonn, Germany, 25 - 29 September 2023. Over twenty years ago, leaders from around the world united under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to set objectives aimed at reducing the harmful effects of chemicals on both human health and the environment by 2020. But this goal was not met. Instead, chemical pollution has crossed the planetary boundary for a stable environment due to a fiftyfold increase in chemical production since 1950 for plastics, pesticides, fertilizers and consumer products. The majority of chemicals on the global market today still have not been tested for human health and ecological impact, yet chemical production is projected to triple again by 2050.
CPA advocates for a chemical footprint reduction of 50% by 2030 and zero as soon as possible, and the CPA team will showcase how companies can drastically reduce their use of hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. Companies taking part in CPA’s Chemical Footprint Project (CFP) are successfully measuring and reducing their chemical footprint, i.e., use of chemicals of high concern. In the 6th CFP report, CPA documented companies in the retail, building product, consumer goods and electronics sectors collectively reducing their chemical footprint by 83.4 million pounds/37.8 million kilograms. “It is vital for the financial sector, downstream users, and producers to prioritize better chemical management, reduce chemical footprints and advance safer chemistries – and we know it can be done, added Angela Pinilla, Chemical Footprint Project Program Manager.
Metrics and goals to reduce the use of chemicals of high concern are essential. This will be the focus of the upcoming UN meeting in Bonn, where the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Beyond 2020 initiative will attempt to set new global targets for chemicals, waste and pesticides. “This is pinnacle moment for the global community to address the chemical pollution crisis,” stated Alexandra McPherson, Director of CPA’s Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN). “Investors and other leaders in IEHN have demonstrated the business and societal value of moving towards safer, more sustainable chemistries. Through the Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN) and Chemical Footprint Project (CFP) CPA is mobilizing financial and business leaders and other stakeholders to demonstrate the viability of transitioning towards safer, more sustainable chemistries.”
CPA’s Alexandra McPherson, Director of IEHN is co-organizing a session on opportunities for the financial sector to advance a global transition to safe and sustainable chemistry with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), Mercy Investment Services, and BNP Paribas Asset Management. Angela and Alexandra will report back on progress made and we wish them much success.