Hazardous chemicals can be substituted

Hazardous chemicals can be substituted AaU, 24th of September 2012

Christian Ege, director, Det Ă˜kologiske RĂĽd/The Ecological Council The Danish Ecological Council

Contents of presentation • Velux-project – DEC, RUC, DTU • The chemical problem • What is substitution?

• Why substitute? Why not?

• Substitution and REACH

• Substitution tools • Examples of substitution • nkt cables, KYMI RENS • Green Procurement Policy • Hospitals • New publication • Summing up Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

The VELUX Project ”Better regulation of chemicals” •

Three year project funded by the Velux Foundation

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In collaboration with Roskilde University and Technical University of Denmark (scientific work on mixture effects and nano)

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Overall aim: To strengthen the NGO participation in further improvement of chemicals legislation in the EU

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Main issues: EDCs, mixture effects and nano materials

Lone Mikkelsen, Chemicals – March 21, 2012

Det Økologiske Råd

Publications •

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• •

Three call-for-action papers (English) EDCs √ Mixture effects Nanomaterials √ Proposals for improving regulation of the three topics either within existing legislation or by suggesting new legislation (e.g. nano stand alone) Distribution to politicians + NGO colleagues Book for upper secondary school (gymn.)

Lone Mikkelsen, Chemicals – March 21, 2012

Det Økologiske Råd

Medical Devices • Work for substitution of EDCs from medical devices • Proposal for a recast of the Medical Devices Directives 93/42/EEC, 90/385/EEC and 98/79/EC in collaboration with HCWH • Letter to and audience with the Danish (Parlament) Health Committee • Letter to Danish minister of health • Meeting with Danish MEPs - Christel Schaldemose, Dan Jørgensen

Lone Mikkelsen, Chemicals – March 21, 2012

Det Økologiske Råd

Chemical problem • Estimated 100.000 chemicals on the EU market • 30.000 fall within the scope of REACH • Disturbed sexual development of animals – snails, fish, crocodiles, polar bears

• A rise in health issues associated with exposure to a variety of chemicals, e.g.

• Decrease in fertility (semen quality, PCOS* etc.)

• Behavioural problems • Various cancers • Obesity •

*Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – hormonal disorder resulting in ovarian cysts, decreased ovulations and a resulting decrease in fertility

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Testicular cancer Testicular cancer in Denmark - distributed in 10 years age-groups born 1890-1960

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Release of chemicals at home

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

What have alligators, birds, and fish in common with Danish men?

• All are exposed to the same endocrine disrupters in the environment •Symptoms are claer in alligators, fish, and snails • 553 suspected EDCs have been analysed. 118 are regarded as EDCs, tge others suspected. Only few are regulated today

History of Chemicals - Political action helps!

Brominated flame retardants in human breast milk

growing risk

4,5 4 3,5

PCB in swedish white-tailed eagles

3

400

2,5

350

2

300

1,5 250

1

200

0,5 0 1970 1970

150

1975 1980 1985 1985 1990 1990 1975 1980

1995 2000 2000 1995

100 50

Risk reduction

0

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

1995 2000

Testikular cancer

Breast cancer

Are these induced by chemicals ?

Hypospadi

Semen quality

REACH-revision in 2012-13?

-Commission and council only wan a review - NGO-demands: act on the basis of hazards - Risk analyses takes years -Include cocktail effects (addition/synergy) -EDCs treated like CMRs -More use of group evaluation or QSAR -Better regulation of nano-materials â&#x20AC;&#x201C; small amounts >< tons limits in REACH

What is‘Substitution’?

• The replacement of hazardous chemicals used in processes or products with less hazardous chemicals • The alternatives can be both other chemicals, procedural changes or alternative technologies

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

- Why substitute? (from company’s point of view) • Demand from customers • New knowledge about production methods or new chemicals on the market • New legislation • Staying ahead of the law can give a competitive advantage • To retain or create a green image can attract more groups of consumers

Why not substitute?

• Time consuming • Initially an expense for the company Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Substitution and REACH The EU chemicals legislation REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals)

How REACH promotes substitution: •Mandatory substitution-planning requirements when applying for authorisation to use a substance of very high concern (SVHC) on the authorisation list •

Including an analysis of alternatives, and in case of the avaliability of suitable alternatives, a substitution plan must be presented

•Public access to Candidate- and Authorisation lists •’Right to know’ principle

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Substitution tools Warning lists - to avoid replacing one hazardous chemical with another: • the REACH candidate list (84 subs.)

• the Danish EPA list of undesirable substances (app. 90 subs. and groups) • the SIN list (by Swedish NGO ChemSec)

(378 subs.)

Substitution portals and –network •SUBSPORT (subsport.eu) – four partners (Grontmij, Chemsec etc), supported by EU/Life, Germany, Austria •Business groups, e.g. ChemSec Business Group (start 2004)

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Substitution tools Green taxes contribute to levelling out the economic differences between traditional and substituted products, e.g.

• Soft PVC and phthalate tax

• Tax on industrial green house gasses • Proposal: tax on brominated flame retardants and wood preservatives

The oppertunity to obtain an Eco-label gives the consumer easy access to more safe products, e.g.

• the EU flower

• the Nordic Swan Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Substitution tools Substitution through Green Procurement Policies -EU: minimum 50% green procurement within 10 product groups. Cleaning products&services, furniture, IT equipment etc.

-Cologne in Germany; rules for the procurement of toys, furniture and sports equipment for municipal facilities.

-Denmark; ’Partnership for public green procurement’ – collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and six local authorities

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Substitution examples nkt cables -Substituted phthalates and lead from cables -NOPOVICÂŽ is based on polyethylene, polypropylene and ethylene vinyl acetate -Before tax: too expensive -After: more than 50% of DK market.

Christian Ege â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Examples KYMI RENS - Aalborg - Substituted perchloroethylene (a ground water pollutant) - as cleaning agent - Uses CO2, AquaClean (environmentally and textile friendly method - chemicals are replaced by water), GreenEarth (applying liquid silicone) and SYSTEM K4 (halogen free solvent, biodegradable)

Christian Ege â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Substitution examples Substitution of PVC and phthalates in hospitals •Westfriesgasthuis (N) – childrens section – almost phthalate and PVC free •Sygehus Sønderjylland (DK) – neonate section – substituted intravenous (IV) catheters, administration sets and tubes, feeding tubes, gloves, pacifiers, and bandages.

•Karolinske Universitetshospital (SE) – substituted gloves, haemodialysis equipment, IV bags and tubes, urine bags, feeding tubes, and catheters.

•EU project to create a PVC and phthalate free bloodbag: www.pvcfreebloodbag.eu

Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

New publication In May 2012 The Danish Ecological Council published a new booklet about substitution. This publication is a followup to an earlier publication from 2006

‘Hazardous chemicals can be substituted – developments since 2006’ Contents: •The concept of substitution

•EU chemicals legislation REACH •Danish and international examples of substitution •The properties, effects and relevant regulation of the replased chemicals •Warning- and prioritisation lists Christian Ege – 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Summary We need better combination of legislation, economic instruments and private substitution initiatives More and more companies choose to replace potentially hazardous chemicals from products or production processes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but there is still a need for further stimulation of substitution!

The progressiv companies are not much heard when new chemicals legislation is negotiated

Christian Ege â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council

Thank you for your attention!

See more on www.ecocouncil.dk Consider becoming a member!

Christian Ege â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24.september 2012

The Danish Ecological Council