Chemicals Risk Management and Assessment of Alternatives: Tools and best practices to support circularity, create more sustainable products and avoid regrettable substitution

Introduction

FFR-2 aims to support SMEs in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland that use (hazardous) chemicals in their products or processes. It connects to activities of the predecessor project FFR-1 (2015-20).

Project Goals

The goal of FFR-2 is to implement elements of chemicals risk management systems in companies to incentivize and support a reduction of the use, emissions, and exposures to hazardous substances. The work will be based on a comprehensive understanding of chemicals risk management, provided in the form of:

• Handbooks
• Tools
• Specific and practical consultation

Target Groups

The main targeted group and direct beneficiaries of chemicals risk management work will be:

1. Formulators of mixtures
2. End-users of substances and mixtures

Amongst others, we will help them to thoroughly assess alternatives to hazardous substances and mixtures to avoid regrettable substitution. By improving:

• Purchasing routines
• Workers' protection
• Monitoring chemicals use
• Communication in the supply chain

Chemicals literacy and awareness for safe, toxic-free products will be increased.

Collaboration with Waste Sector

In cooperation with the further target group of companies in the waste sector, we will assess how to identify hazardous substances in wastes and how this information could change their sorting and treatment practices, resulting in cleaner secondary materials.

Expansion to Poland

While in FFR-1 we only worked in the Baltic States, the current proposal also includes two Polish partners who will implement the activities in Poland. This will give access to many new companies that have not yet been trained or consulted before, thus promising higher improvement potentials and more extensive outreach than in the Baltics.

We will further replicate our approach and tools to other Central and Eastern European countries via associated organizations.

Awareness Raising Activities

Last but not least, we will continue investing in awareness-raising activities, amongst others on chemical inventories and chemicals risk management for university students and industry associations.