International Chemicals Policy and Sustainability

Traditionally, chemicals are sold to a customer, who becomes the owner of the substances and therefore responsible for its use and disposal. Their suppliers have a clear economic interest in increasing the amount of chemicals sold, which is usually related to a negative release to the environment. Compared to this approach, the concept of ChL is much more service-oriented. In this business model the customer pays for the benefits obtained from the chemical, not for the substance itself Consequently, the economic success of the supplier is no longer linked with product turnover. Chemical consumption becomes a cost rather than a revenue factor for the chemicals supplier. The supplier will thus try to optimize the use of the chemical and improve the conditions for recycling to reduce the amount consumed, which again reduces the environmental pollution. 

When applying ChL business models, the producer does not just provide the chemical but also his know-how on how to reduce the consumption of chemicals and how to optimize the conditions of use. While in the traditional model the responsibility of the producer ends when the chemical is sold, in ChL business models the producer remains responsible for the chemical during its whole life cycle, including its use and disposal. 

Sustainable development was originally defined in the Brundtland report Our Common Future in 1987 as follows Sustainable Development should meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable Development balances three principal requirements  

Although this original definition has evolved (see, for example, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development - CSD http // vww.un.org/esa/desa/ 

In 2002, the international community met in Johannesburg to once again take up the challenge of sustainable development. The World Summit on Sustainable Development was one of the largest and most important international gatherings ever held on the subject. 

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