Putting the precautionary principle into practice

We had originally planned to formrrlate an improved system for chemical assessment and evalrration, by taking all dimensions of sustainability into account and with the avoidance of simply shifting the problems. However, we in the Sub-Chem project resolved to develop more appropriate forms of dealing with deficiencies in knowledge and better ways to put the precautionary principle into practice. 

like hazardous substance substitution, are part of risk management and thus the project focus on managerial solutions, in particular on precautionary based risk management. Two approaches turned out to be particularly promising  

the development and formulation of substances or chemicals, technologies and application systems determined by guiding principles (e.g. the principle of in-trinsical safety), and 

integration of the issues involved in occupational health and safety, consumer and environmental protection in quality management at the individual compare level as well as along the supply chain. 

Strategies to reduce risks emanating from hazardous substances should not be restricted to the substitntion of a hazardous substance by a (hopefully) less hazardous one. A more useful approach is to consider the particular application and to consider alternative resolutions to the perceived problems. The problem could be solved either by substance substitntion or by other measures, such as design modification or system process changes.  

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