In her latest blog, we hear from Jessica Onyshko, Senior Consultant at Anthesis, on the importance of chemical management programs to help businesses remain competitive in the market place.

Starting April 1, 2017, chemical management criteria were included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) reflecting the growing interest investors have in how companies are managing chemicals within their products and supply chains. This move by DJSI reinforces the need for a structured chemical management program to allow businesses to remain competitive in the market place.

Hazardous chemicals can represent risks for nearly every business and industry. Sectors from health and beauty, electronics, textiles, and toys have all been in the spotlight related to the presence of “toxic” chemicals in their products and processes. Proper chemical management practices result in a reduction of hazardous chemicals, which in turn reduces regulatory burdens along with related financial and reputational risk.

With the new DJSI requirements, companies are now required to report on the percentage of products that contain substances:

• that are regulated as hazardous;
• that are of international concern; or
• may become regulated in the future as referenced by ChemSec's Substitute It Now (SIN) list of hazardous substances

"Hazardous chemicals are detrimental to both human health and the environment, probably to a much larger extent than most people think. The effects, however are not something you can observe overnight. The damage done often shows up year in the future, in the form of reproductive disorders, cancer lowering of IQ and obesity, to name just a few health issues that are linked to exposure of hazardous chemicals"

Anne-Sofie Andersson, Executive Director at ChemSec, "Why the stock market's increased attention on toxic chemicals is a big thing"

The current message to companies is clear – earning a top spot on the DJSI will require a comprehensive chemical management program that identifies and reduces toxic chemicals in products and the supply chain.
What is not clear for many companies are what a chemical management program looks like for their company and industry. Some of the most common questions we hear from clients as they start out on implementing a chemical management process include

• What is a chemical management program?
• Does chemical compliance mean chemical management?
• How do I identify which chemicals are used in my products and processes?
• How do I manage hazardous chemicals in my supply chain?
• Why is investing in a chemical management program a good investment?

Answering these questions can be challenging, especially since chemical regulations and chemical management solutions vary by industry. For example, the use of chemicals in textiles versus the use of chemicals in food contact materials varies significantly; therefore, one would need to approach a chemical management program differently for each product category. But there are tools and resources available to assist with the development of a strategy to address requirements. As a starting point, many industries have identified best practices in chemicals management which can be used to perform a gap analysis against current company practices.  From the gap analysis, you can ensure your company is meeting the minimum chemical regulatory requirements as well as identify strengths and weaknesses within current corporate practices, and prioritize further activities and required resources.  In many cases a step wise program is best, so don’t get too overwhelmed by trying to tackle everything at once.  Develop a roadmap for success, set milestones and goals, and keep yourself accountable.

To find out more on how your company can implement a chemical management program or to find out more on improving your DJSI score please contact Jessica Onyshko, or alternatively, use our fill out form below:

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