Thousands of chemicals have been developed during the last decades. Many are used in everyday products - from toys, textiles and paints to shampoo, electronic equipment and building materials. The problem is that we know little about their short and long term effects on our health and on the environment. But we do know enough to understand that many of the chemicals in widespread use today are hazardous. ChemSec is working for the phase-out of these chemicals.
Our goal is clear: a toxic free environment by the year 2020. It is ambitious, important - and attainable. By toxic free environment we mean that the concentrations of naturally occurring hazardous substances in the environment are close to normal background levels, and the levels of man-made hazardous substances in the environment are close to zero, with a negligible impact on the ecosystem.
To achieve this goal, ChemSec is actively working to:
- Get a broader acceptance in society for the key principles of Precaution, Substitution, Polluter Pays and Right to Know.
- Promote legislation that builds upon these principles, while also helping to ensure that regulations are being effectively followed and enforced.
- Encourage business actors to support and apply these principles - by showing that substituting hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives is both scientifically and economically feasible.
- Support and build alliances with environmental NGOs to build a strong civil society in order to coordinate the effort to eliminate toxic uses.
- Serve as an open and dynamic forum for all parties working for more effective chemical control.
