Chemical giants are shedding light on why cutting down on toxic substances is now a top priority for their businesses. They point to long-term resilience, being ready for regulations, and building customer trust as the main reasons behind this shift.
At ChemSec, they often see the use of hazardous chemicals as a quick win that can lead to bigger risks down the line. While some companies still lean heavily on these toxic substances, others are stepping up to take a more proactive stance.
To dive deeper into this change, ChemSec chatted with the three top-performing companies from last year’s ChemScore sustainability index to find out why they’re committed to reducing toxic substances in their offerings.
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Staying ahead of regulations
“R&D cycles in our industry can be really lengthy,” explained Teresa Bernheim, Senior Manager for chemicals policy at Lanxess.
“Waiting to start R&D until a substance is flagged as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) is just too late,” she noted. “We aim to kick things off as early as possible, giving us a leg up when a substance comes under regulatory scrutiny, allowing us to create alternatives for our customers.”
Bernheim shared that Lanxess had a much wider product range two decades ago, but it became clear that not all those products were sustainable for the long haul.
“It was a deliberate choice to get ahead of the regulatory game, to reshape our portfolio with foresight, and to be proactive,” she said.
As a result, the company rolled out a structured plan for phasing out and substituting substances with SVHC properties.
“This was crucial for gaining buy-in within the company. Everyone understands the clear criteria and guidelines they need to follow,” Bernheim added.
Building resilience through safer innovation
At SABIC, the growing awareness of regulatory pressures around hazardous chemicals sparked the launch of a dedicated innovation program in 2021. This initiative was crafted to create products that pose lower risks to both people and the environment, while also working to replace or eliminate more dangerous substances.
“We realized we needed to take a proactive approach to ensure SABIC is ready and remains a trustworthy partner for our customers,” the company stated.
“As a business, we recognize the importance of managing the risks associated with our chemical portfolio to ensure our long-term resilience.”
SABIC also highlighted the significance of engaging proactively with partners and customers as part of its comprehensive product safety management strategy.
“We believe that transparency is key because it fosters progress, not just within SABIC, but throughout our entire value chain,” the company shared with ChemSec.
Going beyond compliance
Products from Indorama Ventures, a multinational based in Thailand that topped last year’s ChemScore rankings, are utilized in food and beverage packaging, hygiene, home care, textiles, and many other sectors. Consequently, the company emphasized that its success hinges not only on adhering to regulations but also on guaranteeing that its products are safe and sustainable.
“As a global entity operating under various international, regional, and industry-specific regulations, going ‘beyond compliance’ enhances our long-term resilience,” explained Dr. Anthony M. Watanabe, Chief Sustainability Officer at Indorama Ventures.
Dr. Watanabe also pointed out that external sustainability assessments can significantly bolster internal commitments to safer chemical management.
“We collaborate openly with ChemScore and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings. Their methodologies can be quite rigorous, but they offer a valuable roadmap and benchmark for improvement,” he noted.
ChemSec believes that companies don’t have to make drastic changes to cut down on their reliance on hazardous substances. Instead, they can use tools like ChemScore to help them shift away from dangerous chemicals in a more organized and thoughtful manner.
Take a look at Lanxess, SABIC, and Indorama Ventures; their efforts to reduce toxic substances show that this isn’t just about compliance anymore. It’s becoming a key business strategy tied to innovation, meeting customer expectations, and staying competitive in the long run.
For more information, please contact:
David Crouch, senior communications officer
Tel +46 723 24 26 25
david.crouch@chemsec.org
