
Global Best Practices on Emerging Policy Issues of Concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
The Life Cycle Initiative, SAICM, Denmark’s Technical University and USEtox International Centre, launched the project in 2006, with the overall objective of achieving the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle so that by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health. The project is co-funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and the funding partners of the Life Cycle Initiative.
The project “Global Best Practices on Emerging Policy Issues of Concern” aims to accelerate the adoption of national and value chain initiatives to control Emerging Policy Issues (EPIs) and contribute to the 2020 SAICM goal and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Life Cycle Initiative is supporting this project by coordinating action for the “Lifecycle management of chemicals present in products” with, for example, the further development of the USEtox tool.
The project has three main components:
- Promoting regulatory and voluntary action by government and industry to phase out lead in paint (more information);
- Lifecycle management of chemicals present in products, and;
- Knowledge management and stakeholder engagement.
Recently released papers:
- “Chemicals of Concern in Plastic Toys”: Paper provides prioritization criteria and screen risks of chemicals in plastic toys including presenting a screening method to quantify acceptable chemical content in toy materials.
- “Life Cycle-based Alternatives Assessment (LCAA) for Chemical Substitution”: Paper proposing a life cycle-based alternative assessment (LCAA) framework for consistently integrating quantitative exposure and life cycle impact performance in the substitution process.
Access links:
- saicm.org
- GEF project website
- usetox.org