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ChemSec report: Huge market potential in removing toxic chemicals from material flows

Written by Zoe Rutherford on .

The phase-out of substances of concern from new materials would entail billions of Euros in business opportunities. We need to recycle more, but have to consider chemical safety alongside increased recycling rates. And the presence of hazardous chemicals in recycled materials prevents the upscaling of circular economy.

These are some of the key findings in the report “What goes around”, addressing the importance of a circular economy free from substances of concern, made by non-profit NGO ChemSec.

Key findings of the report are:

  • Increased use of virgin materials and low recycling levels show that a circular economy is far from being realized.

  • The presence of chemicals of concern in materials is an important reason for this.

  • Mechanical recycling will remain the main recycling technology for the foreseeable future, which makes establishing non-toxic waste streams the key to scaling up the circular economy.

  • Chemicals of concern must therefore be designed out of new products.

  • Along with this decreased use of chemicals of concern, a substantial market opportunity can be realized through the increased usability of recycled materials.

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