The story of chemicals in the environment
Welcome to the first episode of the Chemical Journeys podcast!
The issue of chemicals in the environment is a story.
A story about science, politics, health, and humanity’s relationship with the planet.
Hear about the latest science and policy developments in this area, and the impact this has on the chemicals sector and society as a whole.
Sign up to the Embark newsletter at www.embarkchemical.com
References: Building Trust and Momentum on the Road to a Safe and Sustainable Chemicals Sector
Prefer to read? Here is a transcript:
Hi everyone, this is Chris Hughes from Embark and welcome to episode 1 of the Chemical Journeys podcast.
For those of you who don’t know me, I am an independent scientist working on the issue of chemicals in the environment.
And that is what this podcast is going to be all about.
And what I've noticed over the last 15 years working in this area is that the issue of chemicals in the environment is a story.
It’s a story about the chemicals we use in everyday life to make our lives better, about the industries and innovations that bring us these solutions.
It’s a story about how the chemicals we use get out into the environment, how they behave when they are out there, and whether they can pose long term risks to our health or the environment.
It’s a story about science, technology, globalisation, politics, environmentalism, and health; about a battle of ideas that is raging right now, fuelled by the global sustainability agenda, and the broader technological and cultural shifts in society.
It’s a story about humanity, and the role that our civilisation has, and will have, on the planet.
Finally, it’s a story of individuals, and individual journeys, because only through the eyes of individuals can we begin to understand each other, and make sense of this hugely complex topic of chemicals in the environment.
My plan with the chemical journeys podcast is to take you on a journey to meet interesting people working in this area, and to hear their story. I hope to take you on a fascinating journey, full of enlightening ideas, differing perspectives and new understanding.
For this first episode I’m going to read to you the opening article from the Embark newsletter, which I hope will help to set the scene for the topics we will be grappling with on the Chemical Journeys podcast.
The times they are a changin’
Bob Dylan
They say that change is the only constant. However, even the most resilient among us would be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed at the moment. The world seems to be in a state of flux – politically, economically, technologically – and this means making forecasts is more difficult than ever.
One thing is clear though: the global sustainability agenda is here to stay. It has become clear that humanity is having a disproportionate impact on the planet, and the alarm has well and truly been sounded. This extends beyond the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on the climate, with the United Nations defining the ‘triple planetary crisis’ as three interlinked issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and – you guessed it – chemical pollution.
Chemicals are an essential part of modern life. From medicines to electronics, agriculture to personal care, chemistry is everywhere. However, the need to be vigilant to the risks to health and the environment from our use of chemicals is ever-present. The regulatory regime in the EU is unrivalled in its scope, and is about to be supercharged by a range of policy measures from the EU Green Deal and Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The big question is: are we ready for it?
If you work in the chemicals industry, you are probably aware of the tidal wave of legislation that is coming. You are likely to already be firefighting against a long list of compliance challenges, making it difficult to do the long-term planning and strategising for the future issues your organisation will need to navigate.
Senior leaders and investors are becoming acutely aware of the importance of sustainability in maintaining a company’s stock price and societal licence to operate. Issues of chemical pollution, if they weren’t before, are now inextricably tied to this. For examples of this, look at the litigation surrounding PFAS pollution of drinking water resources, and the naming and shaming of brands associated with the majority of plastic items found in the environment. These examples are only the tip of an iceberg, with chemical issues continuously evolving and metastasising to impact businesses in unexpected ways.
If you are a concerned member of the public, you will no doubt be worried about humanity’s impact on the planet, and the legacy we will leave for our children. You want to understand these issues better so that you can make informed choices and actions that align with your values. You may be hearing news stories that alarm you, and damage your trust in institutions and the chemicals sector. But you should also be aware of the dangers of misinformation and content that plays to your most basic instincts in order to manipulate you.
So, what can be done?
Last year I held a round table discussion with leading industry scientists and policy experts. And in an article following that discussion, which I’ll share in the show notes, I tried to capture the essence of what industry was up against when it came to chemicals, and to make the case for collective responsibility and collaboration to address the challenges facing the sector.
I have since established Embark Chemical Consulting with the mission to support organisations to engage proactively in the transition to a sustainable, circular economy. I did this because I am deeply passionate about the sound assessment and management of chemicals. Having spent 15 years working on the implementation of REACH, conducting research at the science-policy interface, and analysing emerging policy, Embark is uniquely positioned to advise and support organisations through these turbulent times.
The upcoming regulatory challenges are immense, and will lead to huge amounts of new testing and assessment of substances already on the market. Some of those substances may not make it past the new policies that are being developed, though the companies using these substances may not be aware of this yet. And this will have knock-on implications for products and businesses far downstream of the chemical producers.
In order to understand the bigger picture, and what challenges are coming in the years ahead, Manufacturers of chemical substances, formulated products, and finished articles alike will inevitably need to untangle these chemical impacts and challenges for their products.
This will be essential for companies to make timely decisions for long-term sustainability and, in some cases, survival. It will require tailored and multidisciplinary approaches since no two companies’ contexts, portfolios or challenges are the same.
It’s sad for me to say that far too many companies seem to still have their heads in the sand on these issues. They are going to need to adapt, and do it quickly, if they are going to be able to deal with the looming challenges ahead and emerge on the other side, and thrive, as part of a sustainable and circular economy.
So that’s it for episode 1 of the Chemical Journeys podcast. Thank you for taking the time to listen in.
If you’ve enjoyed listening, please subscribe, maybe leave a comment,
Tell your friends and colleagues about it, so we can help more people to learn about the issues and considerations of chemicals in the environment.
You can also sign up to the embark newsletter at www.embarkchemical.com
OK that’s everything for now folks. Have a good day, and catch up with you next time.
