ECHA

A better circular economy starts with safer chemicals. The materials around us are a mixture of chemicals, hence material cycles are actually chemical cycles. The EU’s chemicals legislation is one tool for making the circular economy work. It generates information about chemicals, their hazardous properties and their uses. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) hosts the information in the world’s largest database on chemicals.

Information on where dangerous chemicals end up is key to circularity. The way we deal with chemicals has to be compatible with the way we deal with waste. The EU is building a new database for waste operators and consumers on hazardous chemicals in the supply chain to encourage the replacement of dangerous substances and to help consumers make safer choices.

echa.europa.eu