Introduction to Chemicals Management

What is a CHEMICAL? Use animation to explain that essentially everything is or is made up of chemicals (i.e. water is a chemical H20). In appropriate amounts, some chemicals are good for us (water, salt, vitamins, etc..) Leading into next slide note that we are primarily concerned with hazardous chemicals and their negative imapcts.

WHAT IS A HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL? Any chemical or material in a quantity or form that poses risk to health, safety, or the environment when transported, used, stored, or released. Chemicals that are flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive or radioactive, combustion-supporting, etc. “Any substance which jumps out of its container when something goes wrong and hurts or harms the things it touches.” It is important to note here that even substances the we do not consider toxic or harmful in typical quantities can produce negative impacts in significant quantities. For example Salt, in low concentrations (i.e. in foods, drinks) it is good and required for some biological systems including people. However in high concentrations (i.e. effluent from dying mill) the same salt can cause negative impacts.

Chemicals impact… Employees Environment & Consumers Community

Cost of Poor Chemicals Management … Direct Costs ($) Loss of material (i.e. from improper handling, application or storage) Compensation for injury or illnesses associated with chemical exposures Lawsuits or legal fines Loss of orders Productivity ($) Lost time for worker injury or illnesses Events such as spills or accidents causing closure or production stoppages Product quality and compliance Trust Loss of customers’ & workers’ trust Damage to the environment where you work and where the families of you and your employees / co-workers live and work Explain the concept of how risks related to chemicals can directly impact the bottom line of a company

Benefits of Good Chemical Management & Safety Decreases hazards to workers, community & environment Meet increasing regulatory, industry & NGO pressure Good for business Global NGOs are working actively to highlight the issue of pollution by the textile industry, especially in the producing countries like China, Bangladesh, Mexico, Indonesia and India. They are challenging Brands and governments to ensure safe products and clean production. The most impactful campaign was Greenpeace Detox launched in 2011. This campaign revealed that although Brands have policies and commitments that ban the use of toxic chemicals in their supply chain, such chemicals are still being widely used. The Detox campaign has directly challenged leading international Brands and Retailers to commit to use of “Zero-toxic” chemicals across their supply chains and zero discharge of hazardous chemicals across all pathways. Environmental regulations have been around in the 1960s, then in the 2000s some brands and industry groups started creating restricted substances list. It was really in 2006 – 2008, however, when we started to see a spike in product chemical regulations – from a transnational level, like the EU REACH in which they have an ever expanding list of hazardous chemicals. Thresholds are assigned for those products, if above those thresholds, all types of legal implications exist (2006). To nation wide regulations now present in China, Japan Korea, Canada and the US, to even more localized regulations, like those we are seeing in the US states of Washington and California, and some counties, which are a sub-group within the state, such as New York City are beginning to propose chemical product regulations as well. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) - most impt federal law in USA for regulating consumer products (2008), to even more localized regulations, like state specific regulations,

Reduce Costs Chemicals may present a major part of the production cost for companies. Any actions that can be taken to reduce use, loss, waste, contamination, and expiry of these substances will bring cost savings to companies Reducing the amount of expired chemical disposal will also reduce environmental impact. [Presumably, the priority for the factory team will be mostly related to making profit and having successful business] [Review the results of the previous activity.] If you really want to argue for change at any business in your supply chain, you must understand how businesses are incentivized to make change. Once you understand the priorities, you can begin a dialogue that can lead to change.

Increase Competitiveness Brands and consumers do not want to see harmful chemicals put into products or the environment. By identifying and reducing the use of banned chemicals and hazardous substances, companies can improve their competitive position and social or environmental responsibility reputation.

Improve Worker Health & Safety Accidents involving chemicals create additional costs for companies in terms of lost materials, damaged equipment and facilities and workers’ injury. Reducing health and safety risks for employees improves their motivation and productivity and lessens absenteeism due to worker injury and illness.

Activity - Chemicals Management Challenges Activity Notes: Have attendees get into groups and list 3-5 of the most significant Chemicals Management challenges on the activity sheet. Have each group brainstorm solutions to the identified challenges (if you like, have the groups swap challenges and come up with solutions to other groups challenges) Note: This activity can be completed all at once, OR you can have the groups hang on to their challenges list and conduct the brainstorming solutions activity at the end of the training or session.

Activity Notes: Have attendees get into groups and list 3-5 of the most significant Chemicals Management challenges on the activity sheet. Have each group brainstorm solutions to the identified challenges (if you like, have the groups swap challenges and come up with solutions to other groups challenges) Note: This activity can be completed all at once, OR you can have the groups hang on to their challenges list and conduct the brainstorming solutions activity at the end of the training or session. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.