Substitution principle (sustainability)
 | This article needs to be updated. (August 2023) |
The substitution principle in
chemicals considers the overall impact: "hazardous chemicals should be substituted by less hazardous alternatives or preferably alternatives that mitigates identifiable hazards impacts".[1]
Overview
The principle has historically been promoted by
environmental groups. This concept is becoming increasingly mainstream, being a key concept in green chemistry and a central element of EU REACH regulation.[2] Critics of the principle claim it is very difficult to implement in reality, especially in terms of legislation.[citation needed
]
Nonetheless, the concept is an important one and a key driver behind identifying "Substances of Very High Concern" in REACH and the development of hazardous substance lists such as the SIN List and the ETUC Trade Union Priority List. EU-funded projects such as SubsPort are under development to aid the identification and development of safer substitutes for hazardous chemicals.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Greenpeace, (2003, 2005). Safer Chemicals Within Reach: Using the Substitution Principle to drive Green Chemistry. London. p.7 (PDF)
- ^ European Commission website on REACH
- PMID 22001043.
External links
 | This sustainability-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |