The use of hazardous chemicals across the European Union has plummeted, with a remarkable reduction of 47 million tonnes since 2014. This significant decline highlights the bloc’s ongoing commitment to reducing environmental and health risks.
- It is noteworthy that the categories of hazardous chemicals often overlap, complicating the assessment of their impact.
- This sustained decline in the use of the most toxic substances reflects the EU's ongoing policy initiatives aimed at curbing the prevalence of dangerous chemicals in the market.
Production Trends Over the Last Decade
According to Eurostat, the EU’s total production of chemicals, encompassing both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, has seen a substantial decrease of 15 per cent over the last decade. In tandem, consumption has dropped by 18 per cent compared to figures from 2014.
Despite this downward trend, recent data indicates a modest recovery in the past year. In 2024, the production of chemicals rose by 6 per cent while consumption increased by 5 per cent from the previous year’s figures.
Hazardous Chemicals: A Closer Look
In 2024, the EU reported a total production of 224 million tonnes of chemicals, with 232 million tonnes consumed. Of this, hazardous chemicals accounted for 172 million tonnes produced, representing a significant reduction of 33 million tonnes, or 16 per cent, since 2014. Furthermore, the output of chemicals deemed hazardous to the environment reached 66 million tonnes, down by 7.9 million tonnes or 11 per cent from a decade ago.
It is noteworthy that the categories of hazardous chemicals often overlap, complicating the assessment of their impact.
Decline in Consumption of Hazardous Substances
Usage of hazardous chemicals has also seen a downward trajectory. In 2024, consumption of chemicals hazardous to health fell to 170 million tonnes, marking a 22 per cent decrease compared to ten years prior. The decline in hazardous chemicals harmful to the environment was even more pronounced, plummeting by 32 per cent to a total of 53 million tonnes.
Efforts to Mitigate Toxic Substances
The EU’s overall reduction in hazardous chemical consumption underscores its commitment to improving public health and environmental safety. This includes a significant 18 million tonnes decrease in the consumption of the most harmful substances, which fell from 48 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes over the same period.
This sustained decline in the use of the most toxic substances reflects the EU’s ongoing policy initiatives aimed at curbing the prevalence of dangerous chemicals in the market.
