The European Commission has thrown in the towel on the reform of the REACH regulation, promised six years ago as part of the Green Deal. The chemical industry pushed hard, arguing loss of competitiveness, and its lobby has managed to halt the restriction of hazardous substances in consumer products. An environmental setback that leaves the exposure to everyday toxics unresolved.
The technical cost of not innovating in safe materials 💀
The proposal aimed to boost the development of less harmful chemical alternatives through stricter evaluation criteria. Without the revision, sectors such as consumer electronics or plastics will continue to use compounds like phthalates or halogenated flame retardants. The lack of an ambitious regulatory framework slows down investment in R&D for sustainable substitutes, leaving the door open to long-term health risks.
Brussels: better a known toxic than a green unknown 🤡
That the European Commission backs down for fear of upsetting the chemical industry has its irony. It turns out that protecting citizens from carcinogenic substances in their sofas or toys was less of a priority than the smile of a BASF executive. The next time someone smells new plastic, let them know it is the scent of European environmental ambition evaporating.