Forty-two organisations from across Europe are urging policymakers to uphold chemical transparency and traceability in products as the EU prepares new legislation under the Circular Economy Act and Environmental Omnibus. They stress that the competitiveness of the Union depends on a clean and circular economy where value chain actors are fully informed about the substances in products.
Hazardous chemicals can block recycling, contaminate water, and pose serious risks to public health. Water service providers, recyclers, and businesses alike need robust information to safely manage materials and protect citizens and the environment.
The signatories to the letter emphasise that transparency is not a burden but an essential enabler of innovation, resilience, and competitiveness. They call on the EU to maintain and strengthen reporting and traceability requirements in upcoming delegated acts under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and to apply the polluter-pays principle fairly across value chains.
By committing to chemical transparency, the EU can unlock the circularity potential of sectors such as water services, safeguard public health, and confirm Europe’s global leadership in sustainability.