PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The REACH Regulation aims for a high level of protection of human health and the environment. It provides incentives for manufacturers, importers and downstream users of chemicals to replace Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) with suitable alternatives. REACH not only defines an obligation for article suppliers to communicate on SVHCs in articles down the supply chain, but it also establishes a right-to-know for consumers. This right, which is outlined in Article 33(2) of the REACH Regulation, entitles consumers to receive information from suppliers of articles on the presence of SVHCs (persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic substances, very persistent and very bio-accumulative substances, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances, endocrine disruptors or substances of similar concern) in those articles within 45 days as well as information on the product’s safe use. This flow of information requires effective communication among all actors in the supply chain regarding the presence of SVHCs in articles and their components, as stipulated in REACH Article 33(1). According to ECHA’s 2016 report on the operation of REACH, there are “clear indications that information on substances in articles is not adequately communicated in the article supply chains”.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE AskREACH project had the overall goal of helping the implementation of the REACH Regulation by:
- raising awareness of consumers on hazard information as well as of the market actors on their duties under REACH as importers, manufacturers, downstream users or retailers;
- increasing incentives for manufacturers, importers and downstream users of chemicals to replace SVHCs by suitable alternatives;
- increasing the awareness of actors at the end of the supply chain (producers, retailers and consumers) about the presence of SVHCs in goods and of the right-to-know;
- making available on-the-spot information (purchase decision) to increase the market demand for SVHC-free products. This is an incentive for industrial actors to identify SVHCs; and
- facilitating communication on SVHCs between consumers and companies, as well as along the supply chain.
RESULTS
The LIFE AskREACH project has brought together an outstanding project consortium (a diverse group of 20 partners: national agencies, competent authorities, research institutions, environmental NGOs, consumer associations) to enable millions of consumers to check products for hazardous substances while shopping by just scanning the article barcode with the Scan4Chem app on their smartphone.
The project encountered 3 unexpected setbacks to the achievement of its initial objectives:
- privacy legislation prevented the use of an existing database with company contact data. Gathering data from scratch was an unforeseen and strenuous task;
- just as the app was ready and going into operation, the COVID-19 restrictions started. Shopping and thus the scanning activities were restricted;
- shortly after AskREACH had started, the ECHA (European Chemical Agency) set up a database - “SCIP” - focussing on SVHCs in articles that become waste. The reported data are the same as those necessary for AskREACH, however, information requirements differ. Despite early promising cooperation, by the end of the project, the ECHA had not granted access to these data for AskREACH.
Despite these setbacks, the project achieved substantial results:
- a central European IT system for communication on SVHCs in articles was agreed between a large and potent group of beneficiaries with initially very different mindsets and interests;
- a European-wide smartphone application for consumers (nearly 900.000 downloads) to send requests to suppliers was developed, tested and taken to full operation;
- the corresponding SVHC/article database is being fed by companies;
- a REACH-related supply chain communication tool was tested and optimisedto support companies in the organisation of the supply chain (often the article suppliers also do not know whether the pre-products contain SVHCs);
- training material for retailers on SVHCs in articles was designed and disseminated;
- large-scale campaigns in 21 countries (compared to 13 that were planned) were carried out, and 860 events organised;
- up to 45 million consumers were reached with information about the project;
- nearly 78 000 requests to suppliers for product information were sparked by AskREACH during the project period, obliging companies to provide answers (and thus reinforce their supply chain communication);
- 33 000 suppliers were contacted, 15 000 suppliers registered, >50 000 company staff were reached;
- 1 600 individuals from companies received training in supply chain communication concerning SVHCs. It will take however more years for the actual substitution of substances and thus a substantial reduction of SVHCs;
- widespread support from competent authorities and REACH helpdesks from all 27 EU Member States and beyond.
The activities initiated by AskREACH will continue into the future as most of the involved actors continue to work in this field.
