Toxics reduction in ten large companies, why and how

Environmental management can be directed to the various aspects of environmental performance. As toxics are a main concern for companies toxics reduction has to be one of these aspects. To achieve a substantial reduction in toxics, companies should develop a strategy with clear targets, a program, an evaluating procedure for toxics reduction and integrate the toxics reduction in all components of the environmental management system (EMS). Monitoring, including materials accounting of toxic chemical use and byproduct generation, and requirements for the purchased products and raw materials, should be part of the activities. The toxics reduction strategy should be extended to the whole field of potential impacts of toxics, the general environment, the working environment and products. The aim of this survey is to find out why and how companies are reducing toxics (releases and use) and to which extent companies fulfil the requirements mentioned for a substantial reduction of toxics. All but one of the studied companies mentioned compliance (with environmental regulation) as one of the reasons for toxics reduction, product (safety) was mentioned by four companies and the working environment was mentioned twice. Six of the studied companies have substantial programs for toxics reduction. That compliance is a reason for toxics reduction is reflected in the programs for toxics reduction mainly focussing on toxic release reduction. The programs for toxics reduction were very different in complexity, varying from a black list to the execution of a complex program. The ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of toxics reduction seems to be strongly related. Most companies fulfil only a limited part of the requirements for a substantial toxics reduction. Only one company was found that met most of the requirements.