There are many reasons to substitute chemicals and choose less hazardous chemicals to reduce risks at your workplace. But if you don’t substitute, what are the consequences? This blog aims to answer this question. We will also take a look at success stories of companies that have chosen less hazardous chemicals for their products.
Hazardous substances can be found in nearly all workplaces across Europe. Some are more dangerous than others and many of them can be substituted to less hazardous substances and mixtures. Some substances are now banned or under strict control in both the EU and the UK, such as asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Other substances can be harmful, and you need to make sure they are properly managed.
If you do not substitute hazardous chemicals and substances to less harmful ones, your company could face significant risks.
Table of contents
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1. Exposing your employees to unnecessary harm
There is a range of health problems that can be caused by chemicals, from mild eye irritation to cancer and birth defects. Sometimes the effects can be acute while other chemicals and substances have a cumulative effect and it can take 30 years before the user notices the harm done by such chemicals.
In 2015, 17% of workers in the EU reported being exposed to chemical products or substances for at least a quarter of their working life and 15% report breathing in smoke, fumes, powder or dust at work.
In the UK specifically, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported in 2024 that around 12,000 deaths a year can be attributed to previous exposure to harmful substances.
2. Facing emerging risks
The world is always changing. New technologies and legislation are two areas that can affect the use of chemicals in your workplace.
New chemicals are being created every day. During the last 50 years the production of chemicals has increased from 7 million tonnes to 400 million tonnes. We don’t know everything about these chemicals and therefore the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has created the largest database on chemicals in the world, containing information about 140,000 chemicals and 22,667 unique substances.
Some of these are substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and you can find them on the Candidate List for eventual inclusion in the Authorisation List. Once they are on the Authorisation List, industries need to apply for permission to continue using the substance. As of January 2025, ECHA has added five chemicals to the Candidate list, and updated the listing for one.
The UK has its own Candidate List and Authorisation List for SVHCs, under UK REACH. It should be noted that the UK and EU lists are not identical. As of January 2024, the UK government has not added any new chemicals since 2018, whereas the EU has added 31.
If you do not substitute chemicals that contain substances such as SVHCs you risk having to apply for permission to use the chemical. This is both expensive and time-consuming. Your employees and the environment will also be continuously exposed to hazardous chemicals.
It is also preferable to be prepared when other legislation is tightened. As an example, to switch to petrol or electric cars before diesel cars are banned, so you don’t have to buy two cars in a short period of time.
3. Unnecessary harm to the environment
Many hazardous substances currently exist in low concentrations in plants, animals and humans. When substances are created or extracted by humans, they should not threaten human health or biodiversity. Substances and chemicals are being used all around us in both cosmetics, plastics and computers.
During manufacturing and use of the products, chemicals are being released into the environment. Hazardous man-made chemicals have contaminated every environment and wildlife. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), one of the main causes of biodiversity loss in Europe is pesticide pollution. These agricultural pesticides appear in rivers and lakes, where they can damage aquatic ecosystems and impact drinking water.
Another major source of concern is the presence of Polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water. Used mainly in manufacturing, these chemicals have possible links to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
4. Becoming a less attractive employer
If you chose not to substitute chemicals at your workplace you risk becoming a less attractive employer. Employees will care for the company they are working for if they know that they are being looked after. Putting effort into employee wellness can encourage better teamwork, increased productivity and reduce sick leave and workplace accidents.
Work-related health problems result in an economic loss of 4–6% of GDP for most countries. The basic health services to prevent occupational and work-related diseases cost on average between £16-54 per worker.
The 2024-2025 Global Talent Trends survey by Mercer found that when asked what they expect from their company on sustainability, employees’ top priority was “offering minimum health and well-being benefits to all workers — yet only one-third of organizations have done so”.
5. Missing out on competitive advantages
When other companies substitute to less harmful substances and chemicals, they will be able to market the new product as “BPA-free” for example, which will give them a competitive advantage if your company chooses not to substitute.
In recent years we have seen major growth within the sustainable marketplace. According to a survey by Accenture more than 80% of survey participants said they felt it was “important or extremely important” for companies to design environmentally conscious products.
6. Success stories of companies who work with substitution
BPA-free products in France
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been used since the 1960’s. Most of it is used in manufacturing of plastics, but some is used in thermal paper, for example cash registers and credit card terminals. It is also used in bottles for drinks and sports equipment. BPA is classified in the EU as a substance that has toxic effects on our ability to reproduce.
In 2014 France proposed to restrict BPA in thermal papers. They also made it easier for companies to find safer alternatives they could substitute to on a website.
Dr Aurélien Gouzy of INERIS, the French national competence centre for industrial safety and environmental protection explains:
“We have been very active on BPA in France since 2012, when our government published a national strategy on endocrine disruptors. In line with the strategy, in 2014, the minister of environment asked large distributors and banks to make a voluntary commitment to use bisphenol free thermal paper. INERIS was asked to help in developing ‘BPA-free label’, which could be issued to every company with a BPA-free policy.”
COOP Denmark
COOP has worked hard to ban all packaging containing fluorinated substances. Highly fluorinated substances are used because they can form smooth surfaces and repel water, grease and dirt. Many of these are bioaccumulative, which means that they accumulate in living organisms.
“Consumers in Denmark are well educated about food and product safety. This translates to a strong demand for safer and cleaner products from their retailers”, says Malene Teller, head of sustainability and social compliance from COOP Denmark.
In Summary
- Exposure to dangerous substances is a major health and safety issue. Make sure you are aware of health and safety legislation in the UK, EU and in your country.
- Get in control of your chemicals and the risks with a chemical management system including substance registers and legislation lists
- You can lower and eliminate risks by substituting hazardous chemicals
It will take a lot of time and effort to complete the above steps if your organisation is still relying on a manual chemical management system.
Chemical substitution software can make the process much easier, while ensuring that each step is properly documented.
