6 key insights from the Enhesa Chemicals Management and Sustainability Survey

The growing emphasis on environmental responsibility and sustainable practices has transformed the landscape of chemicals management in recent years. Regulatory requirements, consumer demand, and the need to minimize environmental and health risks are reshaping how companies approach chemicals management and their sustainability initiatives. 

To understand these challenges, the Enhesa Chemicals Management and Sustainability Survey asked industry professionals about their goals, risks and constraints.  

Here are six key insights from the survey. For more detailed analysis, you can access the full report here. 

1. Regulatory compliance is the main driver for chemicals management and sustainability objectives

• The most important goal for companies’ chemicals management and sustainability efforts is to remain compliant.  

• Three-in-four companies managing chemicals highlight not staying up to date with regulations as a risk, with one-in-four flagging it as a high risk. 

• Nearly half believe their companies are at risk of non-compliance.  

• Chemical restrictions are a significant part of staying compliant with chemical regulation.

2. External sources of pressure have the strongest influence

• For most companies, regulatory authorities are the primary drivers of pressure to achieve their chemical management and sustainability goals (including product safety, safe use, environmental health, and eliminating harmful chemicals). 

• Consumers (60%) and competitors/industry (47%) are also significant sources of pressure around chemical safety. 

• Internally, employees (28%) exert more pressure than the C-suite (11%).

3. Knowledge and information gap undermines companies’ key goals

• Four-in-ten don’t have full visibility of the chemical ingredients used in their products and processes. 

• Furthermore, less than half have a good understanding of what’s needed for chemical assessments. 

• The lack of knowledge and information hampers efforts to conduct accurate and proactive chemical assessments, putting companies at risk of non-compliance.  

[Access the full report]  

4. Supply chain gaps amplify transparency and compliance challenges

• Suppliers are the primary source of chemical information, including disclosure of any potentially hazardous chemical, yet three-quarters of companies don’t get consistent responses when requesting chemical substance information.  

• Even when suppliers do respond, 64% say that only partial information is provided. 

• Insufficient information makes it challenging to meet new reporting requirements, make confident sustainability claims, and conduct effective chemical screening.  Building stronger supplier relationships are key when managing chemicals. 

5. Limitations to implementing sustainable chemistry practices

• A lack of resources overall prevents companies from progressing safer chemical programs and sustainable chemistry practices.  

• A quarter recognizes that limited resources and staff hinder supplier engagement efforts. 

• The time it takes to research chemicals is a further blocker. 

6. Investment in people, processes and technology to drive efficiency

• Advanced tools can significantly reduce the time and effort needed for list screening.  

• A focus on one area alone isn’t enough. Improvements in sustainable chemistry practices depend on investment in tools for safer chemical programs, as well as dedicated teams (53%), and better staff training (53%).