The chemical industry sits at the intersection of multiple ESG pressures: product safety regulation (REACH, TSCA), process emissions (energy-intensive operations, fugitive emissions), waste management (hazardous waste), water use (cooling and process water), and supply chain responsibility (raw material sourcing).
The EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the revision of REACH signal a shift toward safer chemistry — restricting substances of very high concern (SVHCs), promoting green chemistry, and requiring lifecycle environmental assessment for chemical products.
For Indian chemical manufacturers exporting to Europe, compliance with REACH registration, restriction, and authorisation requirements is essential for market access. The costs are significant, but the alternative — losing access to the world’s largest chemicals market — is worse.
RSustain’s chemicals sector advisory covers environmental management systems, GHG inventory development, hazardous waste management, wastewater treatment, and regulatory compliance mapping. We help companies build integrated environmental management approaches that address multiple regulatory frameworks simultaneously.
The chemical industry has the knowledge to solve many environmental challenges — from biodegradable materials to carbon capture solvents. Companies that invest in sustainable chemistry will create value; those that resist will face tightening regulation and shrinking market access.