will help companies to ensure a more efficient management of chemicals and to substitute hazardous substances

How can the use of harmful substances in business be reduced?

On 23rd and 24th October, 2018, in Riga, representatives from 17 European states will debate on which mechanisms would most effectively help businesses to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in their daily activities.

According to calculations by the campaign Healthy Workplaces Manage Dangerous Substances, approximately 38% of businesses in Europe use dangerous substances on a daily basis. Such substances pose a serious risk to employees and the surrounding environment, as well as consumers.

Are changes required to the existing laws? Perhaps the supervisory authorities need strengthening and tighter controls of businesses required? Or maybe the solutions lie in marketing tools and business management principles?
The seminar will be attended by representatives from various fields – entrepreneurs, international and national responsible authorities, consumer protection officers, researchers, business consultants etc. – who will assess the risks and opportunities of each mechanism in question.

The compiled recommendations and conclusions will be available to all interested parties after the seminar and will be published on the website.

The international seminar Encourage and Support Enterprises to Minimise the Use of Harmful Substances is being organised by Riga City Council and Baltic Environmental  within the framework of three projects – LIFE AskREACH, LIFE Fit for REACH, NonHazCity - supported by the European Union’s funding instruments LIFE and INTERREG.