This UNEP report addresses the role that labelling initiatives can play in managing chemicals of concern (CoCs) and proposes recommendations to scale up these initiatives’ effectiveness to track and control the use of CoCs along the electronics value chain.
It recognizes that ensuring access to chemical information by all stakeholders involved in the value chain is an important first step towards minimizing chemical hazards of electronic products, while enabling circularity. Furthermore, along with legislation which can control market access and include specific provisions on the use of CoCs, it reveals how ecolabels can recognize best practices and serve as a practical tool for the industry to enhance transparency and traceability through the value chain and drive progress beyond regulations.
On key challenges and gaps that currently impede labelling initiatives to effectively improve chemicals management in the electronics sector, the report highlights complex and international nature of value chains, cost- or capacity-related barriers to the adoption of ecolabels, and knowledge gaps in the presence of CoCs that may undermine ecolabels’ and auditors’ capacity to assess and certify products.