Report 3/26: In-Depth Evaluation of the Environmental Quality Objective “A Non-Toxic Environment" 2027

The overall assessment is that the environmental quality objective has not been achieved and cannot be achieved with existing and adopted policy instruments and measures. It is not possible to determine the direction of environmental trends.

The desired state of the environment as described in the environmental quality objective A Non-Toxic Environment cannot be achieved by 2030. Conditions for achieving the objective in the longer term have improved, but progress is too slow. One of the main reasons is that only a few years remain until the target year, limiting the scope for implementing the necessary measures.

Future developments will depend on society’s ability to prioritise and address chemical-related issues over the long term. At present, this is particularly difficult to assess. There are considerable uncertainties regarding the future development of chemicals management, including the continued implementation of the EU’s Chemicals Strategy, the effects of regulatory simplification at EU level, and the availability of resources and expertise amongst the responsible authorities. Other external factors may also affect the state of the environment. Such factors include the global security situation, global trade, and climate change, digitalisation and other technological developments, but it is unclear to what extent and in what direction.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency identifies a need for renewed, concerted action by stakeholders across society and for the Government to set the long-term direction by:

• Developing a Swedish strategy for A Non-Toxic Environment, including milestone targets extending beyond 2030, and linked to the global framework on chemicals. The strategy should address overarching governance needs and be relevant to all stakeholders in society.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency sees a need for Sweden to continue playing an active role in the development of preventive chemicals control within the EU and globally by:

• Actively contributing to the prioritisation, development, and regulatory application of new test methods for assessing the properties of chemicals.
• Actively contributing to the design and development of effective digital information sharing within the EU.
• Continuing to play a strong role in implementing and developing global conventions and agreements. The focus should be on phasing out the use of particularly hazardous substances and limiting exposure to them as far as possible, as well as strengthening the communication of information on the hazardous properties of chemical substances
• Continuing to contribute to decisions regulating hazardous substances within the EU and to improvements in EU chemicals control. This by regulatory development in areas such as information requirements and decision-making processes as well as more effective enforcement relating to e-commerce.

To strengthen efforts towards a Non-Toxic Environment, the Swedish Chemicals Agency sees a need for the Government to promote alternatives and create favourable conditions for Swedish businesses by:

• Developing a Swedish innovation agenda for the transition to the safe and sustainable use of chemicals, strengthened preparedness, and increased competitiveness. The aim should be to ensure access to safer and more sustainable alternative chemicals and technical solutions. This would reduce harm to human health and the environment, contribute to a circular economy, and increase investment in new technologies, infrastructure and preparedness.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency also sees a need for further measures to better protect our drinking water and food from contamination and to safeguard clean resources for Sweden’s self-sufficiency. This coincides with the need to protect ecosystems from the harmful effects of environmental pollutants. In Sweden, we see a need for:

• Preventing the creation of new contaminated sites and continuing to remediate sites contaminated by past activities.
• Further develop environmental monitoring and ensure effective data management, thereby improving feedback between environmental and chemicals legislation.
• Integrating the management of chemical risks into climate adaptation, and vice versa.
• Maintaining a focus on articles, e-commerce, and imports in market surveillance.
• Strengthening controls on waste management and excavated materials.