Assessment of value of chemical content management to UK Circular Economy

"The Circular Economy has been estimated to be worth from £9-29 billion and 10,000-175,000 jobs by 2030 depending on initiatives adopted for its success.

There currently exists a misalignment between chemicals legislation and the goals of developing circular economy policies that risks significant uncertainty in the chemical safety and compliance of secondary materials, as well as locking contaminants into a circular economy.

As the UK further implements its own new and revised chemical regulatory regimes, understanding both the value of circular chemical resource use and preventing legacy chemical presence is a critical opportunity. An improved evidence base is needed to influence outcomes and investment under the Government's Resources and Waste Strategy and the development of a Chemicals Strategy for a Circular Economy.

This project is for a study to bring together available data and value of options in the management of the chemical content of waste and secondary materials. The report and data can support EA regulatory activities and strategic plans, including influencing the implementation of the Governments new chemical strategy. It can also provide a basis for better engagement with industry for investment on predictable outcomes from reuse, recycling and recovery, including decisions on the end of waste."