A multisector alliance approach to environmental social movements: flame retardants and chemical reform in the United States

Abstract

Research on environmental social movements often focuses on movements that target a limited spectrum of policy outcomes and that mobilize primarily around a relatively narrow swath of environmental issues. Through a case study of research and advocacy around flame retardant (FR) chemicals, we describe an unusual multisector alliance involving a broad coalition of participants and multiple levels of state and non-state targets aimed at influencing environmental governance of potentially toxic chemicals. This issue has brought together environmental and health activists, scientists, regulators, firefighters, fire safety professionals, journalists, hospital and building sustainability experts, and manufacturers and retailers. Our research draws on analysis of 126 in-depth interviews, literature and website reviews, and observations at an FR manufacturing company, government regulatory and research offices, and scientific and advocacy conferences. As part of the multisector alliance around FR regulations, many parties play a role in defining and acting on environmental health risks, with significant emphasis on public engagement in science and the impact of media. In these ways, the FR coalition partners have highlighted a new participatory form of environmental risk governance.