Development and verification of new evaluation indicators for chemical management in corporations to meet WSSD goals

Abstract

During the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), it was agreed that adequate chemical management based on risk assessment should be achieved by 2020. To achieve the WSSD goals, it is important to evaluate and enhance the voluntary activities of corporations because they are the main agents dealing with chemical management. To this end, we developed new evaluation indicators that were combined with the SCP Axes (Science Axis - evaluation of the scientific basis; Capacity Axis - evaluation of the abilities of personnel and organizations; and the Performance Axis - evaluation of results of activities and information disclosure to the community, etc.) and 4 elements (hazard assessment, exposure assessment, risk assessment, and risk management). We administered surveys to Japanese corporations from 2006 to 2008 to verify the developed indicators. The survey results showed that the activities concerning chemical management were very different across corporations for each industry category and that the hazard assessment improved, reflecting a vigorous social movement that included legal obligations. Therefore, the new evaluation indicators possessed high resolution and precisely grasped the changes in corporate activities. We found that these indicators provided an effective way to understand corporate activities designed to meet the goals of the WSSD.