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Chemicals in household products: problems with solutions
Gillian A Glegg1, Jonathan P Richards
1The Marine Institute, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, UK PL4 8AA.
Environmental Management
|September 29, 2007
Summary
Consumers are concerned about household chemicals impacting personal health, not the environment. Barriers to adopting safer products include cost, performance, availability, and information gaps, necessitating consumer empowerment for sustainable chemical use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Consumer Behavior
- Chemical Regulation
Background:
- Regulatory success in reducing point-source emissions highlights other chemical sources.
- Increasing use of potentially harmful chemicals in domestic products globally.
- European Commission's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation addresses chemical concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate consumer and retailer attitudes towards chemicals in household products.
- To identify barriers to the adoption of "green-alternative" products.
- To explore pathways for empowering consumers towards sustainable chemical use.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with 7 key stakeholder groups.
- Quantitative public survey of 1,008 respondents.
- Exploratory focus groups (8) to delve deeper into survey findings.
Main Results:
- Consumer concern focuses on personal health risks from chemicals, not environmental impact.
- Barriers to purchasing "green-alternative" products include perceived high cost, poor performance, limited availability, and insufficient information.
- Consumers are receptive to sustainable chemical use if provided with the means to make informed choices.
Conclusions:
- While regulation is essential, changes in retailer and consumer behavior are crucial for managing chemical risks.
- Consumers currently lack the ability to make informed choices regarding chemicals in products.
- Empowering consumers is key to fostering a shift towards more sustainable chemical consumption patterns.
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