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Kemikaliehänsyn i ekodesigndirektivet-ett steg mot utökat livscykelperspektiv

Lindgren, Clara LU (2011) JURM01 20102
Department of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Vår tillgång till information om vilka kemiska ämnen som florerar i samhället är relativt bristfällig och följande utredning strävar efter att finna förslag på förbättrande åtgärder. För att skapa en bra utgångspunkt ska den EU-rättsliga regleringen av kemikalier och information sammanfattas och sedan analyseras. I fokus är främst ekodesigndirektivet, REACH-förordningen samt produktdirektiven RoHS och WEEE. Det viktigaste syftet är att utreda ekodesigndirektivets potential att fungera som en samordnande reglering för informationsplikt gällande kemikalier i varor. Frågeställningen innefattar även hur dessa fyra rättsakter kan och bör samspela för att skapa ett förbättrat informationsflöde genom hela produktlivscykeln.
Ekodesigndirektivet... (More)
Vår tillgång till information om vilka kemiska ämnen som florerar i samhället är relativt bristfällig och följande utredning strävar efter att finna förslag på förbättrande åtgärder. För att skapa en bra utgångspunkt ska den EU-rättsliga regleringen av kemikalier och information sammanfattas och sedan analyseras. I fokus är främst ekodesigndirektivet, REACH-förordningen samt produktdirektiven RoHS och WEEE. Det viktigaste syftet är att utreda ekodesigndirektivets potential att fungera som en samordnande reglering för informationsplikt gällande kemikalier i varor. Frågeställningen innefattar även hur dessa fyra rättsakter kan och bör samspela för att skapa ett förbättrat informationsflöde genom hela produktlivscykeln.
Ekodesigndirektivet trädde ikraft 2005 och omfattar i nuläget energirelaterade produkters förbrukning av el samt närliggande frågor. Det är ett nytt direktiv men förväntningen är att det inom kort ska komma att reglera fler produkter och även andra typer av miljöpåverkan. Ekodesign innebär per definition att hela produktlivscykeln beaktas utan att en förbättring i ett visst led överförs till ett annat. Direktivet ska revideras år 2012 och svenska kemikalieinspektionen strävar efter att man därmed inför en reglering av kemikalier. Idag tenderar man att bortprioritera kemiska ämnens miljöpåverkan eller skjuta över problemet på andra regleringar såsom REACH eller RoHS.
Den omfattande användningen av kemikalier i varor är ett växande problem för miljö och hälsa och det finns många aktörer som skulle gynnas av ett bättre informationssystem. Konsumenter saknar i dagsläget lättillgänglig information och därmed möjligheten att aktivt välja bort särskilt farliga varor och på så sätt påverka marknadsutbudet. Återvinningsanläggningar har problem med att ta till vara på material i den utsträckning som hade varit möjligt med tillgång till rätt information.
Förbättrad tillgång till information om varors kemiska sammansättning skulle innebära ett sundare och mer hållbart samhälle men problemet är att leverantörer och tillverkare ofta inte ens själva har tillgång till de upplysningar som skulle krävas. Produktionsledet består av många underleverantörer i lika många länder och i de flesta fall försvinner uppgifterna på vägen.
Skulle ekodesigndirektivet utvidgas i linje med sin ursprungliga ambition kan införandet av en bestämmelse rörande information om kemiskt innehåll i produkter komma att bli en betydelsefull och relevant förbättring. Detta bör i så fall ske i harmoni och samkoordination med närliggande regleringar, såsom REACH, RoHS och WEEE. (Less)
Abstract
Our access to information on which chemicals now prevailing the society is relatively insufficient and the following investigation endeavor to find a suggestion on how to improve the current situation. This essay is an attempt to summarize the regulation of chemicals and information within the EU. Focus is on the Ecodesign Directive, REACH as well as RoHS and WEEE. Main purpose is to investigate whether the Ecodesign Directive has the potential to work as a coordinating regulation for information on chemicals in articles Another question at issue is how these four regulations could and should interact in order to create a better flow of information throughout the product lifecycle.
The Ecodesign Directive entered into force in 2005, which... (More)
Our access to information on which chemicals now prevailing the society is relatively insufficient and the following investigation endeavor to find a suggestion on how to improve the current situation. This essay is an attempt to summarize the regulation of chemicals and information within the EU. Focus is on the Ecodesign Directive, REACH as well as RoHS and WEEE. Main purpose is to investigate whether the Ecodesign Directive has the potential to work as a coordinating regulation for information on chemicals in articles Another question at issue is how these four regulations could and should interact in order to create a better flow of information throughout the product lifecycle.
The Ecodesign Directive entered into force in 2005, which is quite recently and so far it comprehends energy related products and their consumption of electricity. The ambition however, is that it will cover all kinds of articles and every type of environmental impact they might have. By definition ecodesign implies that every stage and aspect is assessed and improved without transference of the impact to another part of the lifecycle. In 2012 the directive will be reviewed and the Swedish chemical agency is trying to initiate a provision on chemicals into the regulation. As for today, the issue of chemicals either does not have priority or is being pushed onto legislations such as REACH and RoHS.
The escalating use of chemical substances in articles is an increasing problem with effects on the environment as well as human health. There are many actors that would gain from an improved system of information. Consumers presently lack easy accessible information and thereby also the ability to make an informed and active choice based on environmental and health impact. If they had access to information on chemical contents they might have chosen a less toxic product, which in the long-run might lead to self-regulation of the market selection. Recyclers are finding trouble trying to reuse the waste articles they receive as they are seldom provided with sufficient instructions on how to dismantle and reuse a product containing hazardous chemicals.
More knowledge in this area would lead to a sound and more sustainable society but the problem is usually that not even the producers and suppliers know what their goods consist of. During production there are many subcontractors in various countries and the information tend to be lost halfway through.
If the Ecodesign Directive were to be extended in accordance with its original ambition, the introduction of a provision on chemical contents might be an important and relevant improvement. Such a development should be coordinated with kindred regulations as WEEE, RoHS and REACH. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lindgren, Clara LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Regulating chemical substances in the Ecodesign Directive - a step towards improved lifecycle perspective
course
JURM01 20102
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
ekodesigndirektiv, kemikalier, reach, weee, rohs
language
Swedish
id
1858559
date added to LUP
2011-05-04 11:45:44
date last changed
2011-05-04 11:45:44
@misc{1858559,
  abstract     = {{Our access to information on which chemicals now prevailing the society is relatively insufficient and the following investigation endeavor to find a suggestion on how to improve the current situation. This essay is an attempt to summarize the regulation of chemicals and information within the EU. Focus is on the Ecodesign Directive, REACH as well as RoHS and WEEE. Main purpose is to investigate whether the Ecodesign Directive has the potential to work as a coordinating regulation for information on chemicals in articles Another question at issue is how these four regulations could and should interact in order to create a better flow of information throughout the product lifecycle.
The Ecodesign Directive entered into force in 2005, which is quite recently and so far it comprehends energy related products and their consumption of electricity. The ambition however, is that it will cover all kinds of articles and every type of environmental impact they might have. By definition ecodesign implies that every stage and aspect is assessed and improved without transference of the impact to another part of the lifecycle. In 2012 the directive will be reviewed and the Swedish chemical agency is trying to initiate a provision on chemicals into the regulation. As for today, the issue of chemicals either does not have priority or is being pushed onto legislations such as REACH and RoHS.
The escalating use of chemical substances in articles is an increasing problem with effects on the environment as well as human health. There are many actors that would gain from an improved system of information. Consumers presently lack easy accessible information and thereby also the ability to make an informed and active choice based on environmental and health impact. If they had access to information on chemical contents they might have chosen a less toxic product, which in the long-run might lead to self-regulation of the market selection. Recyclers are finding trouble trying to reuse the waste articles they receive as they are seldom provided with sufficient instructions on how to dismantle and reuse a product containing hazardous chemicals.
More knowledge in this area would lead to a sound and more sustainable society but the problem is usually that not even the producers and suppliers know what their goods consist of. During production there are many subcontractors in various countries and the information tend to be lost halfway through.
If the Ecodesign Directive were to be extended in accordance with its original ambition, the introduction of a provision on chemical contents might be an important and relevant improvement. Such a development should be coordinated with kindred regulations as WEEE, RoHS and REACH.}},
  author       = {{Lindgren, Clara}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Kemikaliehänsyn i ekodesigndirektivet-ett steg mot utökat livscykelperspektiv}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}