The OECD blog ‘Plastics: It’s a Chemical Safety Matter’, written by Eeva Leinala, explores the importance of considering chemical safety throughout the lifecycle of plastics. Drawing on recent OECD research, the article explains how the chemicals used in plastics influence their performance, recyclability, and environmental impact, and argues that safer chemical choices at the design stage are essential for supporting a more sustainable and circular economy.  

Key takeaways

• Chemical safety should be considered from the design stage
  The article highlights that plastics are made from complex combinations of polymers and chemical additives, and that decisions made during product design have long-term implications for human health, environmental protection, and circularity. Integrating a ‘chemicals perspective’ early in the design process can help create safer and more sustainable plastic products.  
• Recycling creates additional challenges for chemical traceability
  As plastics move through use, disposal, and recycling, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify the chemicals they contain. This lack of information can make it challenging to assess whether recycled plastics are safe for use in new products.  
• Current standards do not fully address chemical content
  According to the OECD, existing recycling standards and certification schemes generally focus on recycled content and material traceability but do not routinely require analysis of chemical composition. This limits confidence in the safety of recycled plastics and highlights the need for more comprehensive approaches.  
• No single testing method can identify every chemical
  The article explains that recyclers currently rely on a combination of targeted and non-targeted analytical techniques to characterise recycled plastics. Continued research and improved testing methods will be needed to strengthen chemical safety and support higher recycling rates.  
• International collaboration is key to safer plastics
  The OECD recommends combining harmonised international standards, robust analytical methods, chemical traceability systems, research collaboration, and economic incentives to improve the safety and sustainability of recycled plastics across global value chains.  
• Chemical recycling is not a complete solution
  While chemical recycling may help remove some contaminants, the article notes that it is currently used at a much smaller scale than mechanical recycling and presents its own sustainability challenges. Designing products with safer chemicals from the outset remains a critical priority.  
• OECD continues to support safer chemical management
  The blog outlines the OECD’s ongoing work to harmonise chemical testing, strengthen risk management, promote safer alternatives, and support sustainable innovation, helping governments and industry improve chemical safety while advancing circular economy objectives.  

The article highlights that achieving a circular economy for plastics requires more than increasing recycling rates. Integrating chemical safety into product design, improving traceability, and strengthening international cooperation will be essential to ensuring recycled materials are both sustainable and safe.

Readers are encouraged to consult the original OECD blog and accompanying reports for further information.