Why were the Principles developed and how will they be used?

Clean Production Action (CPA), the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2), and the stakeholders that spent over a year working on the Principles envision the Principles will inform and support efforts to develop new or update existing: public and corporate policies, industry standards, supply chain initiatives, and market efforts to promote greater chemical transparency in products.

What types of organizations are welcome to endorse the Principles?

All organizations are welcome to endorse the Principles, including businesses from all sectors, governments, health care organizations, investors, NGOs, and university programs.

Which business sectors are likely to endorse the Principles?

All sectors are welcome to encourage transparency and endorse the Principles. The sectors most represented among endorsers are those that have been the most active in transparency initiatives, including the: household & personal products; building products; health care; and financial investment sectors.

What product categories do the Principles apply to?

All product categories are in scope. The Principles apply to both articles and formulated products.

What are the challenges to meeting the Principles?
  • Confidential business information (CBI): CBI protections of suppliers challenge companies to have the information in hand and to make it public.
  • Lack of systems & resources. Tracking down information from the supply chain is a laborious process. Therefore companies need to:
    • Invest in systems for collecting and managing the data.
    • Invest in human resources to track the data down from reluctant suppliers.
    • Set up contracts that require disclosure, and ultimately stop purchasing from suppliers who do not share the data.
  • Beyond regulatory compliance:
    • These Principles, in many instances, take companies beyond compliance which can push some organizations beyond their current practices. In some product categories, for example cleaning products, these Principles align with current policies and regulations in states such as California and New York.
How do the Principles address confidential business information (CBI)?

The Principles recognize that there are circumstances in which protecting CBI is justified. Specifically, the Principles state, “Signatories to these Principles recognize the need to protect confidential business information (CBI) in limited situations when protection of the information is justified and substantiated.” Justified CBI claims include:

  • Exact recipe data and proportions in products and formulations.
  • Market share data.
  • Chemical structures or mixtures of specific chemicals that impart unique properties. Note: chemicals of concern on a “specified chemical of concern list” are not justified CBI.
For the “specified lists of chemicals of concern”, are regulators also pushing to phase these out?

Yes, regulators are targeting for phase out some of the chemicals on the lists of chemicals of concern.

How are the Principles being communicated?

Go to BizNGO and IC2 websites for the Principles and list of endorsers.

How can organizations endorse the Principles?

We welcome any organization to endorse the Principles.

Do companies already meet all the Principles?

Yes, some companies already meet these Principles, while others are at earlier stages in their transparency efforts. By endorsing these Principles organizations confirm their commitment to and belief in transparency.

What are the implementation expectations for endorsers of the Principles?

There are no implementation requirements for endorsers of the Principles. The Principles provide a clear framework for constant improvement. Follow-up may include discussions and presentations on examples and best practices of the Principles at BizNGO and IC2.

Do you anticipate updates to the Principles?

No.

What is the geographical scope of the Principles?

The development of the Principles emerged in the U.S., with U.S.-based businesses, governments, and NGOs. Yet the Principles are equally relevant globally. We welcome endorsers from across the globe, and highlight the value of disclosure across global supply chains.

What can companies do to implement the Principle #5 to make accurate chemical ingredient information easily accessible?

The Terms & References Guidance Document provides more detail. For instance, the Document discusses providing information at point of sale. This could mean that for goods sold in a physical store, the information is provided on a product label and for online sales, the information is provided as part of the product listing on an online store. Providing information on product labels is an effective means for addressing the digital divide. Similarly, the Document discusses providing information in multiple languages—in largely Spanish speaking regions, this could mean providing the information in both English and Spanish.

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