Beakers and glass bottles in a lab.

Safe and sustainable chemicals management 

UNEP develops tools, facilitates dialogues and provides technical support to help stakeholders in government, the private sector, academia and civil society work together towards the sustainable and safe management of chemicals.

Achieving a planet free from the harmful impacts of chemicals and waste requires multi-stakeholder action to improve chemicals management. 

Chemicals are an integral part of the materials and products used in daily life around the world.

UNEP engages with countries and stakeholders to identify issues of concern on chemicals and to improve information about chemicals in products.  

Through the Global Framework on Chemicals UNEP intends to build countries' capacities to better manage their chemicals and waste more sustainably.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), established in 2025 under the mandate of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), will further strengthen the global science-policy interface.  

The panel will facilitate authoritative, policy-relevant scientific advice to support the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. 

UNEP supports countries and stakeholders to better manage chemicals along their life-cycle and achieve the vision of A planet free of harm from chemicals and waste for a safe, healthy, and sustainable future.

Contact

The work of UNEP on safe and sustainable chemicals management is led by the Chemicals and Health Branch.

Last updated: 18 May 2026, 11:17