Product Stewardship covers all stages of a product's lifecycle - initial concept, design, research and development, the sourcing of raw materials, manufacture, storage, distribution, applications, reasonably foreseeable uses, recycling and disposal. It requires management, employees, contractors, customers and all those involved in the supply chain to work together in following safe, environmentally sound practices.

Product Stewardship aims at environmental protection centred on the entire life cycle of the product. The concept of lifecycle is key in this approach. Through adequate information on the safe conditions of use of chemicals, through understandable communication all along the value chain, through innovation and transparency on the future of our products after use, we will build trust and contribute to the sustainable development of our planet.

Product Stewardship is good news for all those concerned with the safe use of chemicals. It helps the industry to identify potential risks at an early stage and to manage those risks along the supply chain. It helps us to anticipate and meet new demands for innovative, environmentally-sustainable products.

By adopting Product Stewardship, companies of all sizes can play their part in protecting people and the environment from potential harm. Although companies are technically liable only for that part of the supply chain that they themselves manage, they need to be concerned with everything that happens to their products from start to finish.

In seeking to manage the risks associated with chemicals, the industry attaches special importance to improving the support it offers to its members (particularly small and medium-sized enterprises) as well as to its customers. This work is done partly through Cefic, and partly at national level with Cefic co-ordination.