13 Information Flow System for Chemicals in Products (CiP) …
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control, the possibility of the substitution of hazardous substances and end-of-life
management (Kogg and Thidell 2010). This information is the essential basis of
decisions concerning human safety or the sound environment.
In this situation, the CiP Programme was initiated by UNEP in 2009 and welcomed
by the second session of the International Conference of Chemicals Management
(ICCM2). On the other hand, some industries, for example, the automobile manufacturers or the electric and electronic (E&E) industry, have attempted to make information flow systems through the supply chain. In this context, a new information
flow system, called chemSHERPA, was initiated in Japan in 2016. ChemSHERPA
succeeded in the first stage, involving over 10,000 companies as mentioned below,
and we should now consider the next step.
As for CiP information systems, some authors have provided overall surveys
(Kogg and Thidell 2010; Massey et al. 2008; Becker, Monica Becker Associates
Sustainability Consultants 2009; Bengtsson et al. 2011). Most other papers or reports
are analyses of the information flow itself or demands from stakeholders. These
are based on interviews focusing on a specific field, such as textiles, electronics or
consumer products (Fransson and Molander 2013; Kuo et al. 2014; Nimpuno et al.
2011; Fransson et al. 2013; Scruggs and Ortolano 2011). While analysis of information flow or demand is important, the main purpose of the systems is to comply with
laws, as described below. Hence, the legal standpoint is also imperative. From a legal
perspective, there are two ways in which information systems may develop. One
is to redesign the legal system itself. This is necessarily time-consuming, although
it deals with the problems at a fundamental level. The other is to re-examine the
existing information system without revision of the current legal system. This must
be temporary, but can be performed so quickly that it may complement the time gap
generated by redesigning of the legal system. In this paper, we choose the latter way,
a re-examination of chemSHERPA, and will discuss revising its information content
from a legal perspective. That is to say, the aim of this paper is to suggest a revision
of the chemSHERPA substances list.
The next section begins with a review of the conceptual backgrounds of CiP
information systems: CM and the circular economy (CE). In the third section, we
present a brief history of chemSHERPA and describe its characteristics. Then we
point out that a missing but essential part of chemSHERPA is the final disposal
stage, closely related to the social dimension of sustainable development (SD). In
the fourth section, we analyse the legal systems for final disposal in Japan, the US and
EU, make some specific suggestions regarding the modification of the chemSHERPA
list in the fifth section, which is followed by the conclusion.
13.2 Conceptual Background
In this section, we review the conceptual backgrounds of the information flow
systems, not only chemSHERPA but also similar systems around the world. The
similar systems include the International Material Data System (IMDS) (IMDS
193
control, the possibility of the substitution of hazardous substances and end-of-life
management (Kogg and Thidell 2010). This information is the essential basis of
decisions concerning human safety or the sound environment.
In this situation, the CiP Programme was initiated by UNEP in 2009 and welcomed
by the second session of the International Conference of Chemicals Management
(ICCM2). On the other hand, some industries, for example, the automobile manufacturers or the electric and electronic (E&E) industry, have attempted to make information flow systems through the supply chain. In this context, a new information
flow system, called chemSHERPA, was initiated in Japan in 2016. ChemSHERPA
succeeded in the first stage, involving over 10,000 companies as mentioned below,
and we should now consider the next step.
As for CiP information systems, some authors have provided overall surveys
(Kogg and Thidell 2010; Massey et al. 2008; Becker, Monica Becker Associates
Sustainability Consultants 2009; Bengtsson et al. 2011). Most other papers or reports
are analyses of the information flow itself or demands from stakeholders. These
are based on interviews focusing on a specific field, such as textiles, electronics or
consumer products (Fransson and Molander 2013; Kuo et al. 2014; Nimpuno et al.
2011; Fransson et al. 2013; Scruggs and Ortolano 2011). While analysis of information flow or demand is important, the main purpose of the systems is to comply with
laws, as described below. Hence, the legal standpoint is also imperative. From a legal
perspective, there are two ways in which information systems may develop. One
is to redesign the legal system itself. This is necessarily time-consuming, although
it deals with the problems at a fundamental level. The other is to re-examine the
existing information system without revision of the current legal system. This must
be temporary, but can be performed so quickly that it may complement the time gap
generated by redesigning of the legal system. In this paper, we choose the latter way,
a re-examination of chemSHERPA, and will discuss revising its information content
from a legal perspective. That is to say, the aim of this paper is to suggest a revision
of the chemSHERPA substances list.
The next section begins with a review of the conceptual backgrounds of CiP
information systems: CM and the circular economy (CE). In the third section, we
present a brief history of chemSHERPA and describe its characteristics. Then we
point out that a missing but essential part of chemSHERPA is the final disposal
stage, closely related to the social dimension of sustainable development (SD). In
the fourth section, we analyse the legal systems for final disposal in Japan, the US and
EU, make some specific suggestions regarding the modification of the chemSHERPA
list in the fifth section, which is followed by the conclusion.
13.2 Conceptual Background
In this section, we review the conceptual backgrounds of the information flow
systems, not only chemSHERPA but also similar systems around the world. The
similar systems include the International Material Data System (IMDS) (IMDS