The EU Chemical Policy, innovation and circular economy - can the trade-off be solved?

Abstract

The EU Chemical Policy aims at has negative effects on innovation and circular economy practices, in particular on the medical imaging devices sector, both from a qualitative and quantitave point of view. COCIR estimates that only 2,4% of the RoHS substances have been removed from medical imaging devices. The remaining 97,6% is actually covered by exemptions, as no alternatives are available. The substitution of such a small percentage came at the expense of resources, diverted from research and development of new life-saving technololgies. The medical imaging sector is a frontrunner in implementing a circular economy business model. Nonetheless some of the reuse practices have been halted by RoHS in 2014. The trade-off between cleaning the production process in EU from hazardous chemicals and promoting reuse of articles containing such substances is still far from being solved.