Environment

The toxic pollution of our bodies, soils, waters, and air is one of the great environmental crises facing Europe and the rest of the world. Big polluters including industrial chemical and plastics producers are working hard in Brussels and the EU member states to oppose, delay, and weaken proposed rules aimed at tackling the burden that these toxic producers place on our society and on our biodiversity.

Plastic bottles

Tackling global plastic pollution... and plastic polluters

09.11.2023
As negotiators gather to discuss the Global Plastics Treaty, fossil fuel and plastics lobbyists oppose any deal that limits plastics production. But such limits are the only way to protect the health of humans, ecosystems, and the climate. We need a lobby firewall between policy-makers and industry.
Dangerous chemicals by Tom Blackwell

EU Ombudsman criticises Commission failure to disclose full REACH revision impact assessment

27.09.2023
The EU Ombudsman has found that it was “maladministration” when the EU Commission did not disclose the full impact assessment and associated Regulatory Scrutiny Board opinion on the upcoming REACH revision.
Deind de

Which comes first - chemical-industry profits or health?

Stricter European Union regulation of toxic chemicals is being jeopardised by corporate lobbying
25.09.2023
‘Stop deindustrialisation!’ is the latest hyperbole from the German chemical-industry association in pushing back against more robust regulation of toxic chemicals.
PFAS overview

Are PFAS the new tobacco?

The EU shouldn't listen to the chemicals industry when it comes to regulating PFAS
24.07.2023
The EU is proposing to phase out PFAS, the toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in everything from frying pans to waterproof coats. But PFAS producers and their industry customers are fighting back.
Lobby
Climate

Oil-linked group's EU influencing exposed

Corporate Europe Observatory complains to EU institutions
19.07.2023
The Consumer Choice Center, a US oil-linked pressure group, is now the subject of a new complaint for untransparent and problematic lobbying.
PFAS 0

PFAS are forever?

How the chemical industry is fighting back against regulation
13.07.2023
Corporate Europe Observatory uncovers the story of how the toxics industry is fighting back against the upcoming regulation of PFAS or 'forever chemicals', which are found in everything from frying pans to food packaging.
Chemicals

Out of REACH?

Redacted documents suggest Commission's chemicals backsliding
11.07.2023
A redacted European Commission impact assessment has revealed a worrying dilution of ambition on the reform of REACH, the EU's key chemicals regulation. Meanwhile the European Ombudsman is probing whether the full impact assessment should have been released.
Big Toxics firepower

Big Toxics and their lobby firepower

25.05.2023
New analysis shows that major chemical industry players ‒ Big Toxics ‒ are at the top of LobbyFacts rankings when it comes to lobby spend.
BASF Controversies

It's time to tackle BASF’s legacy of pollution and end its burden shifting

04.05.2023
EU and member state decision-makers need to agree robust new rules to get the chemicals industry in line and paying its way in full.
Inside job deregulation small

European Ombudsman announces new inquiry into Regulatory Scrutiny Board

05.04.2023
The European Ombudsman has responded positively to our request for an inquiry into the role of the Commission's Regulatory Scrutiny Board.
Brumadinho dam collapse
Lobbying the EU

NGOs submit complaint about risk of MEP's conflicts of interest

05.04.2023
NGOs including Corporate Europe Observatory have today raised serious concerns about the risk of conflicts of interest by an MEP working on the Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence file.
Chemical romance
Food & agriculture

Chemical romance: how politicians fell for BASF

15.03.2023
The biggest chemical producer in the world, German company BASF is a political powerhouse and has used its influence to push back against chemicals regulation in the EU. No wonder, when its products include ‘forever’ chemicals and hazardous pesticides. Check out our new profile.