The project RISKCYCLE (“Risk-based management of chemicals and products in a circular economy at a global scale”) was funded by the European Union Framework Program 7 (“FP7”). It started in 2009 and its aims were successfully accomplished by the end of the project, three years later (2012). Within this coordination action a consortium of international experts investigated and defined the future research needs and gaps of for innovation in the field of risk-based management of chemicals and products.

Various potential hazardous chemicals are used as additives in products worldwide. By developing new chemicals and product management approaches, the risks for human health and the environment should be minimized. As a first step, existing information about usage, risks, chemical properties and labelling chemicals and especially additives in consumer and industrial products were assembled and evaluated. RISKCYCLE focused on the fate and behaviour of these additives in six sectors: textile, electronics, plastics, leather, paper and lubricants. Additionally the project aimed at developing alternative testing strategies to minimize animal testing.

The following article summarizes the background, the aims and issues and the most important outcomes of the EU funded project RISKCYCLE. It gives a brief overview about how the issues arise within a circular economy, how the project partners worked together in a coordination action and how results and conclusions were obtained.