Substitution of
    hazardous chemicals

Step 7: Substitution is a continuous process

After you have completed all the steps of the substitution process, it is important to monitor developments.

Does the new product or process meet your expectations, or do you meet unexpected problems? If so, what are they? It may be necessary to reconsider the changes you have made if for example:

• you receive new information indicating that
  replacement substances are hazardous to health or
  the environment or that there are risks involved in
  using them
• new alternatives (products or processes) become
  available
• new rules are adopted.

It may be necessary to replace the new product or process with an even better or safer one at a later date.

Is it possible to reduce the risk to health and the environment even further?

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   Exampel:
   Eco-labelling

Ecolabelling Norway can award the Nordic Swan ecolabel to products that have been evaluated according to high environmental standards relating to raw materials, production, properties during use and their impact as waste.

The criteria used to award the label are valid for three years, after which they are revised and made more stringent. This ensures that there is a constant cycle of improvement of products and services.

Detergents and cleaning agents are examples of product groups where ecolabelling has proved to be a useful tool in efforts to replace hazardous substances with less dangerous ones.