Glossary

A chemical product is any material or substance made through chemical processes or containing chemical compounds. These products can range from raw chemicals like acids and solvents to mixtures like paints, detergents, and cosmetics. REACH regulates the manufacture, import, and use of these chemicals in the European Union to ensure they are safe for human health and the environment.

The Circular Economy is an economic model and system that aims to keep products and materials in use. Unlike a traditional linear economy, which follows a "take, make, dispose" model, the circular economy emphasizes extending the lifecycle of products, promoting sustainable resource use, where products and their components are continuously cycled back into the economy.

The circularity refers to the practice of designing and managing products to minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and enable the continual use of resources through recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing. It focuses on creating closed loops in production and consumption where materials are kept in circulation and their value is maintained over time.

A climate-neutral economy balances environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic stability. It involves not only eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions but also ensuring sustainable use of natural resources, protecting biodiversity and reducing all forms of pollution.

A closed-loop recycling is a process where waste materials are recycled back into the same product or a similar one. Instead of being discarded or used for different purposes, the material is continuously reused within the same system.