| Summary: | Large quantities of chemicals are used in all areas of society. The chemicals can be toxic and dangerous for the environment if used incorrectly. To protect people and the environment from dangerous chemicals, a good control of them and an active work to phase out hazardous substances in all areas where chemicals are present, are needed. Banverket and Vägverket handle in production a wide range of chemical products. Many of the products are dangerous to the environment, for those who work with them and to others who may come into contact with them. Since January 2005 Banverket and Vägverket cooperates in the chemical field, using a common chemical database and common requirements and criteria for the assessment of chemical products. In this work, I have conducted an inventory of hazardous substances used within Banverket and Vägverket and I have also tried to identify the drivers and barriers that are linked to work with the phasing out of hazardous chemicals and to apply the law product choice principle. One of Sweden's environmental objectives is Non-Toxic Environment, which has an intermediate target, which reads, "Phasing out of hazardous substances." Working actively with the phase-out reduces the risks of hazardous chemicals coming out into the environment and contributes to reaching the desired environmental goal in time. Higher demand from authorities and legislative changes may intensify work with chemicals and the phasing out. However, the driving force for wanting to reduce the number of hazardous chemicals found in an activity must be there if the phasing out process will be successful and a general responsibility must be taken in order to achieve the environmental objective. I have found that the phasing out of chemicals is very complex and requires hard work to tbe successful. Banverket and Vägverket are on track and have good practices in their work but there is more to do. Making use of the driving forces that exist and the smooth way to pass obstacles in the way you will get a very successful work with the phasing out of chemicals and application of the product choice principle. I hope that the outcome of the thesis will stimulate a more active work with the phasing out of chemicals, which also contributes to achieving the environmental objective A Non-Toxic Environment.
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