managing hazardous chemicals in electronics … · establishing a prtr disclosure system in china 4...
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InstituteofPublic&EnvironmentalAffairs(IPE)|IPENDECEMBER2017
MANAGINGHAZARDOUSCHEMICALSIN
ELECTRONICSPRODUCTION
EstablishingaPRTRDisclosureSysteminChina
2Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
InstituteofPublic&EnvironmentalAffairs(IPE)
The Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) is a non-profit environmental research
organizationbasedinBeijing,China.SinceitsestablishmentinMay2006,IPEhasdevelopedand
operated the BlueMapDatabase (www.ipe.org.cn) and the BlueMapmobile app. Alongwith
helping the public to access environmental information and protecting individuals’ health and
welfare, IPEdevotesitselftoservinggreensupplychaindevelopment,greenfinanceandpublic
environmental supervision in order to promote positive interaction between government,
companies and the public and to push for improvement in environmental quality and green
development.
IPENIPEN (www.ipen.org) is a global network of public interest non-governmental organizations
workinginmorethan100countriestoreduceandeliminatetheharmtohumanhealthandthe
environmentfromtoxicchemicals.
Authors:Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE): Ma Jun, Kate Logan, Ding Shanshan, Ruan
Qingyuan,YuanYuan,GuoMeicen,XuXin
IPEN:JoeDiGangi
WewouldalsoliketothankCarmenHuangforherresearchassistance.
Disclaimer:
ThisreporthasbeenwrittenbytheInstituteofPublicandEnvironmentalAffairsandIPENandinformation
containedinthereportisforreferenceonly.Informationinthereportwasobtainedfrompublicandlawful
sourcesandasfarasispossibletosay,isreliable,accurate,andcomplete.Informationinthereportcannot
besaidtobeanylegalbasisorproofassumedbyIPEand/orIPEN.IPEandIPENcansupplement,correctand
reviseinformationinthereportaccordingtorelevantlegalrequirementsandactualcircumstancesandwill
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consequencesarisingfromthepublicationofinformationinthereport.Anyquotesfromthereportmustbe
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manner.Therightoffinal interpretation,modificationandtoupdatethereport isbornesolelyby IPEand
IPEN.
3Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
TableofContents
Overview................................................................................................................4
1. Introduction:ExaminingUsesandReleasesofHazardousChemicalsinElectronicsProduction............................................................................................8
ChinaasaHotspotforHazardousChemicalsPollutionfromElectronicsProduction........9CentralEnvironmentalInspectionsTouchonElectronicsIndustryPollution...................12
2. TheOriginsofPRTRSystems..........................................................................14SilentSpring..................................................................................................................14
3. TheRoleofInformationDisclosure&PRTRSystems......................................17PracticalApplicationsforPRTRData.............................................................................18ApplicationsforCorporations..........................................................................................19ApplicationsforGovernments.........................................................................................19ApplicationsforNGOsandMedia...................................................................................21CaseStudy:Scorecard......................................................................................................21
4. GlobalPolicyFrameworkforChemicalsManagement.................................23AarhusConvention..........................................................................................................23StrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM)...........................24ElectronicsPollutionasanEmergingPolicyIssue............................................................25
5. BuildingaPRTRinChina:Progress&Gaps..................................................27ChinaStrivestoPromoteCorporateEnvironmentalInformationDisclosure..................27InformationDisclosureinChina’sManagementofHazardousChemicals.......................29DisclosureofChemicalsisCrucialtoWaterandSoilPollutionPrevention.....................33EffortstoImplementDisclosurePoliciesinChina..........................................................35TianjinTEDA’sPilotPRTRSystem.....................................................................................35NGOandMediaAdvocacy...............................................................................................36
IPE’sPRTRDisclosurePlatform......................................................................................37IPEDevelopsaPRTRReportingTemplate......................................................................38ScopeandImpact.........................................................................................................41CaseStudy:PushingSupplierstoTreatHeavyMetalsinRiverBasinSediment...............43CaseStudy:PRTRSystemDevelopedbyIPEHelpsCompaniesSuccessfullyReachNew
U.S.ProcurementStandards............................................................................................46RemainingGaps............................................................................................................47
6. Recommendations......................................................................................48
Appendices..........................................................................................................51AppendixI:IPEProposedPollutantInventoryforChina ..............................................51AppendixII:OverviewofPRTRSystemsWorldwide......................................................56TheU.S.ToxicsReleaseInventory(TRI)............................................................................56PRTRSystemsinEurope,JapanandtheRepublicofKorea.............................................58PRTRThresholds..............................................................................................................61
4Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Overview
Approximately 100,000 chemicals are used in the world today. 1 While chemicals can
contributetoeconomicdevelopmentandimprovedlivingstandards,theyalsoposeadverse
impacts on the environment and human health – especially during manufacturing and
production processes. After Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in the 1960’s, chemical
pollution began to drawwidespread attention, gradually becoming a priority objective for
environmentalmanagement.
Pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) systems are environmental databases or
inventoriesof potentially hazardous chemical substances and/orpollutants released to air,
water and soil and transferred off-site for treatment or disposal. Around theworld, PRTR
systems play a crucial role in environmental governance by requiring polluters to be
transparent and accountable toward end-of-pipe pollution discharge, safeguarding the
public’senvironmentalrighttoknow,andenablingmediaandcivilsocietytosuperviseand
push for discharge reductions, thus becoming key measures for controlling toxic and
hazardouschemicals.
Since the establishment of the U.S.’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) system in 1986, PRTR
systemshavebeen launched inover 50 countriesworldwide.2 Manyother countries have
expressed interest or are exploring the possibility of requiring PRTR disclosure. As
environmental informationdisclosuresystemshavespreadbetweennations,bestpractices
sharinghaspromptedglobalimprovementinenvironmentalgovernanceandpollutioncontrol.
Meanwhile, internationalagreementssuchas thePRTRProtocol to theAarhusConvention
andtheStrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM)havealsohelped
emphasize the importance of PRTR systems for managing the environmental and health
impactsofhazardouschemicals.
SinceChina’sMeasuresonEnvironmentalInformationDisclosurewentintoeffectin2008,vast
improvementsinenvironmentalinformationtransparencyinChinahavehelpedtoaddressthe
country’s environmental enforcement gap. Subsequent requirements in 2014 for around
14,000 of China’s key state-monitored enterprises to disclose real-time data for their air
emissions andwastewater dischargewere the first of their kindworldwide, reflecting the
Chinesegovernment’sinnovationinenvironmentalinformationtransparency.
Nevertheless,China’seffortstoleverageinformationdisclosureasameansofpollutioncontrol
havefocusedmoreondisclosureofconventionalpollutionparameters,andhaveyettoextend
topersistentandaccumulativepollutantssuchashazardouschemicalsandtoxicheavymetals
thatthreatenenvironmentalqualityandpublichealthalike.
1 Seevideo:http://www.saicm.org/EmergingPolicyIssues/Hazardousnbsp;Electricals/tabid/5474/language/en-
US/Default.aspx2 https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/tri-around-world
5Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
China continues to serve as the “workshopof theworld,” playinghost to capital-intensive
manufacturingprocessesthatusecopiousamountsofenergyandarehighlypolluting.Among
suchindustries,electronicsproductionposesaninordinateburdenonChina’senvironment.
Themanufacturingprocesses required toproduceelectronics components suchasprinted
circuit boards (PCBs), semiconductors, LCD screens, batteries and power supply units are
chemical-intensiveandcouldbehighlypolluting.Forinstance,productionofPCBsmayrequire
largeamountsofheavymetals,suchascopper,nickelandlead.Duetosignificantwastewater
discharge,manyofthesepollutantsaccumulateintheenvironment,causingathreattothe
environmentandhumanhealth.3
Amongallofthesourcesofhazardouschemicalpollution,theelectronicsindustryisalsomore
challenging to manage since it involves a comparatively higher number of factories and
thereforeemissionsaremoredispersed,asevidencedbysuchseverepollutioninelectronics
manufacturingclustersintheYangtzeRiverDeltaandPearlRiverDelta.Ofcourse,ifonegoes
furtherupstream,onemayalsotouchuponmoreconcentratedsourcesofpollution.
For example, inspection teams dispatched by China’s central government as part of an
enforcementdrivebeginningin2016found18centralizedwastewatertreatmentplantsinthe
Shanghai area tohave issueswithheavymetals inwastewater exceeding legal standards.4
Facingsevereconsequences,thewastewatertreatmentfacilitiesdeclaredthatthe“culprit”is
actually upstreamenterprises thatdischargeeffluent intopipeswithoutpermits orwhose
effluentexceedspre-treatmentstandards,includingmanyelectronicsmanufacturers.
China’s management of hazardous chemicals began in 2002. However, during the period
between China’s 11th and 12th five-year plans, control efforts focused more on massive
emissionsofsulfurdioxide(SO2)andnitrogenoxide(NOX),aswellaschemicaloxygendemand
(COD), ammoniacal nitrogen and other conventional pollutants, rather than hazardous
chemicals. Only with the 2013 implementation of the Measures on the Environmental
Management and Registration of Hazardous Chemicals (Trial) did China begin to make
information disclosure requirements for enterprises’ transfer and release of hazardous
chemicals. It could be said that this departmental regulation was the only normative
documentinChinawiththatincludedasemblanceofaPRTRsystem.
AlthoughChina’s13thFive-YearPlanforEco-EnvironmentalProtectionbeganto“strengthen
riskcontrolinheavymetals,hazardouswaste,andtoxicandhazardouschemicals”asoneof
four key tasks, the Measures on the Environmental Management and Registration of
Hazardous Chemicals (Trial) were never seriously implemented, and this regulation was
ultimatelyannulledin2016.
InadditiontotheMeasuresontheEnvironmentalManagementandRegistrationofHazardous
Chemicals(Trial),China’snewEnvironmentalProtectionLawanditsaccompanyingMeasures
3 BSR,“ElectronicsSupplyNetworksandWaterPollutioninChina”:
https://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_Electronics_Supply_Networks_Water_Pollution_in_China.pdf 4 http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2017/04-12/8197384.shtml
6Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
onEnvironmentalInformationDisclosureforEnterprisesandPublicInstitutions,whichwere
implemented in 2015, require that the environmental information from key pollution-
dischargingentitiesbemadepublic.Thelatterrequiresthepublicdisclosureof“thenamesof
key pollutants and characteristic pollutants, discharge mode, number and distribution of
emissions outlets, emissions concentration and total volume, situations of emissions
exceeding standards, aswell as implemented pollutant emissions standards and approved
emissionstotals.”China’snewWaterPollutionPreventionandControlLaw,whichwentinto
effectin2018,alsoexplicitlyrequiresthat"enterprises,publicinstitutionsandotherproducers
andoperatorsthatdischargetoxicandhazardouswaterpollutantsontheaforementionedlist
shall carry out monitoring, environmental risk assessment, and inspection of hidden
environmentalandsafetyrisksatdischargepointsandtheirsurroundingenvironments,aswell
as disclose information about toxic and hazardous water pollutants and adopt effective
measurestoprotectagainstenvironmentalhazards.”Accordingto IPE’sstatistics,somekey
entitiesforwastewatermonitoringhavepubliclydisclosedtheircharacteristicpollutantsand
hazardouswastedischarge.However,dataonthereleaseandtransferoftoxicandhazardous
substanceshasnotyetbeenpubliclydisclosedinacomprehensiveandcompletemanner,and
hasnotyetbecomethenorm.
Toaddressthisgap,inrecentyears,someregionsandorganizationshavelaunchedpilotwork
incertainareas toestablishPRTRdisclosuresystems.For instance, in theTianjinEconomic
DevelopmentArea(TEDA), theEU-ChinaEnvironmentalGovernanceProgrammesupported
anefforttoimplementPRTRdisclosuretotraincorporationsondisclosingtheirannualdata.
The InstituteofPublic&EnvironmentalAffairs (IPE)servedasapartner inthisprojectand
helpedtodevelopaseriesofPRTRrequirementsbasedontheexperienceofOECDcountries
thatarealsosuitableforChina’sdomesticsituation.Greenpeacehasalsopromoteddisclosure
ofhazardouschemicalsreleasesbyclothingcompaniesandgovernmentsthroughitsDetox
campaign.5
Atthesametime,sincethelaunchoftheGreenChoiceInitiativein2007,IPEhasadvocated
for companies to manage the environmental impacts of their supply chains in China by
requiring their high environmental impact suppliers to disclose annual PRTR data on IPE’s
database.PRTRdisclosurehasbeenintegratedintotheCorporateInformationTransparency
Index (CITI) standards, 6 which were jointly developed by IPE and the Natural Resources
Defense Council (NRDC), and has thus garnered a positive response from a number of
internationalanddomesticcompanies.WithintheITindustry,brandssuchasAppleandDell
haveintegrateddisclosureintotheirsupplychainmanagementmechanisms.
Yet,solongasdisclosureremainsvoluntary,ratherthanmandatory,theresultsofeffortsby
TEDAandorganizationssuchasIPEtopromotePRTRdisclosuresystemsinChinawillremain
5 https://www.greenpeace.org/archive-international/en/campaigns/detox/water/detox/intro/ 6 TheCITIwasjointlydevelopedbyIPEandtheNaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil(NRDC)in2014asthefirst
quantitativeevaluationsystemtoassessbrands’environmentalmanagementoftheirsupplychainsinChina.
Moreinformationcanbefoundhere:http://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/GreenSupplyChain/Main.aspx
7Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
severely limited. First, without mandatory requirements from regulations, companies and
NGOscanonlyexertpressureonpolluterstorequirevoluntarydisclosurebasedoncorporate
social responsibility, and therefore hold limited bargaining power. Second, themajority of
corporations to exert influence have published conventional pollutants from routine
monitoring,buthavealackofmotivationtomonitoranddisclosehazardouspollutants.Asa
result,voluntarydisclosuremechanismsarelimitedintheirabilitytouserankingsandother
meanstopressurehighpolluterstoreduceemissions,sincerankingscanonlybebasedon
informationvoluntarilydisclosedbyenterprises.Finally,lackofmandatoryPRTRrequirements
discouragesinnovationandpollutionpreventioneffortsofleadingcompanies.
Inrecentyears,aseriesofcasesofhazardouswastedischargethroughhiddenpipes,illegal
burying, and cross-boundary dumping have emerged, of which several have resulted in
pollution incidents that have drawn public concern and instability. New amendments to
China’sWaterPollutionandPreventionLaw,whichwentintoeffectonJanuary1,2018,require
thepublicationof a listof toxic andhazardouswaterpollutantsanddisclosureof relevant
informationbyusersofsuchpollutantsforthefirsttime,reflectinggreaterattentiontoward
controlofhazardouschemicals.
China’sexperienceagainshowsthateffectivecontrolandmanagementoftoxicandhazardous
materials requires the establishment of a PRTR system, and establishing a PRTR system
requiresastronglegalfoundation.Governmentshouldplayasignificantroleinlegislationand
implementation,includingdraftingandimplementingspecificandstandardizedpolicies.On
anotherlevel,differentsubsetsofthepublicneedtostrengthentheirrecognitiontowardthe
importanceofcorporatedisclosureoftoxicandhazardoussubstances,andworktogetherto
promotetheestablishmentofthesystem.Atpresent,legislativeworkhasnotyetbeenfully
launched, but pollution from hazardous substances will not wait. All parties must act,
especiallymajorinternationalanddomesticcompaniesandlargefinancialinstitutions.They
shouldbeginbyimplementinggreenprocurementandgreenfinance,andpromotedisclosure
of discharge data as a requirement for supply chain and credit, aswell as for enterprises
receivinginvestments.
Controllingtoxicandhazardoussubstancesiscrucialforpreservingtheenvironmentandthe
healthoffuturegenerations.EstablishingandimplementingaPRTRsystemwillhelpusmove
onestepclosertorestoringChina’sblueskiesandclearwaters.
8Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
1. Introduction: Examining Uses and
Releases of Hazardous Chemicals in
ElectronicsProduction
Approximately 100,000 chemicals are used in the world today. 7 While chemicals can
contribute to economic development and improved living standards, chemicals also pose
adverseimpactsontheenvironmentandhumanhealth–especiallyduringmanufacturingand
productionprocesses.Thisistruenotjustfortheproductionofthesechemicalsthemselves,
but also for those industries that require theuseof chemicals to createproducts that are
purchasedbyconsumersonthemarketorarecomponentsinotherfinalgoods.
Theelectronicsindustryisamajordownstreamuserofchemicalsthatdischargessignificant
amountsofchemicalsasbyproducts frommanufacturing.Productionofcertainelectronics
products, suchascomputersandmobilephones,mayuseasmanyasover1,000different
chemicals, primarily heavy metals, rare earth metals, solvents, and polymers and flame
retardants.8 Specificchemicalscommonlyfoundinelectronicsproductsincludelead,mercury,
cadmium, zinc,yttrium,chromium,beryllium,nickel,antimony trioxide,halogenated flame
retardants, tin,PVC,andphthalates.9 Moreover,asconsumersdemandsmallerand lighter
products,electronicsmanufacturersareincreasinglyturningtorarematerialsandmetals.
These chemicals pose detrimental impacts throughout the entire life cycle, from harming
factoriesworkers’healthandenvironmentaldamageduringproductiontocausingpollution
andhealthrisksthroughdisposalofelectronicswaste(“e-waste”),muchofwhichisshipped
to developing countries where supervision of final processing is lax to nonexistent. For
instance,Chinahandledaround70%oftheworld'se-wastein2012,butinefficientlegislation
causedmuchofthiswastetobeprocessedviaa"greymarket"forrecyclingworthabout$15
billionUSD.10
Pollutionfromelectronicsisahugeareaforconcernbecauseitshighconcentrationofheavy
metals, halogenated compounds, and harmful chemicals threatens human health and the
environmentalike.11 Forexample,productionprocessesforelectronicscomponents,suchas
printedcircuitboards(PCBs)andharddrives,requireampleuseofheavymetals.Researchers
havelinkede-wastepollutiontobeaprecursortocardiovasculardisease,DNAdamage,and
7 Seevideo:http://www.saicm.org/EmergingPolicyIssues/Hazardousnbsp;Electricals/tabid/5474/language/en-
US/Default.aspx8 GlobalChemicalsOutlook:TowardSoundManagementofChemicals.UNEP,2013:p.14.9 GlobalChemicalsOutlook,p.36.10 http://www.nature.com/news/take-responsibility-for-electronic-waste-disposal-1.20345 11 HazardousSubstancesine-Waste:http://ewasteguide.info/hazardous-substances
9Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
even cancer. 12 Electronics wastewater, when improperly treated, can disrupt ecological
balanceinaquaticenvironments,causingsuchphenomenaasmassivefishdie-offs.
Meanwhile, consumer demand for electronics products continues to drive growth in the
market for electronic chemicals andmaterials. According to estimates, revenues from the
global consumerelectronicsmarketareexpected togrowannuallyatover15%during the
period from2016 to 2020.13 Because of this growing demand, the aforementioned issues
associatedwithchemicalspollutionfromelectronicswillonlybecomemorerelevant.
ChinaasaHotspotforHazardousChemicalsPollutionfromElectronicsProduction
Chinaisoftenreferredtoasthe“workshopoftheworld,”andforgoodreason:itsshareof
globalmanufacturingoutputbyvaluehasrisenfromlessthan3%in1990tonearlyaquarter
in2015.14 Inparticular,China is theworld’shotbedforelectronicsmanufacturing. In2011,
over90%ofallpersonalcomputersandover70%ofallmobilephonesproducedgloballycame
fromChina.15
AlthoughthisstaggeringgrowthhasspurredthedevelopmentofChina’seconomy,ithasalso
fomentedavastrangeofenvironmentalchallenges.Thesheerconcentrationofelectronics
manufacturing concentrated in China means that China bears the brunt of impacts from
hazardouschemicalusage.In2010,Chinaaccountedfor14%oftheglobaltotalofchemicals
usedforproductionof integratedcircuitsandprintedcircuitboards,asmeasuredbydollar
value. 16 Theshareofglobaltradein intermediateinputsproducedintheAsianregionhas
alsorisendramatically,from14%in2000to50%in2012.17 Inmanycases,thesecomponents
arethesegmentsofglobalsupplychainsthatrequirethemostenergy-,water-andchemically-
intensiveprocesses,sotheyexertthegreatestimpactontheenvironment.
InChina,electronicsmanufacturingposesespeciallydireimpactsontheenvironmentbecause
similarmanufacturingprocessesaredistributedacrossmanydifferentfactories,yetclustered
inspecificregions,suchastheTaihuLakeBasinandPearlRiverDelta.A2013investigationby
ChineseenvironmentalorganizationsincludingIPEandSuzhou-basedLvseJiangnanrevealed
levelsofnickelpollutionsedimentfromtheHuangcangjingRiverinJiangsuProvinceexceeded
limitvaluesbynearly40times.PriorinvestigationsattheLouxiaRiverrevealedconcentrations
ofcopperandnickelthatexceededtheNOAASedimentQualityERMvalueby80and15times,
12 ‘E-wastepollution’threattohumanhealth:http://www.iop.org/news/11/may/page_51103.html13http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/consumer-electronics-market.asp 14 http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21646204-asias-dominance-manufacturing-will-endure-will-make-
development-harder-others-made 15 BankofAmericaMerrillLynchreport,“NotSoTrivialFacts,”DavidCiu.16 GlobalChemicalsOutlook,p.14.17 http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21646180-rising-chinese-wages-will-only-strengthen-asias-hold-
manufacturing-tightening-grip
10Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
respectively.18 Evensomesuppliersthataretechnicallyincompliancewiththelawcontinue
to pollute the environment by diluting contaminated wastewater until the pollutant
concentrationmeetsnationalstandards--yetthetotalvolumeofcontaminantsremainsthe
sameasbeforedilution.
Figure1.ScreenshotfromBlueMapDatabaseDisplayingWaterQualitynearTaihuBasin,Jiangsu
Source:IPE’sWaterQualityMonitoringMap.Thered,brownandblackcirclesrepresentwaterofsuch
poorqualitythatitis“unfitforhumancontact.”19
Meanwhile, China has been predicted to lead global growth in consumption of electronic
chemicalsandmaterials,withanestimatedaverageannualgrowthrateof7.7percent.20
Althoughseparatefromtheuseofhazardouschemicals inelectronicsproduction, it isalso
essentialtoconsidertheharmfulimpactsofchemicalsmanufacturingasanindustryinitself,
sincedemand for electronics also supports this industry’s profits and growth. China is the
world’slargestchemicalmanufactureranduser,andchemicalproductionispredictedtogrow
66%from2012to2020,ascomparedtomuchlowergrowthratesof25%inNorthAmerica
and24%inWesternEurope.21
18 WhoisPollutingtheTaihuBasin?GreenChoiceAllianceITIndustrySupplyChainInvestigativeReport,Phase
VII,August2013.http://wwwoa.ipe.org.cn//Upload/20131112123538SWY.pdf 19 RomannumeralsindicatetheclassificationofwaterqualitybasedonChina’snationalgovernmentstatistics,
whichmeasurequalityonasix-categorysystemrangingfromClassIasthebestto“ V”indicatingqualityis
evenworsethanClassV.Black“ ”symbolsindicatewaterstoberectifiedaspartoftheChinesegovernment’s
“Black&Smelly”riversinitiative.Readmorehere:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/22/black-
smelly-citizens-clean-chinas-polluted-rivers. 20 GlobalChemicalsOutlook,p.14.21 “Mid-Year2011Situation&Outlook.”T.K.Swift,M.GilchristMoore,andS.Bhatia,et.Al.AmericanChemistry
Council,2011.
11Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
A 2017 investigation by Greenpeace22 revealed severe pollution outside the Lianyungang
Chemical Industrial Park in Jiangsu Province, with much of the pollution in the form of
compoundsthatarehighlypersistentuponreachingtheenvironment.Thispollutionislikely
typical of many industrial chemical parks in China, and policies restricting chemicals
productiontospecificlocalitieshaveeffectivelyproducedpollutionhotspotsindireneedof
improvedmanagementandtransparency.
Moreover,inApril2017,thediscoveryofindustrialwastewaterpondsinHebei,Tianjin,and
other places drew widespread public attention. 23 The difficulty of determining which
companiesorevenhowmanycompaniesdumpedindustrialwasteatthoselocationsexposed
thecurrentlackofeffectiveregulationoftoxicandhazardoussubstances.Incountrieswith
PRTRsystems,thegovernmentrequirescompaniestorecordanddisclosetheiruse,discharge,
and transfer of pollutants, with particular attention to heavy metals, volatile organic
compounds,anddangerouschemicals.Thesesystemsarepowerfultoolstotrackandreduce
thereleaseofpollutants.ButinChina,companies’handlingoftoxicandhazardoussubstances
remainsopaque.Of120citiesevaluatedonthe2016-2017PollutionInformationTransparency
Index(PITI),24 onlyShenyangwashometoindustriesthatdisclosedinformationondangerous
chemicalsandemergencycontingencyplans.
Figure2.IndustrialWastewaterPondsinNorthernChina
Source:ChongqingLiangjiangVoluntaryServiceCenter
22 HazardousChemicalReleasesatLarge:AnInvestigationattheLianyungangChemicalIndustrialPark,Jiangsu
Province,China.GreenpeaceEastAsia,May2017.23 http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-04-21/101081006.html 24 http://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/reports/Reports.aspx?cid=18336&year=0&key=
12Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
CentralEnvironmentalInspectionsTouchonElectronicsIndustryPollution
In 2016, the Chinese government launched a series of central environmental inspections
aimedattacklingChina’ssevereair,waterandsoilpollution.UpthroughSeptember2017,the
inspections had already covered 31 provinces, autonomous regions and provincial-level
municipalities across China. The environmental inspections havenot only investigated and
accordinglyhandledtensofthousandsofcasesofenvironmentalviolations,buthavealsoput
pressure on local officials, finally helping to begin working through issues of local
protectionismtowardpollutingenterprises.
Compared to limited fines typically levied in the past, punishments issued to violating
enterprises over the courseof inspections, such as the frequent ceasingof production for
improvementsandshutdownorders,maysharplyraisethecostofviolationsforenterprises.
Fromalong-termperspective,thesehighercostswillbeadvantageoustowardreversingthe
previoussystemofperverseincentiveswherethosewhopollutereapbenefits,andwillforce
enterprises to internalize the costs of pollution, thus making brands’ green procurement
becomeeconomicallyrational.
Forinstance,duringthesecondroundofcentralenvironmentalinspectionsattheendof2016,
18centralizedwastewatertreatmentplantsintheShanghaiareawerefoundtohaveissues
withheavymetalsinwastewaterexceedinglegalstandards,withsixoftheplantsexhibiting
long-term wastewater discharge noncompliance. 25 Facing severe consequences, the
wastewater treatment facilities declared that the “culprit” is actually enterprises that
discharge effluent into pipes without permits or whose effluent exceeds pre-treatment
standards,includingmanyelectronicsmanufacturers.
AccordingtomediareportsfromSeptember2017,26 12upstreamenterprisesfromindustries
include electroplating and stainless steelwere identified as causing issues at a centralized
wastewater treatment plant in the Huaxin area of Shanghai’s Qingpu district. Nine of the
enterprises had already been slated for elimination, and the remaining three would be
requiredtoundergoverificationbeforebeingallowedtoresumeproductionprocesses.
Electronics factories contributing to heavy metals discharge at the Xujing Wastewater
Treatment Plant were also targeted. One circuit boards manufacturer, STATS ChipPAC
(Shanghai)Co.,Ltd.,hadalreadybeenforcedtoceaseproductionbythetimeofmediareports;
another electronics manufacturer, Shanghai Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd., will cease
production by the following year. The shutting of these electronics manufacturers will
drasticallyreducetheamountofcopperinwastewaterreceivedbytheXujingplant,andsludge
willalsobeabletoconsistentlymeetstandardsforcoppercontent.Severalotherwastewater
25 http://sh.qq.com/a/20170910/005222.htm26 http://sh.sina.com.cn/news/m/2017-09-07/detail-ifykqmrw1740280-p3.shtml?t=1504747217730
13Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
treatmentplantsintheShanghaiareahadalreadysignificantlyreducedheavymetalcontent
intheirsludgefromwastewatertreatmentbyJuly2017.
Apartfromtheseissues,in2017,accordingtomediareports,therewererepeatedincidents
ofillegal,secretcross-borderdischargeofhazardouswastevialandroutesandwaterwaysby
enterprisesalongtheYangtzeRiver.Inordertosavecosts,theseenterprisessignedlow-cost
hazardous waste treatment agreements with unofficial environmental contractors. In
November2017,7,000tonsofsolidwastethatwasbeingillegallytransportedviawaterway
was seized in the Tongling sectionof the YangtzeRiver, ofwhichmore than2,000 tonsof
industrialwastehadbeendirectlydumpedonriverbanks.Thematerialsthatweredumped
included pickling sludge, a substance listed in China’s National Catalogue of Hazardous
Chemicals. According to the Anhui Province Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB), this
substance isacidicandcontainssomeheavymetals,andthusmayadverselyaffectaquatic
andlandecosystems. 27
Inadditiontoillegalcross-borderdumping,somecompanieshaveillegallyburiedhazardous
wasteonlocation.InMarch2018,theMinistryofEcologyandEnvironment(MEE)carriedout
specialinspectionsofsevereenvironmentalpollutionatJiangsuHuifengAgrochemicalCo.,Ltd.
inthecityofYanchenginJiangsuprovince,alongwithissueswiththeineffectivenessoflocal
environmentalinspections.Thespecialinspectionsdiscoveredthatnoanti-seepagemeasures
hadbeenadoptedat the twohazardouswaste landfillsat theplant site.Furthermore, the
hazardous waste was concealed by a layer of concrete, which was in turn covered with
construction waste and soil. In some areas, workshops or other buildings had even been
constructedontop.Theinspectionteamfoundtheconcentrationoftoluene,ethylbenzene,
andxyleneatthehazardouswastelandfillsitetobeinsevereexcessoflegalstandards. 28
Thestringof incidentstouchingonhiddenwastewaterdischarge, illegal landfillsandcross-
borderdumpingofhazardouswasteinthepastfewyearsonceagainillustratesthecurrent
shortcomingsofChina’shazardouschemicalsmanagementandcontrol.Inresponsetothese
cases,China’sMEEalsocarriedoutdirectedresponsesandactions.Forexample,effortshave
beenmadetopromotetheestablishmentoftreatmentcapacity,toseverelycrackdownon
hazardous waste criminal offenses, and to strengthen supervision of hazardous wastes
throughout the entire process. 29 However, in order to completely eradicate these
environmental problems, it is necessary to work together to promote effective long-term
supervisionmechanismsandtomobilizethepublictoparticipateinsupervision.
27 http://www.sohu.com/a/221589844_65670528 https://www.weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404230839897610094#_029 https://www.weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404230514176317169#_0
14Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
2. TheOriginsofPRTRSystems
ThedevelopmentofmodernindustryaftertheSecondWorldWar,especiallythechemicals
industry, saw artificially synthesized toxic and hazardous substances discharged into the
environment en masse as byproducts from manufacturing. Widespread use of chemical
fertilizersandpesticidesbyagriculturealsocontributedtothereleaseofalargenumberof
suchsubstances.Thesesubstancesareoften invisible,and theycannotbe touchedor felt.
Theyarethinlikefog,lightaswind,andtheircompositioniscomplex.Ordinarypeoplecannot
discerntheirharm.Whilepeopleareunawareoftheirdanger,thesesubstancesenterintothe
environmentandpermeatethefoodchain,affectingthehealthoflivingorganismsandthe
humanbody.
Thischapter illustrates thesituationalbackground leading to thedevelopmentof theUSToxics
ReleaseInventory(TRI),thefirstPRTRsystemworldwide.ForadetailedoverviewoftheUSTRI,as
wellasPRTRsystemssubsequentlydevelopedinotherareasoftheworld,pleaserefertoAppendix
II,“OverviewofPRTRSystemsWorldwide.”
SilentSpring
Beginninginthe1960s,someWesternscholarsbegantoexposetheseriousnessoftoxicand
hazardous substances. One of the most violent shocks to theWestern public was Rachel
Carson's book, Silent Spring. Carson reminded the public that many chemicals used
indiscriminatelyhavethepowertokillevery"good"and"bad"insect.Theylaythesingingof
birdsandthevivacityoffishtorest.Theyuniversallyinvadethebodiesoffish,birds,reptiles,
andlivestockandwildlife,andcontinuetosurviveandpersistintheirharm.
Inherbook,Carsonraisedtheideaofdevelopingalistoftoxicandhazardouschemicalsso
thatpeoplecouldunderstandthem:“Butintheplansandhopesoftheindustrythisenormous
productionisonlyabeginning.AWho'sWhoofpesticidesisthereforeofconcerntousall.If
wearegoing to liveso intimatelywith thesechemicals—eatinganddrinking them, taking
themintotheverymarrowofourbones—wehadbetterknowsomethingabouttheirnature
andtheirpower.”
A series of such reports shocked the American public. They used various channels to put
pressureonlegislaturesandgovernmentagenciestoparticipateinenvironmentaldecision-
makinganddemandenvironmental informationdirectly relevant to their lives,health,and
well-being. Under strong public pressure, the U.S. Congress formulated a series of laws
specificallydesignedtocontrolthedischargeofhazardouswastes.Acomplexcontrolsystem
wasestablishedthroughanetworkoflawsandregulations.Aconsiderablecomponentofthis
system involves the environmental right-to-know: the Clean Air Act and CleanWater Law
stipulatethatenterprisesmustregularlyreporttothegovernmentauthoritiesinchargeofthe
implementationofpermitsandsubmitpollutantemissionslists.Accordingtolaw,theEPAhas
30SilentSpring,RachelCarson,1962.
15Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
the right toenter factoriesand toconduct inspectionsofpollution-dischargingequipment,
make records and require companies to provide needed information. The public can then
obtainanyofthisenvironmentalinformationbasedontheFreedomofInformationAct.The
ToxicSubstancesControlAct isactuallyameansforcollectionof informationregardingthe
situationofchemicalsubstances.Itrequirescompaniestosubmitallinformationrelatingto
theproduction,use,spreadanddisposalofchemicalsubstances.
In light of this legislation, many problems with the management of hazardous chemicals
remained. In 1984, U.S.-owned Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal, India caused
thousandsofdeathsandshockedtheAmericanpublic.JustastheU.S.chemicalsindustrywas
workingtoconvincethepublicthattheirfactoriesintheUnitedStateswouldnotposeathreat,
UnionCarbide’sfactoryinWestVirginiahadahighlytoxicchemicalspillonAugust11,1986,
causingsomelocalresidentstobeadmittedtohospitalsfortreatmentandseriouslyshaking
the public’s confidence.Ultimately, theU.S. Congress did not choose to publish new toxic
substancecontroltargets.Instead,itissuedtheEmergencyPlanningandCommunityRight-to-
KnowAct in 1986, requesting the establishmentof state emergency committees and local
emergencyplanningcommittees.
In requiring the government to establish an emergency response system, the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-KnowAct for the first timemandatedUS companies to
reporttheirenvironmentalreleasesofseveralhundredchemicals.Accordingtothislaw,the
annual"ToxicReleaseInventory"(TRI)shouldnotonlybereportedordigitallyprovidedtolocal
emergencycommitteesandgovernmentenvironmentalprotectiondepartments,but these
reports should also be accessible to citizen stakeholders and environmental protection
organizations.
31 The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Actmakes specific provisions concerning the
disclosureofrelevantenvironmentalinformation,andstipulatesthatenterprisesareobligatedtopubliclyprovide
thefollowinginformationontoxicsubstances:
Alocalemergencyplanningcommittee,uponrequestbyanyperson,shallmakeavailableamaterialsafetydata
sheet(MSDS)tothepersoninaccordancewiththerelevantregulations.Ifthelocalemergencyplanningcommittee
doesnothavetherequestedmaterialsafetydatasheet,thecommitteeshallrequestthesheetfromthefacility
owneroroperatorandthenmakethesheetavailabletothepersoninaccordancewithrelevantregulations.
AnypersonmayrequestaStateemergencyresponsecommissionorlocalemergencyplanningcommitteefortier
IIinformation(thechemicalnameorthecommonnameofthechemicalasprovidedonthematerialsafetydata
sheet;anestimateofthemaximumamountofthehazardouschemicalpresentatthefacilityatanytimeduring
theprecedingcalendaryear;anestimateoftheaveragedailyamountofthehazardouschemicalpresentatthe
facilityduringtheprecedingcalendaryear;abriefdescriptionofthemannerofstorageofthehazardouschemical;
thelocationatthefacilityofthehazardouschemical,etc.)relatingtotheprecedingcalendaryearwithrespectto
afacility.Anysuchrequestshallbeinwritingandshallbewithrespecttoaspecificfacility.
InthecaseoftierIIinformationwhichisnotinthepossessionofaStateemergencyresponsecommissionorlocal
16Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
SincetheestablishmentoftheTRI,experiencesharinghasplayedanimportantroleinspurring
theglobalexchangeandspreadofPRTRusage.Over50countrieshavefullyestablishedPRTR
systemsorhaveimplementedpilotprogramstotrackanddiscloseinformationaboutchemical
releases.ManymorecountriesareintheprocessofdevelopingPRTRsystems,particularlyin
SouthandCentralAmerica,orhaveexpressedsignificantinterestindevelopingPRTR.Other
multilateralinitiatives,includingthePRTRProtocoltotheAarhusConventionandtheStrategic
ApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM),havealsopromptedgovernments
to strengthen their capacity for managing harmful chemicals including through PRTR
disclosure. For a detailed overview of the US TRI, as well as PRTR systems subsequently
developedinotherareasoftheworld,pleaserefertoAppendixII,“OverviewofPRTRSystems
Worldwide.”
emergencyplanningcommitteeandwhichiswithrespecttoahazardouschemicalwhichafacilityhasstoredinan
amountlessthan10,000poundspresentatthefacilityatanytimeduringtheprecedingcalendaryear,arequest
fromapersonmustincludethegeneralneedfortheinformation.TheStateemergencyresponsecommissionor
localemergencyplanningcommitteemayrequestthefacilityowneroroperatorforthetierIIinformationonbehalf
ofthepersonmakingtherequest.Uponreceiptofanyinformationrequestedonbehalfofsuchperson,theState
emergencyresponsecommissionorlocalemergencyplanningcommitteeshallmaketheinformationavailablein
accordancewiththerelevantregulations.AStateemergencyresponsecommissionorlocalemergencyplanning
committeeshallrespondtoarequestfortierIIinformationunderthisparagraphnolaterthan45daysafterthe
dateofreceiptoftherequest.
Anowneroroperatorofafacilityshallprovidethespecificchemicalidentity,ifknown,ofahazardouschemical,
extremelyhazardoussubstance,oratoxicchemicaltoanyhealthprofessionalwhorequestssuchinformationin
writingifthehealthprofessionalprovidesawrittenstatementofneedstatingthatthehealthprofessionalhasa
reasonablebasistosuspectthattheinformationisneededforpurposesofdiagnosisortreatmentofanindividual,
the individual or individuals being diagnosed or treated have been exposed to the chemical concerned, and
knowledgeofthespecificchemicalidentityofsuchchemicalwillassistindiagnosisortreatment.Followingsucha
written request, the owner or operator towhom such request ismade shall promptly provide the requested
informationtothehealthprofessional.Anowneroroperatorofafacilityshallprovideacopyofamaterialsafety
datasheet,aninventoryform,oratoxicchemicalreleaseform,includingthespecificchemicalidentity,ifknown,
ofahazardouschemical,extremelyhazardoussubstance,oratoxicchemical,toanytreatingphysicianornurse
whorequestssuchinformationifsuchphysicianornursedeterminesthatamedicalemergencyexists,thespecific
chemicalidentityofthechemicalconcernedisnecessaryfororwillassistinemergencyorfirst-aiddiagnosisor
treatment, and the individual or individuals being diagnosed or treated have been exposed to the chemical
concerned.
Eachemergencyresponseplan,materialsafetydatasheet,checklist,inventoryform,toxicchemicalreleaseform,
andfollowupemergencynoticeshallbemadeavailabletothegeneralpublicduringnormalworkinghoursatthe
locationorlocationsdesignatedbyrelevantagenciesandofficials.Eachlocalemergencyplanningcommitteeshall
annuallypublishanoticeinlocalnewspapersthattheemergencyresponseplan,materialsafetydatasheets,and
inventoryformshavebeensubmitted.
17Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
3. The Role of Information Disclosure &
PRTRSystems
Environmental information disclosure works in a variety of ways. In the best cases, it
encouragesbenchmarkingandmonitoringofenterpriseperformanceandcreatesaplatform
for continuous improvement. It can facilitate self-improvement forwilling enterprises and
strengthentheabilityofgovernmentregulators,localcommunities,andotherstakeholdersto
playagreaterroleinpollutionreduction.Figure3belowillustratessomeofthebenefitsof
disclosurefordifferentstakeholders.
Figure3.SignificanceofDisclosureforDifferentStakeholders
Aspart of the so-called “thirdwave”of environmental governance, informationdisclosure
standsincontrasttoother“commandandcontrol”approachestoenvironmentalinformation
disclosure. In particular, establishing systems for corporate environmental information
disclosurecanmotivatepollutingenterprisestomakesubstantialreductionstotheiremissions
andhelptoeliminaterisksposedbyharmfulemissionstowardcitizens’health.
Onetypeofstrategyforenvironmentalinformationdisclosure--ratinganddisclosuresystems
-- focuses on amalgamating performance data into ratings that the public can easily
understand and digest. The relative simplicity of these programs makes them a feasible
solution incountriesandregionsthat lackstrongregulatory institutions.However,because
disclosed information isoftenwhittleddown toa rankingorperformance summary, these
systems lack usability for other key stakeholders. This is particularly true for businesses
•Managementstartsfrommeasuring•Gobeyondcompliance
Factories&Suppliers
•Tracktheperformanceofsuppliers•Measurelifecycleimpacts
Brands
•Manageandreducetoxicandhazardoussubstances•Benchmarkandidentifybetterpollutionreductionstrategies
Industries
•Conserveenergyandreduceemissions•Needtomanagetoxics
Government
•Safeguard community“righttoknow”•Holdpollutersaccountable
GeneralPublic
18Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
themselves, who may find it difficult to use the information to set targets for practical
purposessuchasemissionsreductions.
Bycontrast,pollutantreleaseandtransferregistry(PRTR)systemsfunctionmoreorlessasa
comprehensivepollutionaccountingsystemandthereforeposebenefitsforawiderrangeof
stakeholders.APRTRsystemisanationalorregionalenvironmentaldatabaseorinventoryof
potentiallyhazardouschemicalsubstancesand/orpollutants releasedtoair,waterandsoil
and transferred off-site for treatment or disposal. According to the OECD council, PRTR
systemscontainthefollowingkeycomponents32:
Ø A listingofchemicals,groupsofchemicals,andother relevantpollutants thatare
releasedtotheenvironmentortransferredoff-site;
Ø Integratedmulti-mediareportingofreleaseandtransfers(toair,waterandland);
Ø Self-reportingbycoveredindustryorbusinesscategories;
Ø Periodicreporting(preferablyannually);and
Ø Makingdataavailabletothepublic.
PracticalApplicationsforPRTRData
PRTR systemsworldwidehave shown thatenvironmental informationdisclosure can impel
different stakeholders, such as manufacturers, governments and the public, to improve
environmentalmanagementandgovernance.
Figure4.PracticalUsesforPRTRData
32 https://prtr.unece.org/about-PRTR
19Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
ApplicationsforCorporations
The disclosure of hazardous substances information is not something that companies are
naturallywilling to accept. In the first few years after Silent Springwas published, a large
numberofchemicalemittersstronglyopposedRachelCarson’spointofview.Infact,justafter
theToxicsReleaseInventorywasannounced,theUSmediaandenvironmentalorganizations
honed in on these large companies, ranking them based on the amount of pollutants
discharged,andcreatingstrongpublicpressure.
Suchpressurealsoencouragedcompaniestotakeactiontopreventandcontrolpollution.For
example,afterthereleaseofTRIin1988,thepresidentofMonsantoCorporationpromisedto
makea90%reduction inpollutionemissionsfromitssubsidiarieswithinfiveyears.Atthat
time,itssubsidiariesthoughtthatthisgoalwouldbedifficulttoachieve,butinfact,afterfive
years, ithadreduceddischargesby95%.Thisresult in largepartcameaboutbecauseself-
determined emissions reductions are less rigid than emissions standards enforced by
government departments, thus giving companies more autonomy and allowing them to
innovatetofindsolutionsthatoptimizecosts.
In fact, many corporations adopted initiatives to voluntarily reduce their emissions. AT&T
committedtohaltingallairemissionsbytheendofthecenturyin1993.33 Dowannounced
that it planned to reduce overall emissions by 50% by 1995, and DuPont committed to
reducingairemissions60%by1993andcancer-causingcomponentsby90%bytheyear2000.
Aftertenyearsofdisclosure,emissionsof340chemicalsreportedontheTRIhaddroppedby45.5percent.34 Ofcourse,ifacompanycanimproveitsTRIranking,thiscanalsocreatea
basisforpositivepublicityandincreasethepublic’strusttowardthecompany.35
ApplicationsforGovernmentsExperiencehasshownthatthedisclosureoffactory-levelenvironmentaldatacanallowthe
public,societyandthemediatoobtainbasicinformationrequiredforpublicsupervisionand
participation,aswellasallowresearchersandscholars tocollectbaselinedataneeded for
pollution control research. Government departments can then use this data to more
accuratelygraspthestatusofhazardouschemicalreleasesandtransfers.
Forexample,afterthereleaseofthefirstToxicsReleaseInventoryintheUnitedStatesin1988,
theUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywasforthefirsttimetrulyabletounderstandthe
statusofcompanies’chemicalreleaseandtransfer.Atthattime,18,500companiessubmitted
reports,showingthattheyhadcollectivelydischarged10.4billionpoundsoflistedchemicals
33 https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P1004DTB.TXT34 ReinventingEnvironmentalRegulation from theGrassrootsUp: Explaining andExpanding the Successof the
ToxicsReleaseInventory.EnvironmentalManagement,February2000,Vol.25,No.235 EnvironmentalRegulationandImpactAssessment,LeonardOrtolano,1996,p.308
20Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
in 1987,ofwhich3.9billionpoundshadentered landfills, 3.3billionpoundswere sent to
treatment plants and processing facilities. 2.7 billion pounds were released into the
atmosphere, and 550million poundswere released into bodies ofwater. This result even
caused surprise among environmental management authorities. Linda Fisher, assistant
directorof theEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyat the time,called theresult "surprising,"
"highly unacceptable," and "far in excess" of the EPA's expectations. This result was later
adjustedto7billionpoundsafterremovingcompaniesthatwerenotrequiredtoreport. 36
TheToxicsReleaseInventoryhasalsobecomeanimportantbasisforcongressionallegislation.
BasedontheinformationintheTRI,theU.S.Congresscanadoptstrictercontrolpoliciesaimed
atmajoremittersandthosethatposeaseverethreatfromhazardouschemicalsusage.Italso
enables more targeted supervision of big polluters, thus virtually increasing the cost of
pollution. Investors also use the information provided in the TRI to calculate the future
pollutioncontrolcostsofvariouscompanies.Manyinvestorshavesoldoffsomeofthetop
polluters’stocks,37 sincehighly-pollutingcompaniesarelessefficient.
TherequirementsoftheToxicsReleaseInventoryhaveevolvedovertime,38 makingitdifficult
toconductaccuratecomparisons.Consequently,theUSEPAprovidedsomecomparativedata
on the original pollutantsmeasured. Comparedwith the 1988 list of enterprises handling
hazardousmaterialsorconductingheavyindustry,emissionsfromthissamegroupwere2.616
billionpoundsin1995,2.577billionpoundsin1997,and2.371billionpoundsin2000.39 This
data clearly shows amarked decline from1988. Total emissions in 2000were 7.41 billion
pounds,adropof8percentagepointsfrom1999.
Experience fromdisclosure systems indeveloping countries, suchas the1995Program for
Pollution Control Evaluation and Rating (PROPER) in Indonesia40 and the NGO-led Green
RatingProject41 establishedinIndiain1996,havesimilarlyhelpedspuremissionsreductions,
36 EnvironmentalRegulation:Law,ScienceandPolicy,2003,RobertV.Percival,CristopherH.Schroeder,AlanS.
Miller,andJamesP.Leape,p.33737 ExercisingPropertyRightstoPollute:DoCancerRisksandPoliticsAffectPlantEmissionReductions?James
Hamilton,1999.FromEnvironmentalRegulation:Law,ScienceandPolicy,2003,RobertV.Percival,CristopherH.
Schroeder,AlanS.Miller,andJamesP.Leape�
38 Forexample,in1998,thepublicationrequirementsofenterprisesreleasinghazardoussubstanceswere
expandedtoincludeminingcompanies,allenterpriseswithcoal-firedpowerplants,companiesunderthe
“ResourcesProtectionandReuseAct”underItemC,andchemicalsolventrecyclingcompaniesinthescopeof
environmentalmanagement.Chemicalvarietieshavealsogreatlyincreased,includingtheadditionofavarietyof
persistentbioaccumulativetoxics(PBTs)in2000.Pollutantslistedonthisregisterincreasedfrom329in1988to
650in2000.
39 EnvironmentalRegulation:Law,ScienceandPolicy,2003,RobertV.Percival,CristopherH.Schroeder,AlanS.
Miller,andJamesP.Leape,p.33740 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEMPOWERMENT/Resources/14825_Indonesia_Proper-web.pdf 41 Nicholas Powers et al., “Does Disclosure Reduce Pollution? Evidence from India's Green Rating Project”,
21Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
althoughtheseprogramshavebeencritiquedforlackingdetaileddisclosureofrawdataand
other factors. Still, evidence of positive results underscores that disclosure poses benefits
acrossboththedevelopedanddevelopingworldalike.
ApplicationsforNGOsandMedia
Althoughpoliciesanddataplayacrucialroleinmanagingchemicals,theyalonecannotsolve
theproblem.Effectivechangealsorequiresmotivatingpeopleandbusinessestosustainably
changetheirbehavior. IncountrieswhereeffectivePRTRsystemsforcorporateinformation
disclosurehavebeenestablished,NGOsandmediahaveleverageddisclosedinformationto
pressure corporations to reduce their emissions and release and transfer of hazardous
materials.
Shortly after the first TRI was released, the U.S. media and environmental organizations
exposedcompanieswiththelargestdischargesoftoxicsubstances,forcingthepublictopay
attentiontothesemassivepolluters.OnAugust1,1989,USATodaypublishedthe"TheToxic
500"acrossafulltwo-pagespread.ThelistusedtheTRItodeterminethe500countiesinthe
U.S.mostpollutedbyindustrialchemicals.TheNationalWildlifeFederationpublishedabook
thatexposed500oftheworld'slargesttoxics-emittingcompaniesthatrelease39knownor
possiblecarcinogens.TheNaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil(NRDC)alsousedthedatafrom
theTRItoproduceits“Who’sWhoofAmericanToxicAirPolluters,”exposing1,500companies
withmajoremissions. 42
CaseStudy:Scorecard
Perhapsoneofthemostwell-knownandeffectiveexamplesofNGOadvocacyis“Scorecard”
(www.scorecard.org),awebsite launchedinApril1998byanAmericanenvironmentalNGO
calledtheEnvironmentalDefenseFund(EDF).Thewebsiteactsasafreeinformationportalfor
thepublicaboutenvironmentalandhealthrisksfromhazardoussubstancesandpollutants.
Scorecardaimstoexposethosecompanieswiththeworstpollutionrecordsinordertopush
forimprovements.Amongmanyfeatures,thewebsitefeaturesazipcodesearchfunction,“Zip
toYourCommunity,”thatprovidestailoredinformationaboutindividualcommunities,making
the “local environment as easy to check on as the local weather.”43 Thus, part of the
effectivenessofScorecardistheplatform’sabilitytotranslatecomplexinformationintoauser-
friendlyandsearchableformthatdifferentstakeholderscouldeasilyaccessandunderstand.
AnanalysisconductedbyEDFfiveyearsafterthelaunchofScorecardfoundthatreleasesof
cancer-causingindustrialpollutantsfellby20%in2001,whilethosepollutantslinkedtobirth
defectsanddevelopmentalissuesfellby24%.Furthermore,theTRIloweredthethresholdfor
Environmental&ResourceEconomics,50(1):131-155(2011).42 EnvironmentalRegulation:Law,ScienceandPolicy,2003,RobertV.Percival,CristopherH.Schroeder,AlanS.
Miller,andJamesP.Leape,p.48543 http://scorecard.goodguide.com/about/txt/history.html
22Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
lead reporting,whichgreatly increased relevantdata showing leadpollutionand revealing
that lead pollution was more widespread than previously believed. According to Dr. John
Balbus, thedirectorofEDF’senvironmentalhealthprogramat the time, “Themorepeople
knowaboutthehealthriskstheyfacethemorepressuretheindustrywillfeeltoreduceharmful
chemicalsorreplacethemwithsaferones.”44
Inaddition,disclosurecanfacilitatedirectactionbyNGOsandmediaagainstpolluters.For
example, after the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MassPIRG) identified
Raytheonasthestate’sbiggestemitterofchlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)andmethylchloroform,
MassPIRG pressured Raytheon into committing to using water-based alternatives. 45 In
another example, Syntex Chemicals Corporation in Boulder, Colorado eventually signed a
pledgetoreduceitstoxicemissionslevelsby50%between1991and1994.Infact,through
1998,over800TRIblacklistshadappearedinnewspapersandmagazines,leadingnotonlyto
promisesfromcompaniesbutalsoconcreteemissionsreductions.
The EPA’s July 2013 report, “The Toxics Release Inventory in Action:Media, Government,
Business,CommunityandAcademicUsesofTRIData”46 outlinessomeof themore recent
effortsofthird-partystakeholderstoapplyTRIdataasameansofpushingforenvironmental
improvementsandprotectingpublichealth.Thereport’sappendiceslistexamplesofmedia
coverage directly drawing on the TRI for such purposes as assessing workplace safety,
campaigningforenvironmentalpolicy,outreachandeducation,andalsooutlinesarangeof
toolscreatedbybothgovernmentandothernon-governmentalorganizationswiththeaimof
makingtheinformationintheTRImoreaccessibleandmoreapplicable.
44 https://www.edf.org/news/environmental-defense-still-shining-bright-light-polluting-companies45 “ReinventingEnvironmentalRegulationfromtheGrassrootsUp:ExplainingandExpandingtheSuccessofthe
ToxicsReleaseInventory.”ArchonFungandDaraO’Rourke,EnvironmentalManagement,2000.46 https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/toxics-release-inventory-action-media-government-
business
23Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
4. Global Policy Framework for Chemicals
Management
Beginningwiththemovementtoenshrineenvironmentalpoliciesintolawinthe1960’sand
1970’s, there has been a growing international consensus toward the importance of
informationtransparencyandpublicparticipationinenvironmentalprotection.Asignificant
milestoneinternationallycamein1992,whenover170countriesratifiedtheRioDeclaration
on Environment and Development, which includes clauses concerning citizen access to
environmental information and the concept of the public’s environmental “right-to-know.”
Article10oftheRioDeclarationstipulates:
Environmentalissuesarebesthandledwithparticipationofallconcernedcitizens,attherelevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access toinformation concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, includinginformation on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and theopportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate andencouragepublicawarenessandparticipationbymaking informationwidelyavailable.
Effectiveaccesstojudicialandadministrativeproceedings,includingredressandremedy,
shallbeprovided.47
Whilenational-andregional-levelpoliciesimprovelocalchemicalsmanagement,globalpolicy
frameworks help to further high-level management priorities. Below, we examine recent
progressintheglobalpushforimprovedchemicalsmanagementandspecificallymanagement
ofadverseimpactsstemmingfromtheelectronicsindustry.
AarhusConvention
TheConventiononAccesstoInformation,PublicParticipationinDecisionMakingandAccess
toJusticeonEnvironmentalMatters(theAarhusConvention)wasadoptedonJune25,1998,
attheFourthMinisterialConferenceoftheUNEconomicCommissionforEurope.TheAarhus
Conventionmakesclearstipulationsforenterprisesoninformationdisclosureasrelatedtothe
environmental right-to-know for hazardous wastes: “Each Party shall encourage operators
whoseactivitieshaveasignificantimpactontheenvironmenttoinformthepublicregularly
of theenvironmental impactof theiractivitiesandproducts,whereappropriatewithinthe
frameworkofvoluntaryeco-labellingoreco-auditingschemesorbyothermeans.”
Italso requiresconsumerprotectionof the right toenvironmentalknowledge:“EachParty
shalldevelopmechanismswithaviewtoensuringthatsufficientproductinformationismade
availabletothepublicinamannerwhichenablesconsumerstomakeinformedenvironmental
choices.”
47 http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/RIO_E.PDF
24Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
TheConventionemphasizestheimportanceofestablishingapollutioninventorysystemand
opening it to thepublic: “EachParty shall take steps toestablishprogressively, taking into
account international processes where appropriate, a coherent, nationwide system of
pollution inventories or registers on a structured, computerized and publicly accessible
database compiled through standardized reporting. Such a system may include inputs,
releasesandtransfersofaspecifiedrangeofsubstancesandproducts,includingwater,energy
andresourceuse,fromaspecifiedrangeofactivitiestoenvironmentalmediaandtoon-site
andoffsitetreatmentanddisposalsites.”
StrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM)
Mostsignificantlyforhazardouschemicals,theStrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicals
Management(hereinafterreferredtoastheSAICM) isapolicy frameworkwhichpromotes
and advances global chemical safety objectives. SAICM was adopted by a consensus of
environmentministers,healthministersandotherdelegates frommore thanonehundred
governmentsattheInternationalConferenceonChemicalsManagement(ICCM1) inDubai,
UnitedArabEmirates,onFebruary6,2006.48
SAICMaimstosupporttheachievementofoneofthegoalsofthe2002JohannesburgWorld
SummitonSustainableDevelopmentthatseekstominimizetheadverseeffectsofchemical
productionandusageonhumanhealthandtheenvironment.Itsimplementationhassince
helpedguidethedevelopmentofgovernmentandcorporatepoliciesonchemicalsandwaste
managementacrosstheglobe.
InadoptingSAICM,governmentsandotherparticipants in the ICCMagreedthat improved
measures are needed to prevent harmful effects of chemicals on the health of children,
pregnant women, fertile populations, the elderly, the poor, workers and other vulnerable
groups and susceptible environments. They noted that some progress has been made in
chemicalsmanagement,butdeclaredthatprogresshasnotbeensufficientglobally,andthat
theenvironmentworldwidecontinuestosufferfromair,waterandlandcontaminationthat
impairsthehealthandwelfareofmillions.SAICMiscomprisedofthreecoretexts:theDubai
DeclarationonInternationalChemicalsManagement,SAICMOverarchingPolicyStrategyand
theSAICMGlobalPlanofAction.TheSAICMSecretariatisbasedintheGenevaofficeofthe
UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(or“UNEnvironment,”formerlyreferredtoasUNEP).
The Dubai Declaration delineates high-level political commitments to the SAICM. The
Overarching Policy Strategy outlines the scope, needs, objectives, financial considerations
underlyingprinciplesandapproaches,andimplementationandreviewarrangements.Itskey
objectives comprise five overarching areas: risk reduction; knowledge and information;
governance;capacity-buildingandtechnicalcooperation;andillegalinternationaltraffic.
48 http://www.saicm.org/About/SAICMOverview/tabid/5522/language/en-US/Default.aspx
25Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
ElectronicsPollutionasanEmergingPolicyIssue
TheSAICMservesasaplatformtodrawattentiontoemergingpolicyissues(EPI)andissuesof
concernwhichmayhavesignificantadverseeffectsonhumanhealthand/ortheenvironment
andtocallforunifiedandcoordinatedactiontowardtheseareas.OneofSAICM’semerging
policyissuesfocuseson“hazardoussubstanceswithinthelifecycleofelectricalandelectronic
products”(sometimesreferredtoasHSLEEP).In2011,theSecretariatoftheBaselConvention,
the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), on behalf of the
participatingorganizationsoftheInter-OrganizationProgrammefortheSoundManagement
ofChemicals,andtheSecretariatoftheStockholmConventionheldaninternationalworkshop
onhazardoussubstanceswithinthelife-cycleofelectricalandelectronicproductsatUNIDO
headquartersinVienna.Themeetingincluded32governments,theelectronicsindustry,and
publicinterestNGOs.
Consensusagreementwasreachedonaseriesofrecommendationsfortheupstream(design),
midstream(production)anddownstream(waste)partsoftheelectronicslifecycle,includinga
number of recommendations concerning information disclosure and availability. The
recommendationsforthemidstreampartofthelifecycleprovideabasisforNGOsandother
actors to launch voluntary efforts promoting disclosure of information about hazardous
chemicalsandotherrelatedpollutants.
As part of the SAICMprocess,UN agencies convened ameeting inMarch 2011 in Vienna
focusingonhazardoussubstanceswithinthelifecycleofelectricalandelectronicproducts.
Themeetingincluded32governments(includingChina),theelectronicsindustry,andasmall
groupofpublicinterestNGOs.Anumberoftheoutcomesoftheworkinggroupsspecifically
mention the role of non-governmental organizations in supporting implementation of the
SAICM and/or the importance of transparency regarding hazardous chemicals. One of the
recommendations specifically focuses on promoting the development of PRTR disclosure
systems:
Information: 18) Governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental
organizations including the producers and manufacturers and others shouldformulate,promote,andimplementlegislativeaswellasvoluntaryinitiativestoadopt and implement Pollutant Release and Transfer Registries (PRTR).Governments that have not yet ratified the Aarhus Convention on Access to
Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in
EnvironmentalMattersareencouragedtodoso.49
49 UNIDO,BaselConvention,StockholmConvention(2011)Internationalworkshoponhazardoussubstances
withinthelife-cycleofelectricalandelectronicproducts,29-31March2011
http://old.saicm.org/images/saicm_documents/iccm/ICCM3/Meeting%20documents/INF%20Documents/ICCM3
_INF24_Report%20e-waste%20workshop.pdf
26Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
In2012,atthe3rdsessionoftheInternationalConferenceonChemicalsManagement(ICCM3),
morethan100governmentsencouragedimplementationoftheViennarecommendationson
hazardoussubstancesinelectronics.ICCM3decidedtocontinuefurtherworkondeveloping
bestpracticeresourcesincludingdevelopmentofdesignsthatreduceandeliminatetheuse
of hazardous chemicals in production; business standards and practices for tracking and
disclosing the presence of hazardous chemicals in themanufacturing, use and end-of-life
stages of electrical and electronic products; tools and information on potential safer
substitutes for chemicals of concern; green purchasing strategies; extended producerresponsibilitypoliciesofbusinessesandgovernments;andprovisionalstrategiesandactions
indesignandmanufacturingthatshouldbeimplementeduntileliminationispossibleorsafer
substitutesareavailable.50
ICCM3alsoaddednewactivitiesonhazardoussubstancesinelectronicstotheSAICMGlobal
PlanofAction.51 Theseactivitiesincludeworkareasongreendesign,environmentallysound
manufacturing of e-products, and awareness-raising. The awareness-raising work area
activities are to promote awareness, information, education and communication for all
relevantstakeholdersalongthesupplychainofhazardouschemicalswiththelife-cycleofe-
products.
AtICCM4in2015,morethan100governmentsreiteratedthecallforimplementationofthe
Vienna recommendations on hazardous substances in electronics. The resolution included
meaningful engagement of all stakeholders to promote advocacy, awareness, information,
educationandcommunicationabouthazardouschemicalsine-products;encouragingoriginal
equipment manufacturers to develop and implement take-back programs; facilitating
implementation of procurement initiatives that favor improved safety and sustainability;
encouraging original equipment manufacturers to collect and provide health and safety
information to workers on chemicals they handle or are exposed to; and encouraging
stakeholderstoimplementtheSAICMchemicalsinproductsprogrammetoprovideaccessto
informationonhazardouschemicalsinthelifecycleofe-products.52
50 UNEP(2012)Hazardoussubstanceswithinthelifecycleofelectricalandelectronicproducts,III/2Emerging
PolicyIssues,ReportoftheInternationalConferenceonChemicalsManagementontheworkofitsthirdsession,
SAICM/ICCM.3/24
51 UNEP(2012)AnnexIII.Inclusionofnewactivitiesrelatingtotheenvironmentallysoundmanagementof
nanotechnologiesandmanufacturednanomaterialsandhazardoussubstanceswithinthelife-cycleofelectrical
andelectronicproductsintheGlobalPlanofActionoftheStrategicApproach;ReportoftheInternational
ConferenceonChemicalsManagementontheworkofitsthirdsession,SAICM/ICCM.3/2452 UNEP(2015)Hazardoussubstanceswithinthelifecycleofelectricalandelectronicproducts,IV/2Emerging
PolicyIssues,ReportoftheInternationalConferenceonChemicalsManagementontheworkofitsfourthsession,
SAICM/ICCM.4/15
27Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
5. BuildingaPRTRinChina:Progress&Gaps
Overthepastdecade,Chinahasintroducedmanyrules,regulationsandmeasurestogreatly
expandthedisclosureofenvironmentalinformation.However,progresstodatehasfocused
on disclosure of government environmental information and the disclosure of corporate
monitoringinformationonconventionalpollutants.Thedisclosureoffactory-levelinformation
onhazardouschemicalsisstillverylimited.
ChinaStrivestoPromoteCorporateEnvironmentalInformationDisclosure
As early as in 2008, China’s State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) – which later
becametheMinistryofEnvironmentalProtection(MEP)andwasupgradedintothecurrent
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) in March 2018 – released the Measures on
Environmental Information Disclosure (Trial). The Measures encourage enterprises to
voluntarily publish data on pollutant type, quantity, concentration and transfer, aswell as
waste treatment and recycling. Article 20 requires enterprises whose pollution discharge
exceeds national or local emission standards or total discharge control targets to openly
publish the aforementioned environmental information, and accepts no excuses on the
pretextof“commercialsecrets.”
Figure5.MilestonesinChina’sEnvironmentalInformationDisclosureLegislation
Sixyearsafterthisfirstmoveonenvironmentalinformationtransparency,theMEPissuedthe
MeasuresonSelf-MonitoringandInformationDisclosureforKeyState-MonitoredEnterprises
(Trial), which require over 14,000 large industrial emitters to publish their real-time and
manualmonitoringdata,monitoringplans,aswellasannualdischargereportstothepublic
via theplatformsofprovincialorcity-levelenvironmentalprotectionbureaus.Eventhough
this policy resulted only in the public release of information on conventional pollution
parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), sulfur
dioxide(SO2),nitrogenoxides(NOx)andparticulatematters(PM),itcreatedasystemthatis
still the first of its kindworldwide, reflecting theChinese government’s innovation toward
environmentalinformationtransparency.
28Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Inadditiontothis,theMeasuresonEnvironmentalInformationDisclosureforEnterprisesand
PublicInstitutions,whichwentintoeffectonJanuary1,2015,marksanothersignificantstep
towardsenvironmentalinformationdisclosureinChina.Figure6illustratesthetwostepsby
which key pollution-discharging entities are required to disclose their environmental
information.
Figure6.TwoStepstoEnvironmentalInformationDisclosure
ThiscanbeseenasaconcreteimplementationworkplanfollowingtheintroductionofChina’s
newEnvironmentalProtectionLaw(EPL),whichwentintoeffectonJanuary1,2015.Article
55ofthe“newEPL”stipulatesthatkeypollution-dischargingentitiesshalltruthfullydisclose
tothepublicthenamesoftheirkeypollutants,mannerofdischarge,dischargeconcentration
andtotalvolume,statusofwhetheremissionsexceededlimits,aswellastheconstructionand
operation status of pollution prevention and control facilities, and [shall] accept societal
supervision. The 2016-2017 PITI assessment found53 that 230 of the 338 prefecture-level
citieshadreleasedtheirlistofkeylocalpollution-dischargingentitiesin2016.
53 http://www.ipe.org.cn/reports/Reports.aspx?cid=18336&year=0&key
29Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
InJune2017,theLegislativeAffairsOfficeoftheStateCouncilreleasedtheRegulationsofthe
People’sRepublicofChinaontheDisclosureofGovernment Information(RevisedDraft for
Comment),whichestablishestheprincipleof“disclosureasthenorm,andnon-disclosureas
theexception.”TheStateCouncilalsoreleasedSeveralOpinionsoftheGeneralOfficeofthe
StateCouncilonStrengtheningtheServiceforandSupervisionofMarketSubjectsbyApplying
BigData,whichproposestheestablishmentofaunifiedinformationdisclosureplatformfor
industry.Thisprospectispromising,butrealizingthisgoalwillrequiresignificanteffort.
Tofurtheradvanceenvironmentalinformationdisclosureofenterprisesandpublicinstitutions,
andtoimproveflexibilityandpracticality,China’sMEPrevisedtheMeasuresonEnvironmental
InformationDisclosureforEnterprisesandPublicInstitutions(MEPOrderNo.31)andreleased
the draft revisions for public comment through September 18, 2017.54 Thedraft revisions
stipulatethattheMEPestablishanintegratedenvironmentalinformationdisclosureplatform
forenterprisesandpublicinstitutions.Theyalsorequirethatkeypollution-dischargingentities
installautomaticmonitoringequipmentandconnecttheirmonitoringdatawiththeintegrated
MEP platform to be disclosed in real-time. MEP shall develop unified criteria for the
formulationofdirectoriesofkeypollution-dischargingentities.
The2016-2017PollutionInformationTransparencyIndex(PITI)assessmentresultsshowthat
Chinastillhasyettoestablishaunifiedplatformandimpelpollutant-dischargingentitiesto
disclosesuchenvironmentalinformationtothepublic.
InformationDisclosureinChina’sManagementofHazardousChemicals
Asillustratedabove,China’stenyearsofeffortstowardleveraginginformationdisclosureasa
meansofpollutioncontrolhavebeencontinuouslystrengthened.However,theseeffortshave
mainly focusedonconventionalpollutionparameters,while largelyoverlooking the roleof
persistentandaccumulativepollutantsthatdirectlythreatenhumanhealth.
Thecontrolofhazardouschemicals inChina ismainlycarriedout throughmanagementof
weixian huaxuepin, which is sometimes translated as “hazardous chemicals” but actually
translatesmore accurately as “dangerous chemicals.” According to the Regulations on the
Safety Administration of Dangerous Chemicals, weixian huaxuepin refers to highly toxic
chemicals and other chemicals that are toxic, corrosive, explosive, flammable, and
combustible,andthatareharmfultohumans,facilities,andtheenvironment.China'scurrent
CatalogueofHazardousChemicalslists2,828substancesthataresupervisedthroughsafety
productionlicenses.
Since2013,Chinahasissuedanumberofpoliciesaimingtoincreasetheleveloftransparency
offacilitiesengaginginhazardouschemicalproduction,storage,transferandtreatmentasa
meansofenablinggovernmental andpublic supervisiononhazardous chemicalsdischarge
andreducingthepotentialrisksposedtothesurroundingenvironmentandcommunities.
54 http://hjj.mep.gov.cn/dtxx/201708/t20170818_420023.shtml
30Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Figure7.ListofPoliciesandConventionsonHazardousSubstanceManagement
Signedand/orIssuedbyChina
Regulation Issuedby Time Highlights
1 BaselConventionon
theControlof
Transboundary
Movementof
HazardousWastes
andTheirDisposal
SignedonMarch22,1990by
theChinesegovernment;went
intoeffectinChinaonMay5,
1992
Aimstoprotecthumanhealth
andtheenvironmentagainst
adverseeffectscausedbythe
production,transferanddisposal
ofhazardouswastes.
2 Regulationonthe
Environmental
Managementofthe
FirstImportof
Chemicalsandthe
ImportandExport
ofToxicChemicals
FormerSEPA,
General
Administration
ofCustoms,
former
Ministryof
ForeignTrade
andEconomic
Cooperation
PublishedonMarch16,1994;
onJuly6,2007,theregulation
wasreviewedandrevisedbythe
formerSEPA;atitssecond
meetingin2007,Articles9,10,
11weredeletedasaresult
Regulatesenvironmental
managementofthefirstimport
ofchemicalsandtheimportand
exportoftoxicchemicals.
3 Rotterdam
Conventiononthe
PriorInformed
ConsentProcedure
forCertain
Hazardous
Chemicalsand
Pesticidesin
InternationalTrade
SignedonAugust24,1999by
theChinesegovernment;went
intoeffectinChinaonJune20,
2005
Aimstoprotecthumanhealth
andtheenvironment,including
thehealthofconsumersand
workers,fromthepotential
harmfuleffectsofcertain
hazardouschemicalsand
pesticidesininternationaltrade.
4 Stockholm
Conventionon
PersistentOrganic
Pollutants(and
related
amendments)
SignedbytheChinese
governmentonMay23,2001;
wentintoeffectinChinaon
November11,2004
Aimstoprotecthumanhealth
andtheenvironment,taking
measurestoeliminateand/or
restricttheproductionanduseof
persistentorganicpollutants
(POPs).
31Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
5 Regulationsonthe
Safety
Administrationof
Dangerous
Chemicals
Orderofthe
StateCouncil
(No.591)
AnnouncedbytheStateCouncil
(No.344)onJanuary26,2002;
amendedatthe144thexecutive
meetingoftheStateCouncilon
February16,2011;cameinto
forceonDecember1,2011
Thepersonnelchieflyinchargeof
theunitsthatproduce,store,
management,use,andtransport
dangerouschemicalsanddispose
ofwastedangerouschemicals
(hereinafterreferredtoasthe
dangerouschemicalunits)shall
befullyresponsibleforthesafety
managementofdangerous
chemicalsintheirunits.Relevant
departmentsengagedinsafety
supervisionandmanagementon
production,storage,use,
operationandtransportationof
dangerouschemicalsshallfulfill
theirduties.
6 ListofPriority
Chemicalsforthe
Preventionand
Controlof
EnvironmentalRisks
(aspartofthe12th
Five–Year-Plan,
2010-2015)
Former
Ministryof
Environmental
Protection
(MEP)
WentintoeffectonFebruary7,
2013
Prioritizesgroupsofchemicals,
enterprisesandregionstobe
controlledfortheir
environmentalrisks.
7 Measuresonthe
Environmental
Managementand
Registrationof
Hazardous
Chemicals(Trial)
(andrelated
supporting
documents)
FormerMEP WentintoforceonMarch1,
2013;repealedonJuly13,2016
Clarifiestherequirementsof
environmentalmanagement
registrationandinformation
disclosurefortheproductionof
hazardouschemicals,andclarifies
theenvironmentalmanagement
registrationrequirementsfor
importandexportofhazardous
chemicalslistedintheCatalogue
ofHazardousChemicalsstrictly
restrictedinChina.
8 Inventoryof
EnterpriseRisk
Assessmentfor
Environmental
Incident(Trial)
FormerMEP WentintoeffectonApril3,2014 Specifieschemicalsubstances
andtheirthresholdquantitiesfor
enterprisetoidentifyandassess
environmentalrisksinthecaseof
incidents.
32Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
9 CatalogueofPriority
Hazardous
Chemicalsfor
Environmental
Management
FormerMEP PublishedonApril4,2014;
repealedbytheStateofCouncil
onJuly13,2016
Listsinformationonpersistent,
bioaccumulativeandtoxic
chemicalsthatrequirelong-term
environmentalmanagement.
10 Catalogueof
Hazardous
Chemicals
(2015Edition)
SWAS(with9
ministries)
WentintoeffectonFebruary27,
2015
Providesalistof2828hazardous
chemicalsandinformationabout
theirtoxicity.
11 NationalCatalogue
ofHazardous
Wastes
FormerMEP,
NDRC
WentintoeffectonAugust1,
2016
Listsnationalhazardouswaste
categories,industrysources,code
andhazardouscharacteristics,
andhazardouswasteexemption
managementlists
12 Minamata
Conventionon
Mercury
CameintoeffectinChinaon
August16,2017
Aimstoprotectthehumanhealth
andtheenvironmentfrom
anthropogenicemissionsand
releasesofmercuryandmercury
compounds.
13 WaterPollution
Preventionand
ControlLaw
Orderofthe
President(No.
70)
WentintoeffectonJanuary1,
2018
Enterprises,institutions,other
producersandoperatorswith
toxicandhazardouswater
pollutantsdischarge,shall
monitorthesewageoutletsand
thesurroundingenvironment,
assessenvironmentalrisks,and
discloseinformationontoxicand
hazardouswaterpollutants.
14 InventoryofStrictly
RestrictedToxic
ChemicalsinChina
(2018)
FormerMEP,
Departmentof
Commerce,
General
Administration
ofCustoms
WentintoeffectonJanuary1,
2018
Entitiesthattouchuponanyof
thetentypesoftoxicchemicals
listedintheinventoryshallapply
totheMEP(MEE)forClearance
NotificationofEnvironmental
ManagementonImport/Export
ofToxicChemicals.Importersand
exportersshallsubmitClearance
NotificationtoCustomsand
handleimportandexport
formalities.
33Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
ThecruxofthesepoliciesistheMeasuresontheEnvironmentalManagementandRegistration
ofHazardousChemicals(Trial),whichwentintoeffectonMarch1,2013.Article22ofthese
Measures stipulates that enterprises that produce and use hazardous chemicals shall in
January of each year publish an annual report on the environmental management of
hazardouschemicals,disclose to thepublic thestatusof the typesofhazardouschemicals
produced and used during the previous year, harmful characteristics, relevant pollutant
discharge and accident information, and measures for pollution prevention and control.
Meanwhile,enterprisesproducingandusingpriorityhazardouschemicalsforenvironmental
managementshallstillpublishinformationonthetransferandreleaseofpriorityhazardous
chemicalsforenvironmentalmanagementandcharacteristicpollutants,aswellasmonitoring
results.
Inspiteofitspioneeringmovetowardsrequiringpublicationoffacility-levelinformationon
thetransferandreleaseofpriorityhazardouschemicals, thispieceof legislationhadnever
beenseriouslyimplementedbeforeitwasannulledinJuly2016.Shortlyafterwards,theState
Council released the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Comprehensive Management Plan in
November2016toincreasethelevelofhazardouschemicalssafetymanagement.Notably,the
newlegislationemphasizessafetyregulationinformationonthemanagementofhazardous
chemicals,whichincludes:
- Optimizingthehazardouschemicalregistrymechanism;
- Constructinganationalhazardouschemicalsupervisioninformationsharingplatform;
and
- Buildinganationalpublic serviceplatform forhazardous chemical safetyonwhich
informationrelatedtoregisteredhazardouschemicalsistobepublished.
All three platforms were slated to reach initial implementation by March 2018 and will
continuetobeoptimizedthroughOctober2019.SinceChinastilllacksacentralizeddisclosure
platformforhazardouschemicals,theimplementationofthesepoliciesmayhelpclosethis
gapandaddressurgentconcerns.However,notuntiltheseplatformsarefullyimplemented
willwebeabletoassesstheireffectivenessandwhetherornottheirimplementationscope
is adequate to address current concerns with lack of mandatory disclosure on hazardous
chemicals.
DisclosureofChemicalsisCrucialtoWaterandSoilPollutionPrevention
Oncecontaminated,soilandgroundwaterareverydifficulttorestore.Toxicandhazardous
substances,includingheavymetalsandpersistentorganicmatters,cancauseseriousandlong-
term damage. A PRTR system is therefore especially important for preventing controlling
pollutionfromhazardoussubstancestosoilandgroundwaterbecauseittacklespollutionat
thesource.
Article32ofamendmentstoChina’sWaterPollutionPreventionandControlLawthatwent
intoeffectonJanuary1,2018requiresthepublicationofalistoftoxicandhazardouswater
pollutants. The same article of the amended law also stipulates, “Enterprises, public
34Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
institutions and other producers and operators that discharge toxic and hazardous water
pollutants on the aforementioned list shall carry out monitoring, environmental risk
assessment,andinspectionofhiddenenvironmentalandsafetyrisksatdischargepointsand
their surroundingenvironments,aswellasdisclose informationabout toxicandhazardous
waterpollutantsandadopteffectivemeasurestoprotectagainstenvironmentalhazards.”As
legislationpassedbytheNationalPeople’sCongress,thenewWaterLawthusprovidesahigh-
levellegislativebasisforthedisclosureoftoxicsubstancesreleasedintowater.
AlsoencouragingisthatthefirstpublicdraftofChina’spendingSoilPollutionPreventionand
ControlLaw,releasedtothepublicin2017,alsostipulatesrequirementsconcerningdisclosure
of key toxic and harmful substances in soil. Article 18 of the draft law requires for
environmentalauthoritiesto“announceadirectoryofkeytoxicandharmfulsubstancesinsoil,
andupdatethisasappropriate,”whileArticle19requiresthepublicationof“adirectoryofkey
industriesforsoilpollutionsupervisionandthecorrespondingmanagementmeasures,onthe
basisofthedirectoryoftoxicandtheenvironmentalimpactoftheproduction,use,storage,
transport,recycling,anddisposalofsoilpollutants.”
Article20ofthedraftSoilPollutionPreventionandControlLawbuildsonthisbystipulating
requirementsforthoseenterprisesdesignatedforsoilpollutionsupervisionandmanagement:
Article20 Thecompetentdepartmentofenvironmentalprotectionofprovincialpeople'sgovernmentsshall
developandpublishalistofenterprisesforkeysoilpollutionsupervisionandmanagementintheadministrative
regiononthebasisofthedirectoryofindustriesforkeysoilpollutionregulation,thedistributionofindustrialand
miningenterprises,andthestateofpollutantemissions,andupdateitasappropriate.
Enterprisesincludedinthelistoftheprecedingparagraphshallperformthefollowingobligations:
(1)Controltheemissionsoftoxicandharmfulsubstances;
(2)prevent leakage,seepage,oftoxicandharmfulsubstances, scatteringanddispersionof toxicandharmful
substances;
(3)Formulateandimplementanannualmonitoringplanning;
(4)Reportontheannualemissionsandtransferenceoftoxicandharmfulsubstancestotheenvironment.
Theobligationsprovidedforintheprecedingparagraphshallbeindicatedinrelevantlicensessuchasdischarge
permits,permitsforthedisposalofdomesticwaste,andpermitsforthedisposalofconstructionwaste.
Thecompetentdepartmentsforenvironmentalprotectionofprovincialpeople'sgovernmentshallperiodically
conductmonitoringofthesoilsurroundingkeysupervisionandmanagemententerprises,andusethemonitoring
resultsasthebasis forenvironmental lawenforcementandriskearlywarnings,andpromptlyuploadit tothe
nationalsoilenvironmentalinformationplatform.
35Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
UnliketherequirementsoftheWaterPollutionandPreventionLawfor"disclosinginformation
ontoxicandhazardouswaterpollutants,"theSoilPollutionPreventionandControlLaw(Draft)
requires"reportingoftheannualreleaseandtransferoftoxicandhazardoussubstancesto
theenvironment,"buthasnotclarifiedwhetherrelevantreportsshallbepubliclydisclosed.
EffortstoImplementDisclosurePoliciesinChina
Given the severity of pollution in China from hazardous substances and the fact that
management and control cannot wait, some local governments and NGOs in China have
carriedoutseveralprojectstopilottheestablishmentofaPRTRsystem.
TianjinTEDA’sPilotPRTRSystem
In2009,Tianjin’sEconomicandTechnologyDevelopmentArea(TEDA)firstannouncedthat
theareawoulddiscloseenterpriseenvironmentalinformation.Fouryearslater,in2013,the
TEDA Eco Center, TEDA’s Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB), the Institute of Public &
EnvironmentalAffairs(IPE),andSweden’sInternationalInstituteforIndustrialEnvironmental
Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University co-implemented the “EU-China Environmental
GovernanceProgramme:DevelopingaPilotRegionalPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister
inTianjinBinhaiNewArea,China,”withtheplanofdrawingontheEuropeanUnion’srelevant
experienceandmanagementexpertisetoimplementaPRTRsystemwithinTEDA.
The program encouraged the enterprises in TEDA to voluntarily disclose environmental
information, improve their environmental management strategies, and reduce pollutant
emissions.Partoftheaimsoftheprojectweretoserveasapilotprojectfortheestablishment
of a nationwide PRTR disclosure system that could strengthen information disclosure and
safeguardthepublic’senvironmentalright-to-know.
Figure8.TEDAPromotionMechanismforPRTR
Source:ExaminingBusinessPerceptionsofaPollutantReleaseandTransferRegisterinChina,
ACaseStudyinTianjinEconomic-TechnologicalDevelopmentArea
36Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Asof2015,thenumberofenterprisesdisclosinginformationonpollutionandpollutantshad
increasedfromaninitialnumberof29enterprisesin2013to129enterprisesin2015.These
participatingenterprisesregularlypublishedenvironmentalinformationdisclosurereportsto
informthepublicaboutthedischargeandtransferofprimarypollutantsandcharacteristic
pollutants.Oneof themajor lessons learned from theproject is that the corporate sector
requires significant training and guidance due to a lack of general understanding about
environmentalinformationdisclosure.
Sincethepilotprojectconcludedin2015,however,theprojectwebsitehasnotbeenupdated
withanynewdata.55 Still,theprojectdemonstratesthatPRTRdisclosureinChinaisfeasible,
anditsworkingmodelcouldpotentiallybereplicatedinothereconomicdevelopmentareas
and/orindustrialparksinChinaasameansoftrainingenterprisesonhowtosystematically
measuresemissionsandcomprehensivelydisclosePRTRdata.
NGOandMediaAdvocacy
Pollution reduction results due to NGO and media advocacy based on corporate
environmental information disclosure pose implications for the Chinese context. Because
environmental information disclosure in China has traditionally emphasized corporate
disclosureonly for those entities that are out of complianceor exceed certain thresholds,
corporations regularly and easily flout disclosure requirements by simply not disclosing
information in what amounts to an “innocent until proven guilty” fashion. For example,
accordingtoKer,56 “A2009Greenpeacestudyontheimplementationofmandatorycorporate
informationdisclosurefoundthatnoneofthe500FortuneGlobalandthe100FortuneChina
companiesfoundtobeinviolationofpollutantdischargestandardsdisclosedenvironmental
informationwithintherequiredperiodof30days.”
Although some provinces, such as Jiangsu and Inner Mongolia, have experimented with
“GreenWatch” programs that assign enterprises color-coded environmental ratings, these
initiativesarestillgovernment-ledandonlycontainsummarydata,sotheir implicationsfor
NGO, media and other third-party advocacy is limited. Without compulsory disclosure of
hazardouschemicalsinformation,environmentalorganizationscanonlychoosetoadvocate
forvoluntarydisclosurefromenterprises.Andwheninformationdisclosureisvoluntary,itis
difficulttoexertpressureviarankings,becausecompaniesthatdiscloseoftheirownwillmay
receiveadditionalpressure,whilecompaniesthatrefusetodisclosewillnotbeexposed.To
solvethisproblem,itisnecessaryforinformationonhazardouschemicalsbemadepublicand
toseverelypunishcompaniesthatrefusetodisclose.
55 http://prtr.ecoteda.org/ 56 Ker,Michelle.“GettingDowntoBusiness:DeepeningEnvironmentalTransparencyinChina.”TheSolutions
Journal.2014.Vol.5,No.4.
37Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
IPE’sPRTRDisclosurePlatform
Sinceitsestablishmentin2006,IPEhasoperatedtheBlueMapDatabase(previouslyreferred
toas the“ChinaPollutionMapDatabase”),whichcollectspublicly-availableenvironmental
informationfromofficialgovernmentsourcesandcollatesitintoauser-friendlydatabaseso
that stakeholderscansearch forandeasily locate relevantenvironmental information.The
databasecurrentlycontainstwomainsections:1)fourreal-timemapsrespectivelydisplaying
air quality, water quality, air emissions sources andwastewater sources; 2) a database of
“enterpriseenvironmentaldata” thatasofMay2018 includesover970,000environmental
supervision records issued by environmental and other authorities, as well as enterprise
responsestotheserecordsandenterprises’self-disclosedemissionsdata.
Figure9.IPEBlueMapDatabaseLandingPage
To confront hazardous chemicals pollution and other related environmental issues from
electronicsproduction,in2010,IPElaunchedaseriesofinvestigationsintopollutionfromIT
industrymanufacturers.Theinitialcampaign,whichengaged29majorITbrands,eventually
succeededinmotivatingmanyofthesecompaniestocheckpublicly-availableenvironmental
violationrecorddataandmotivatesupplierswithviolationstoissuepublicstatementsabout
correctiveactionsand/orundergosupervisedthird-partyauditstoverifytheeffectivenessof
corrective actions. Based on the Green Choice supply chain management standards,
enterprisesthatdesireto“de-list”(i.e.removetheirviolationrecord)fromIPE’sdatabasevia
on-siteaudit are required topublish thepast twoyears’ emissionsdataand to commit to
continuepublishingtheirannualemissionsdata.
38Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
IPElauncheditsownplatformforvoluntarydisclosureofpollutantreleaseandtransferdata
(PRTR)inAugust2013topromotehighenvironmentalimpactmanufacturerstodisclosetheir
emissionsdata,includingforhazardouschemicals.Sincethen,IPEhasencouragedelectronics
companiesandcompaniesfromotherindustriesthatsourcefromChinatorequiretheirhigh
environmentalimpactsupplierstopublishtheirannualdataontheportal.
IPEDevelopsaPRTRReportingTemplate
IPEhaslongadvocatedfortheestablishmentofanationwidePollutantReleaseandTransfer
Registry(PRTR)systemsuitableforChina’snationalsituation.BeginningwiththefirstPollution
Information Transparency Index (PITI) report published in 2009, 57 IPE has studied and
analyzedinternationalexperiences in implementingPRTRinorderto introduceaneffective
andefficientsystemforChinathattakesintoaccounttheindustrialmakeupofpollutersand
effectivelyfurthersinformationtransparency.
In2013, IPEdevelopeda“ProposedPollutantInventoryforChinaPriorityPollutantRelease
and Transfer Register (PRTR).” The list is based on China’s National Register of Hazardous
Wastes,aswellasthehazardoussubstancesfromtheUSTRIandEUPRTRliststhataremost
relevant to industries in China. Thereafter, IPE launched a PRTR information disclosure
database for enterprises, allowing them to publish PRTR data online on IPE’swebsite in a
sectiondedicatedtoenterprises’annualemissionsdisclosure.
Figure10.IPE’sProposedPollutantInventoryforChinaPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister
Note:SeeAppendixIforfullproposedpollutantinventory.
57 http://www.ipe.org.cn/reports/Reports.aspx?cid=18336&year=0&key=
39Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Since its launch in 2013, IPE’s Proposed Pollutant Inventory has undergone one round of
revision,withthecurrentversionbeingadoptedonAugust1,2014.Theinventorycontains
104 substances across ninedifferent categories of pollutants: persistent organic pollutants
(POPs), metals, inorganic substances, chlorinated and brominated organic substances,
greenhousegases(GHGs),othergases,polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs),otherorganic
substances,andactivesubstancesofplantprotectionproductsorbiocidalproducts.Thefull
pollutantinventorycanbefoundinAppendixI.
Unlike most PRTR reporting and disclosure systems, IPE's PRTR reporting template and
disclosureplatformcoversamorecomprehensivesetofpollutants,includingnotonlyharmful
chemicals,butalsoconventionalpollutants,aswellaswaterconsumption,waterefficiency,
energyefficiency,andcarbonemissionsinformation.
Figure11.InformationIncludedinIPE’sPRTRDisclosurePlatform
ThereasonwhyIPEhasincludedmoreindicatorsintheinformationreportinganddisclosure
platformisthatChinaiscurrentlyfacingafullrangeofenvironmentalandresourcechallenges.
Corporate general pollutants, as well as information disclosure on energy efficiency and
greenhousegasemissions,areasseriousasharmfulchemicals.Integratingthesedisclosure
indicatorsintoasingletablecanmakecorporateinformationdisclosuremorecomprehensive
andefficient.
TosubmitdataonIPE’sdisclosureplatform,enterpriseusersmustfirstregisterforacorporate
user account on IPE’s website. 58 Once registered, a user may download the reporting
templateandcompleteitwithdata,includinginformationaboutthesourceofeachpieceof
data.Asshownbelow,alldatasourcesareverifiedby IPEandasealedconfirmation letter
mustbeprovidedbytheenterprisebeforedataisofficiallypublishedontheIPEplatform.
58 http://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/
40Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Figure12.DataReportingProcessforIPE’sPRTRDisclosurePlatform
Inadditiontoprovidingaplatformfordatasubmission,IPE’swebsitealsoallowsuserstoselect
individualindicatorsfromthePRTRchartandconductcomparisonacrosssuppliersandyears.
Thisallowsthepublictoviewasinglesupplier’senvironmentalperformanceoverseveralyears,
aswellastocompareandcontrasttheperformancesofdifferentsupplierswithinoneindustry.
Figure13.IPE’sPRTRViewingPage
41Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
ScopeandImpact
Since its launch in2013, IPE’sPRTRdisclosuresystemhasseenasignificant increase inthe
number of suppliers publishing their annual resources and energy usage data, as well as
pollutantreleaseandtransferdata.
Figure14.NumberofSuppliersSubmittingPRTRDatatoIPE’sPlatform
Thisrisingtrendcanbeattributedtothecombinedresultofthefollowingfactors:
a. Strengthenedlegislationonenvironmentalinformationdisclosure;
b. IPE’scontinuedeffortstosupportChinesePeople'sPoliticalConsultativeConference
(CPPCC)delegatestosubmitproposalscallingfortheestablishmentofanation-wide
mandatoryenvironmentalinformationaldisclosureplatform;
c. IPE’s Green Choice Alliance (GCA) green supply chain program, which requires
suppliersundergoingon-siteauditsconductedbythird-partiestopublishPRTRdata
forthemostrecenttwoyears;
d. Rising number of brandswho embrace the idea of supply chain transparency and
integratePRTRdisclosureintotheirsupplierenvironmentalmanagementmechanisms;
e. Increasedlevelofpublicandmediasupervision.
42Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Figure15.MainMotivatingFactorsforSupplierstoPublishonIPE’sPRTRDisclosureSystem59
Intheelectronicssectorspecifically,atotalof14brandshavemotivatedsupplierstousethe
PRTRplatformdevelopedbyIPEtodisclosetheirPRTRdata.Thesebrandstovaryingdegrees
allrequiresupplierstodisclosetheirannualenvironmentaldata.
Figure16.NumberofSuppliersPublishingviaIPE’sPRTRDisclosurePlatform60
59 Inthisfigure,“GCA”referstosuppliersthatwererequiredtopublishdataaspartoftherequirementstopass
aGreenChoiceAllianceaudittoremoveaviolationrecordfromIPE’sdatabase.Facilitiesthatundergothisprocess
mustpublishthepasttwoyears’emissionsdata,andcommittopublishingtheirannualPRTRdatagoingforward.60 DataasofMay2018.
43Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
WeselectedtoanalyzeeightsupplierstoanITindustrybrandthatpublishedtheirannualPRTR
dataforatleastthreeyearsinarow.CalculationsbasedontheirPRTRdataindicatesthatthe
total amount of hazardous waste produced can vary greatly among suppliers. This
phenomenon, aswell as the reductionor increaseof dischargesover several years at one
supplier,requiresdeeperanalysisoftheunderlyingcausesandshouldmotivatesuppliersto
improvetheirperformance.
Figure17.HazardousWasteProducedbySuppliersSelectedforAnalysis61
CaseStudy:PushingSupplierstoTreatHeavyMetalsinRiverBasinSediment
62
In2013, investigationsby theSuzhou-basedenvironmentalprotection
organization,LvseJiangnan,uncoveredthatalargeelectronicsfactory
had been dischargingwastewater into an internal channel, causing a
pungentodor,darkenedwaterandthickfoam.Thisproblemattracted
theattentionofseniorstaffatthecompany.Underrequestsfromoneof
itsbrandcustomers,thefactorybegantoinvestigatetheprobleminthe
channel, and launched a remediation project for the channel, which
unfoldedinfivestages.
Thefirstfourstageswerecompletedoversixmonthsandincludedcuttingoffthewatersourcestothechannel,
completely diverting storm-water, drying up sediment in the riverway, and developing a river sediment
monitoringandtreatmentscheme(whichpassedanexpertreviewonMay2014).Stage5wasthelaunchof
sediment dredging treatment work and implementation of experts' recommendations for the “hydraulic
digging,remoteexposure”dredgingplan.InNovember2014,constructionofthesedimentexposuretanks
wascompleted,andonDecember20,2014,alldredgingworkwasfinished.Aspartofitsremediationefforts
andcommitmenttocompliance,thefactorycontinuestodiscloseitsannualPRTRdataonIPE’splatform.63
61 DataasofMarch2017.62 2015CITIannualreport:http://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/reports/Reports.aspx?cid=18334&year=0&key= 63http://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/IndustryRecord/regulatory-record.aspx?companyId=6947&dataType=3&selfdata=prtr-
44Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Amongthesebrands,PanasonicwasoneofthefirsttoadaptaPRTRsystemforenvironmental
managementofitssubsidiaryfactoriesinChina.Beginningin2016,theJapaneseelectronics
giantstartedtopublishtheannualdataoftenofitssubsidiarycompaniesinChinaonitsown
official website. Published data include wastewater and exhaust gas emissions, energy
consumption,hazardouswasteproduction,andthenamesofthecentralizedwastewaterand
hazardouswastetreatmentfacilitiesthatreceivewaste;hazardouswastesincludenickel,lead,
mercury and organic resin. Such disclosure therefore increases the transparency of the
productionandtreatmentofhazardouswaste.
Figure18.PanasonicDisclosesSubsidiaryEnterpriseEnvironmentalInformation
Source:PanasonicChinaofficialwebsite
group&dataId=0&isyh=0
45Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
AnotherITbrandthatactivelypromotestransparencyandtraceabilityofhazardouschemicals
is Apple. In its Supplier Responsibility 2017 Progress Report64, Apple states that all of its
ChinesesupplierswhohaveremovedtheirviolationrecordsfollowingGCAauditsfill inand
publishtheirannualenvironmentalmonitoringdataviaIPE’sPRTRplatformtodemonstrate
theirsustainedcomplianceinaccordancewithChineselawsandregulations.
Figure19.AppleRequestingSupplierstoConductInformationDisclosure
Source:SupplierResponsibility2017ProgressReport,Apple
64 https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2017_Progress_Report.pdf
46Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
InadditiontoAppleandPanasonic,startingin2015,Dellbeganactivelyrequiringitssuppliersto
disclose data via IPE’s PRTR disclosure platform as part of its supply chain management
requirements.SuppliersthatdisclosedataarerewardedinDell’squarterlybusinessreviewsofkey
suppliers,whichimpactDell’spurchasingdecisions.Dellhighlightedtheimportanceofitssuppliers’
PRTRdisclosureinits2017SupplyChainSocialandEnvironmentalResponsibilityProgressReport.
Figure20.DellRequestingSupplierstoConductInformationDisclosure65
Source:Dell2017SupplyChainSocialandEnvironmentalResponsibilityProgressReport
Case Study: PRTR System Developed by IPE Helps Companies Successfully Reach New U.S.
ProcurementStandards
Disclosurecanposepracticalimplicationsforcorporatecompliancewithnewlawsandpolicies.
For example, some companies have been exploring using PRTR data for suppliers in China
disclosed via IPE’s platform to fulfill certain requirements for disclosure of environmental
impactsofelectronicscomponentsviatheElectronicProductEnvironmentalAssessmentTool
(EPEAT),66 aninitiativemanagedbytheGreenElectronicsCouncilthatcameaboutfollowing
astakeholderengagementprocessinitiatedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.
InordertomeettheEPEATstandardforServers(NSF/ANSI426-2017)criterion12.2.3(Optional
-Publicreportingoftoxicsreleasedata(corporate)),themanufacturermustconformtothe
reportingformatandchemicalslistedonU.S.ToxicsReleaseInventory,UnitedNationsProtocol
onPollutantReleaseandTransferRegistry,orapplicablecountry/regionregistryfor3ofthe
manufacturer’stop6suppliersof3specificcomponents,ifapplicabletotheproductdeclared
65 http://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/corporate/corp-comm/en/Documents/ser-report.pdf 66 http://www.epeat.net/about-epeat/
47Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
toconformtotheServerStandard.Thosethreecomponenttypesareprincipalstoragedevices,
principle semiconductor devices, andprinted circuit boards.Because many of Dell’s top 6
suppliersofthesethreecomponentshavefacilitieslocatedinChina,Dellisexploringusingthe
PRTRdatathatwassubmittedtoIPEinsteadofrequiringthemtocompleteanotherform.
RemainingGaps
Dr. Joe DiGangi, Senior Science and Technical Advisor at IPEN – which has long been a
participantinmultilateralinitiativesonhazardouschemicals–said,“Morethan100countries
haveagreedthathazardouschemicalsinelectronicsisanissueofglobalconcernunderthe
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and formulating and
implementingPRTR is a key recommendation. IPE’s advancementof PRTR supports SAICM
implementation and sets the stage for a comprehensive mandatory system that requires
polluterstobeaccountable.”
IPE’sPRTRdisclosureeffortsandthevoluntaryparticipationofbrandsandsuppliersfromthe
electronicsindustrysupporttheimplementationofrecommendationsfromtheSAICM’s2011
ViennaMeetingonElectronicsandhave furthered information transparencyonhazardous
discharge in China. Still, the overall impact of their efforts remains limited because the
disclosureplatformismainlyemployedbyleadingcompanies,whilepollutersarefreenotto
disclose their data. Policies that require across-the-board disclosure would endow the
discloseddatawithgreatercomparabilityandthusopenspace forNGOs,mediaandother
thirdpartiestousethedataasaneffectivetooltopushforemissionsreductionsandimproved
environmentalmanagement.
Electronics companies’ experiences with the PRTR disclosure system on IPE’s Blue Map
Databaseshowthatdisclosureisfeasibleandbeneficial.Inordertotrulybringaboutextensive
improvements in management of hazardous chemical release and transfer, though, the
adoptionandfullimplementationofamandatoryPRTRdisclosuresystemisneeded.
48Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
6. Recommendations
As demonstrated by the experiences of the U.S., Europe and many other countries, 67
mandatory PRTR disclosure can play a crucial role in managing hazardous chemicals and
reducing relatedpollution impacts so thatcompliance isno longeracat-and-mousegame.
Instead,publicizinginformationaboutthedischargeofhazardoussubstancescanmotivatebig
emitterstovoluntarilycarryoutsignificantemissionsreductionsunderthepressureofpublic
supervision.
Chinaiscurrentlyconfrontingsevereissueswithhazardouschemicalpollution.Wehopethat
thegovernment,thepublicandtheprivatesectorcanallrecognizethatinadditiontousing
traditional orders and controls to strengthen supervision, they can also take advantage of
informationdisclosureandtheestablishmentofaPRTRsysteminChinatoworktogetherto
promotereductionsinthedischargeofhazardoussubstances.
Buildingontheabove,weraisethefollowingrecommendations:
1. BeginthelegislativeprocesstolaunchaPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister(PRTR)
systemassoonaspossible.With requirements for corporate environmental disclosure currently scattered across
different laws and policies, China should pass legislation that specifically mandates the
implementationofaPRTRsystem.
Since2013, IPEhasworkedonmultipleoccasionswithentrepreneurs from theSocietyof
Entrepreneurs&Ecology(SEE),aswellasotherpartnerssuchasNRDC,toraisethefollowing
recommendationsregardingChina’slegislationonaPRTRsystem:
- Publishalistofhazardouschemicalsformandatorydisclosure;
- All polluting facilities are required to register the release and transfer dataof the
listedpollutantsonthegivenplatformwithstandardizedformat;
- Thescopeandbreadthofconventionalpollutantsanddangerouschemicalsrequired
for disclosure should be no less than the pollutants identified in environmental
impactassessments(EIAs);
- Relevantagenciesshouldstrengthensupervisiontoensurethatpollutersaccurately
andpromptlyreportthereleaseandtransferoftoxicpollutants;
- Facilitieswhofailtopublishorpublishfraudulentdatawillbepunished;
- Thepublichasfullaccesstothepublisheddata.
67 SeeAppendixIIformoredetails.
49Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
2. Publishexistingpollutantdischargereportsdatathroughaunifiedplatform.
Before PRTR legislation is in place, it should be clarified that existing pollution discharge
reportsdatafromenterprisesshouldbepublished.Thescopeofthisinformationshouldbe
no less than all characteristic pollutants andhazardouswastes identified in environmental
impactassessment(EIA)reports.
Currently, the “National Discharge PermitManagement Information Platform” has already
beencompletedandputintouse,andtensofthousandsofcompanieshavealreadydisclosed
theiremissionspermitinformationthroughtheaforementionedplatform.Itisrecommended
forenterprisesandpublicinstitutionstodisclosetheirpollutantsthroughtheaforementioned
platform,especially informationonthereleaseandtransferofcharacteristicpollutantsand
hazardouswastes.
Itisalsoproposedtotakeadvantageoftheenterpriseself-monitoringinformationdisclosure
platformsor theenvironmental informationdisclosureplatformsforenterprisesandpublic
institutionsbuiltbyenvironmentalauthoritiesatalllevels.
3. Ensure the implementation of requirements for the disclosure of information on
characteristicpollutantsandtoxicandhazardoussubstancesinthenewEnvironmentalProtectionLawanditssupportingMeasuresonEnvironmentalInformationDisclosureforEnterprisesandPublic Institutions,aswellasthenewWaterPollutionPreventionandControlLaw.
ThenewEnvironmentalProtectionLaw,whichwentintoeffectonJanuary1,2015,aswellas
itssupportingMeasuresonEnvironmentalInformationDisclosureforEnterprisesandPublic
Institutions, clearly stipulate requirements for the disclosure of major pollutants and
characteristicpollutantsbykeypollution-dischargingentities.
TheWaterPollutionPreventionandControlLaw,whichbeganitsimplementationonJanuary
1, 2018, stipulates for the first time that entities which discharge toxic and hazardous
pollutants must disclose relevant information. Based on this law, we recommend the
formulation of a register of toxic and hazardous water pollutants. With this foundation,
companies should be encouraged to disclose information on water-related hazardous
substances,creatingahelpfulattemptatimplementingamorecomprehensivePRTRsystem.
4. MorecompaniesandfinancialinstitutionsshouldleveragegreensupplychainandgreenfinancetopromotePRTRdatadisclosure.
We eventually hope to see stronger legislation clarifying mandatory requirements for
corporations to disclose relevant information about hazardous chemicals. But we also
recognizethatthatitwilltaketimeforamandatoryPRTRsystemtobefullyandeffectively
implemented.Duringthisgapperiod,wehopethatleadingcompanieswillproactivelywork
to achieve compliance and be a part of the solution, rather than taking advantage of
legislativeloopholes.
50Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Weareencouragedtoseethatsomeleadingbrandsarealreadydoingso,asevidencedby
disclosureonIPE’sPRTRdisclosureplatform.Werecommendformorebrandcompaniesto
requiretheirsupplierstovoluntarilydisclosetheirPRTRdata,andtousegreenprocurement
toselectsuppliersthatgotransparentwiththeirPRTRdata.Then,basedonthedata,they
canestablishverifiabletargetsforemissionsreduction.
Werecommendthatfinancialinstitutionslearnfromthesuccessfulimplementationofgreen
supplychain,andusegreenfinancetopromotethedisclosureofPRTRdatabylendingand
financialcompanies.
5. EnvironmentalorganizationsshouldpayattentiontopublishedPRTRinformation.In countries withmandatory disclosure, environmental organizations played a key role in
promoting implementation and applying disclosed data to push for improvements in
environmentalperformance.WerecommendthatChineseenvironmentalNGOsandother
environmental organizations in China actively pay attention to disclosed data to help
companies identifyproblemsandpromotethereductionofharmfulchemicals,andcreate
toolstohelpotherstakeholderssuchaslocalcommunitiesandfinancialinstitutionsbetter
understandhowdatacanbeapplied.Atthesametime,environmentalgroupscanhelpto
identifygapsandpromotethefullimplementationofthePRTRsystem.
6. Increaselegalmeanstohandlethosewhoviolateinformationdisclosurerequirements.
The Opinion on Deepening Environmental Monitoring Reform to Improve Environmental
MonitoringDataQualityalsotouchesonpublicinterestlitigationbyprocuratoratesandcivil
societyorganizations,aswellasadministrativeenvironmentaldamagecompensatorysuits,as
a tool that can supplement typical legal penalties to hold accountable those monitoring
agenciesandotherswhoparticipateindatafraud.
We recommend to strengthen both administrative and judicial channels for legal relief to
ensurethatcompaniesreporttheirpollutantreleaseandtransferdatatruthfully,promptly,
andaccurately.
51Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Appendices
AppendixI:IPEProposedPollutantInventoryforChina 68
b kn u yProposed Pollutant Inventory for China Priority Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
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68 ThischartdisplaysthepollutantssuggestedfordisclosureviaIPE’sPRTRdisclosureplatform.Thelistwasfirstdevelopedin2013andisbasedonacombinationofinternationalexperiencesalongwithareview
ofthesubstancesregulatedonChina’sNationalRegisterofHazardousWastes:http://www.mep.gov.cn/gkml/hbb/bl/201606/t20160621_354852.htm. 69 ThePOPslistedinthischartarethosecurrentlyrequestedforreportingonIPE’sPRTRdisclosureplatform.Partiesthatacceptamendmentsfornewlistingswillberequiredtoreportonthefollowing28
substanceslistedintheStockholmConvention:Aldrin,Chlordane,Chlordecone,DDT,Decabromodiphenylethercommercialmixture,Dieldrin,Endrin,Endosulfan,Heptachlor,Hexabromobiphenyl,
Hexabromocyclododecane,Hexachlorobutadiene,Hexachlorobenzene,Alphahexachlorocyclohexane,Betahexachlorocyclohexane,Lindane,Mirex,Octabromodiphenylethercommercialmixture
(HexabromodiphenyletherandHeptabromodiphenylether),PentachlorobenzenePentabromodiphenylethercommercialmixture(TetrabromodiphenyletherandPentabromodiphenylether),Pentachlorophenol,
PCBs,PerfluorooctanesulfonateandPFOSF,Polychlorinatednaphthalenes,Short-chainchlorinatedparaffins,andToxaphene.
52Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
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53Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
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54Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
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55Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
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56
AppendixII:OverviewofPRTRSystemsWorldwide
Western countrieswere the first to be affected by hazardous chemicals in the process ofindustrialization.ThePRTRsystemforcontrollinghazardouschemicals through informationdisclosure was only formed after a long period of exploration. Experience sharing fromdeveloped systems – especially concerning the earliest system, the U.S. Toxics ReleaseInventory–hasplayedanimportantroleinspurringtheglobalexchangeandspreadofPRTRusage.Othermultilateralinitiatives,includingthePRTRProtocoltotheAarhusConventionandtheStrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM),havealsopromptedgovernmentstostrengthentheircapacityformanagingharmfulchemicalsincludingthroughPRTRdisclosure.Below,weprovideabriefoverviewsomeofthemostprominentexamplesofPRTRsystemsworldwide.
TheU.S.ToxicsReleaseInventory(TRI)
TheU.S.ToxicsReleaseInventory(the“TRI”)isadatabasethatpublishesinformationontoxicchemicalreleasesandotherwastemanagementactivitiesintheUnitedStates.Itistheearliestmajor example of a PRTR system and heavily influenced the adoption of later systemsworldwide. 70 It was established via Section 313 of the 1986 Emergency Planning andCommunityRight-to-KnowAct(EPCRA)inthewakeofseveraldisastersinvolvingreleasesofhazardouschemicals,mostnotablythe1984BhopaldisasterataUnionCarbidepesticideplantinIndiathatkilledthousands,aswellasasimilarincidentthatfollowedshortlyafterwardataUnionCarbideplantinWestVirginia.Duetothelackofavailableinformationaboutchemicalreleasesandothertoxicchemicalsatthetime,theEPCRAcreatedTRItorequirethosefacilitiesfromspecificindustrysectors(suchasmanufacturing,miningandelectricalpowergeneration)thatemployover10employeesandmanufacture,processorotherwiseuseachemicallistedontheTRIinlevelsabovesetthresholdstodiscloserelevantinformationonanannualcycle.Thedatabasewasexpandedtoincludewastemanagementandsourcereductionactivitiesin1990whenU.S.CongresspassedthePollutionPreventionAct. TheU.S.TRIhasadvancedsinceitsearlybeginningsandpavedtheroadtoraiseawarenessabout informationtransparency. Itscurrentscopehasgrowntoincludeover650chemicalsandover20,000reportingfacilities.Whilethedatawasoriginallysomewhatdifficulttoaccess,effortsbyNGOsandothergroupshavecreatedtoolstotranslatethedataintoformsthatarehelpfulforeverydaycitizens.AremarkbyU.S.SenatorTomUdallsumsitupwell:“Whileitwas a new approach in 1986, todaymore than fifty countries have established their ownregistries, using the TRI as amodel. These registries, in theU.S and abroad, have allowedcompanies to learn best practices from each other and, simply by shining a spotlight onreleasesoftoxicchemicals,haveledtodramaticreductions.”
70 https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/learn-about-toxics-release-inventory
57Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
The TRI pioneered a range ofbenefitsofdisclosurethathaveproven consistent across otherPRTR disclosure systems. Fromanalyzing collected data todispersing information abouttheeffectsof chemicals,wastemanagement, emissions, andotherpollutionprevention, theTRIdatabaseinformsthepublicaboutpotentialrisksfromtoxicchemicals and pushes facilitiesto adopt more environmental-friendly and less harmfulactivities and methods. Thedatabase’s information abouthealth and environmentalimpacts is also helpful forenvironmental researchers andhealth organizerswho can respectively assess environmental justice concerns and identifypotentialpublichealthrisks.Governmentofficialsusethedatatoevaluatetheeffectivenessof environmental policies and reconsider their environmental priorities. Furthermore, TRIoffers valuable resources to inform media investigations on the current corporateenvironmentalperformanceofTRIfacilitymembers.
Figure2.TrendsinTRIReleases,1988-2015
Source:Introductiontothe2015TRINationalAnalysis
Figure1.ReportingCycleChartforTRI
Source:USEPAwebsite
58Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Inmoreconcreteterms,researchershavegonesofarastodrawlinksbetweenTRIandmarketbehaviorbycompaniesandotheractors.WhenTRIwasfirstreleased,stockpricesofpubliccompaniesexperiencedcomparativelylargedeclines,promptingoutwardeffortsbymanyofthesecompaniestoreducetheiremissions.Onestudyfoundthatreducingemissionsby10%canleadacompany’smarketvaluetoincreaseby$34million. 71 HighTRIreleasesarealsofoundtonegatively impacthousingprices.Andbeyondmarket impacts,somestudieshavealsofoundthatdecreasesinchemicalreleaseshavesavedbillionsofdollarsinhealthcarecostsjustforinfantsalone.
PRTRSystemsinEurope,JapanandtheRepublicofKorea
ThemorerecentEuropean-wideEuropeanPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister(E-PRTR)(originallycalledtheEuropeanPollutantEmissionRegister,orEPER)wasestablishedin2000on the basis of the 1998Aarhus Convention,72 an environmental agreement between theEuropeanUnionand46statesthatestablishesthepublic’senvironmentalright-to-knowandtoparticipateinenvironmentalgovernance.Theimplementationofthesystemwassolidifiedthroughthe2003KievProtocolonPollutantReleaseandTransferRegisters,thefirst legallybindinginternationalagreementregardingPRTRs.Itisthefirstregional-levelPRTRsystem.TheE-PRTRprovidesdataforpollutantreleasestotheair,water,waste,andwastewaterfromindustrialfacilitiesinEuropeanUnionMemberStatesandinIceland,Liechtenstein,Norway,Serbia and Switzerland.73 The database collects information on 91 pollutants from30,000industrialfacilitiesacrossEuropeandcoveringmorethan65economicactivities.Easilyaccessedonlineandnavigated,E-PRTRallowsthepublictolocateemissionreleaseandwastetransfer informationonhistorical industrial sitesaswellascurrentmonitors.E-PRTRalso allows users to compare pollutant release and transfer information from differentindustrialfacilitiesinordertobetteraidgovernmentofficialsandothermembersofauthorityinprioritizingenvironmentalandhealthpolicies.Asdataiscollectedbyindustries,assessedandvalidatedbynationalauthorities,andpublishedbytheEuropeanCommission,E-PRTRhasbecome a model for bringing awareness to environmental concerns for those residing inEuropeandinfluencesinternationalprotocolswithitseasy-to-accessfacility-levelinformation.
71 ReinventingEnvironmentalRegulation from theGrassrootsUp: Explaining andExpanding the Successof the
ToxicsReleaseInventory.EnvironmentalManagement,February2000,Vol.25,No.272 http://www.unece.org/env/pp/introduction.html 73 http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/#/static?cont=about
59Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Figure3.E-PRTRHomepage
InthecaseofJapan,shortlyaftertheestablishmentofthe1999“ActonConfirmation,etc.ofRelease Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion ofImprovementstotheManagementThereof,”aPRTRsystemwaslaunchedinordertopublicizeinformation on businesses’ handling of chemical substances. 74 The system covers 354substancesandaimstodetermineprioritiesinthecaseofadministrativemeasures,promotevoluntarymanagementofchemicalsubstances,andprovidepublicinformationonchemicalsubstancesandtheireffectsonenvironmentalconservation.Notably,JapanPRTRcollectsdatafromnotonlylargebusiness,butalsonon-listedbusinesses,households,andmobilesources.This allows manufacturers and environmentalists alike to determine ways to reduceenvironmentalandhealthcosts.
Japan’sPRTRsystemhashelpedtoidentifyhighlevelsofseveralpollutantsthathadnotbeenmonitored before the systemwas implemented, prompting several existing environmentalmonitoring programs to be re-designed. These results were facilitated in part by Japan’senvironmental ministry releasing a handful of materials to support implementation thatengagedbusinessesandthepublicalike, includingtheManualforPRTRReleaseEstimationMethods, Cases of Success toward Reduction of PRTR Substance Emissions, and theGuidebookforCitizensinthePRTRInformationPlazaJapanonline.75
74 http://www.env.go.jp/en/chemi/prtr/prtr.html75 JensHartmann,NorioOkadaandJasonLevy,“UsingPRTRDatabasefortheAssessmentofSurfaceWaterRisk
andImprovementofMonitoringinJapan,”InternationalJournalofCriticalInfrastructures1(2/3):155-169(2005).
60Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
InSouthKorea,41typesofindustriescoveringapproximately3634companiesarerequiredtoprovidePRTRdataincludingthoseinvolvedinthemanufactureofelectricalequipmentandelectronic components, computer, radio, television and communication equipment.76 Thescopeincludesemissionstoair,water,soil,wastesdisposedonsite,andwastestransportedoff-site.77 Substancesaredividedintotwogroups:sixteensubstancesareinGroup1and399arepresentinGroup2andreleasesfromindividualfacilitiescanbesearchedwiththemostrecentpubliclyavailabledatafrom2015. 78 79 Toqualifyforreporting,eachsubstancemustbeequaltoorgreaterthanacertainconcentration(usually0.1%or1.0%byweight). 80 IfthesubstanceisinGroup1itmustbereportedifusedatlevelsof1tonormoreperyear;ifinGroup2,thenitmustbereportedifusedatlevelsof10tonsormoreperyear. 81 Substancesincludechemicalsusedinproductionprocessesevenifnotpresentinthefinalproduct.82 TheChemical Control Act also grants authority to the Ministry of Environment to entermanufacturingfacilitiestoinvestigateemissions.Dataispubliclyavailableviainternet.83
NGOscanalsoplayaroleinpushingforthesuccessfulestablishmentofPRTRsystems.IntheCzechRepublic,acoalitionofNGOsincludingArnikaAssociationpushedfornearlytenyearsfortheestablishmentofaPRTRsystemasthenationenteredtheE.U.Ultimately,in2004,thegovernment adopted legislation stipulating the establishment of the Integrated PollutionRegister(IPR),whichbegantobe implemented in2005.Althoughthe initialresponsefromcompanieswaspoorcomparedtotheactualnumberofcompaniesthatshouldhavereportedbasedonlegislation,NGOseffortspushedittoincreasefrom871plants inthefirstyearofimplementationto1327plantsby2006.84 InmanywaysthePRTRsystemthatwasestablishedisevenmorerigorousthanE-PRTR.
76 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/대상업종77 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/조사절차78 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/대상물질79 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/배출.이동량정보80 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/대상물질81 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/대상물질82 http://ncis.nier.go.kr/triopen/대상물질83 https://icis.me.go.kr/prtr/prtrInfo/entrpsSearch.do84 http://www.ipen.org/project-reports/prtr-and-pops-czech-republic
61Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Over50countries (seeFigure4)have fullyestablishedPRTRsystemsorhave implementedpilot programs to track and disclose information about chemical releases. Many morecountries are in theprocessofdevelopingPRTR systems,particularly in SouthandCentralAmerica,orhaveexpressedsignificantinterestindevelopingPRTR.
Figure4.ScopeofGlobalPRTRSystems85
PRTRThresholds
PRTRsystemssetthresholdsforreportingwherebyonlyentitiesthatmeetcertaincriteriaarerequiredtoreport.SettingthresholdsallowsgovernmentstobalancethebenefitsofreceivingaPRTRreportwiththecostsimposedonreportersandtheauthorities.Different regions’ PRTR systems set thresholds based on science and local parameters,includingsuchfactorsastypesandquantitiesofhazardousmaterialsusedandthesizeandoutput of the firm. The table below explores the threshold ranges for PRTR reportingdeterminedbyPRTRsystemsindifferentcountriesandregions.
85 10thInternationalPRTRCoordinatingGroup,October5,2016.
62Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China
Figure5.ScopeofThresholdsofSelectedPRTRSystemsWorldwide