We campaign for a toxics-free and environmentally just world through policy advocacy and community empowerment.
Our work focuses on ensuring environmentally sound chemicals management at both policy and community levels, with the goal of advancing environmental justice, optimal health, and sustainable development.
Chemicals permeate almost every aspect of modern life—and almost every industry and economic sector. They have helped drive world progress, from medicine and food production to manufacturing and industries.
But while the manufacture and use of chemicals enable people to lead more productive and comfortable lives, chemicals—if not managed soundly—also have negative impacts on human health and the environment.
In the past few decades, the production, use, trade, and disposal of chemicals have grown dramatically. Many countries are unable to manage the variety of threats chemicals pose to people and the planet—our life support system.
BAN Toxics believes that sound chemicals management needs to be addressed within the poverty reduction and sustainable development imperatives—and with the utmost respect for human rights that underpin all just and lasting social change.
We work with policy makers and with communities.
We work toward integrating sound chemical management in government and inter-government policies and programs, particularly policies and programs that directly pertain to toxic chemical issues.
We build participatory community models that demonstrate the feasibility of sound chemicals management—and then use these models to inform and help develop policies and programs broader application.
The former strategy is a reflection of our belief that government and state institutions have a pivotal role in introducing and shepherding social change. The latter strategy and the approaches used rests on our belief in the right and agency for change of individuals and communities.
Stoking change from “above and below” ensures lasting and meaningful impact.
To create a favorable atmosphere to enable these changes, a key part of our work is to influence policy and decision makers as well as communities through complaints and advocacy.
This strategy is reflected in our three program pillars:
- Policy work
- Community development
- Campaigns