Chemicals and pollution

In this topic

What it is | Why it matters | Who it matters most for | What you can do

How to know if it's working | What the jargon means | How to learn more

What it is

From cleaning fluids in the back office to paint and solvent on a job site, chemicals show up in all sorts of ways across a business. Some are harmless, but others can damage health, pollute water, soil or air, and harm local ecosystems, often without you realising.

Chemicals may be the substances you use or you sell, such as dyes, cleaning agents, pesticides, fuels, adhesives or additives in your product. Pollution may be caused by the release of these chemicals or other materials like smoke or sediment that enter the air, water bodies, or seep into the ground. This guide looks at practical ways to reduce risk by using safer and more eco-friendly products, properly storing chemicals and managing waste appropriately.

Why it matters

Pollution can kill plants and wildlife and contributes to one in four human deaths worldwide. Chemicals released into soil, water and air can cause long-term damage and build up in the food chain.

What causes the damage isn’t always dramatic. It might be everyday runoff into stormwater drains, fumes from solvents or dyes or slow leaks from storage areas. These build up over time.

Many chemicals don’t break down easily – some last centuries – and can affect human and animal health even at low levels. And once they’re in the environment, they’re costly or impossible to remove.

While big companies get most of the spotlight, small businesses also contribute to pollution. They employ most of the workforce, often in roles with direct contact with chemicals, and they serve the public in construction, cafés, salons and more. Yet many assume they’re too small to matter, and skip proper storage or disposal. But across thousands of businesses, these everyday actions quickly add up.

Doing better reduces risk to your team, helps avoid fines and liability, and shows customers and regulators that you're acting responsibly.

Sources: WHO; TheWorldCounts; US EPA

Who it matters most for

Pollution risk is higher for businesses that use hazardous chemicals, fuels or oils, send dirty wastewater down drains, or deal with demolition and site runoff. This often includes construction, trades, manufacturers, repairs, farms, nurseries and other businesses where activities involve applying chemicals or disturbing soil. What you store, spray, pour or dispose of can have a big impact if it ends up in the wrong place.

Health clinics, salons and restaurants may also deal with regulated waste like medical waste, harmful chemicals, and fats and oils that they need to collect, rather than letting them go down the drain. Even offices or schools can create a safer indoor environment with everyday products and practices. Cleaner choices and better habits make a difference, no matter your size.

What you can do

Here are some practical and impactful ways you can address the impact of pollution in your business, depending on how you use, store and/or dispose of chemicals.

Use safer products and processes

Prevent spills, leaks and runoff

Manage wastewater and discharge

Reduce air pollution

Comply with local laws and reduce risk

Use safer products and processes

The best way to prevent pollution and protect the people who use or come into contact with your products is to avoid harmful substances in the first place. This includes substances that go into products you sell, are applied in services you provide, or are used behind the scenes within your business, from solvents to food additives to hair dyes and more.

If you’re developing products, think about what goes into them from the start. Using safer ingredients and processes in the first place can avoid generation of harmful byproducts or pollution during production, as well as attracting the many consumers who are increasingly concerned about the chemicals in products.

If you're applying products in the service you provide, from cleaning to painting to beauty, or selecting products for things like construction, consider safer alternatives like low-VOC paints, biodegradable cleaners or natural pest controls. Even if you run a small office or café, choose supplies that keep your air clean and your team healthy.

Quick actions you can take:

• Check your cleaning cupboard and swap one product for a biodegradable option
• Look for low-VOC alternatives next time you buy paint, glue or sealants
• Ask your supplier what alternative products or ingredients they offer that might be safer or more natural

Prevent spills, leaks and runoff

Many pollution incidents happen not through bad intent, but poor setup, like a leaky drum or from rainwater that washes residue into a natural area. If you use fuels, paints, chemicals or oils, make sure they’re clearly labelled, properly stored, and have secondary containment like bunds (embankments) or trays. It’s also worth setting up routine checks for leaks or damage.

Stormwater can also be a major factor. Think about how water moves through your site. Would rain wash chemicals or materials into a stormwater drain, or soil or herbicides from land into a creek? A few simple steps like bunding or fencing can help prevent that. If your business operates outdoors, like in farming, forestry, landscaping or construction, it's important to use barriers and planting strips to keep disturbed soil from entering waterways.

If you wash down vehicles, equipment or processing areas, make sure that water is directed to treatment instead of running offsite. And if your business moves goods, make sure containers are well secured and protected from collisions and your team knows how to respond to an emergency.

Source: European Commission

Quick actions you can take:

• Add trays under fuel, oil or chemical containers and bunds or low walls around them
• Walk around your site or storage area and check labelling, tidy storage, and look for signs of leaks
• Move any washdown or refuelling activities away from stormwater drains

Manage wastewater and discharge

It’s easy to ignore what goes down the drain, but it doesn’t just disappear. Many chemicals, oils, dyes and food residues can cause serious harm if they enter stormwater or even sewage systems. In many cases, releasing these into the drain is not only harmful, it may actually be illegal. These substances should be collected, not dumped. If you’re not sure what’s safe, check with your local council or water authority.

For contaminated water, you can use grease traps to catch fats and oils, and filters to remove solids that could otherwise block your own pipes. You can also use ponds and settling tanks to treat wastewater before discharge.

You can also reduce contaminants at the source, that is, how much goes into the water in the first place, like excess fertiliser on farms, fish feed in aquaculture, and detergent in laundries or car washes. This not only makes for cleaner water but saves you money too.

Quick actions you can take:

• Check with your local council or water authority to find out what can go down the drain and how to dispose of things that can't
• Install a simple grease trap or filter under your sink or drainage system
• Reduce how much product you use for cleaning or switch to chemical-free methods

Reduce air pollution

While often invisible, air pollution can have serious impacts on the health and productivity of your team and the community. Indoors, fumes, dust and vapours from products like adhesives, polishes, paints or solvents can cause headaches, asthma and other issues. If you smell it (or even if you don't), it could be hurting your throat and lungs. Improve airflow with open windows, ventilation or air purifiers, and opt for low-VOC products when you can.

Another major culprit is combustion, including from engines, generators or burning, which sends soot into the air to create smog, as well as invisible gases that can affect human health, cause acid rain, or contribute to climate change. Much of this occurs outdoors, but is also an issue in kitchens with gas stoves and in manufacturing and processing. Swapping to cleaner fuels, more efficient burners and engines, or electric alternatives can cut pollution, making it safer for the environment as well as for your employees.

If you generate gases from processing, you can use scrubbers, filters or other control equipment to reduce what gets released into the air. If you work in construction or land maintenance, managing dust and noise helps protect your team, neighbours and local nature.

Quick actions you can take:

• Install an extractor fan where fumes, dust or vapours build up
• Switch to low-VOC products when buying sprays, polishes or adhesives
• Upgrade a combustion-powered appliance or vehicle to an electric version

Comply with local laws and reduce risk

Chemical use and pollution are regulated in most countries, and if you don’t meet the rules, you could face fines or liability. Make sure you know what substances you handle and whether they’re subject to rules for storage, labelling, disposal or reporting. Some are obvious, like asbestos, lead paint, refrigerants or mercury lamps, while others, like cleaning products and printer toner, may be less so

Check with your environmental or safety regulator whether any licences, signage or disposal requirements apply and keep safety data sheets and chemical inventories handy and up to date. Most importantly, make sure your team understands the risks and regulations and knows how to handle things safely. It’ll save you stress and possibly a fine if something ever goes wrong.

Quick actions you can take:

• Download and read the safety data sheet (SDS) for a product you use often and check that you know how to dispose of it safely
• Make sure all the chemical or other substances you have sitting in storage are clearly labelled
• Ask your team if they would know what to do in case of a spill or getting a chemical in their eye, and if not, plan a short refresher

How to know if it's working

It's a good idea to keep an eye on how much hazardous material you use, store or dispose of, and whether incidents like spills or emissions are becoming more or less frequent. Even basic records can help you spot improvements or issues.

Depending on whether you use, emit, discharge or dispose of chemicals, here are some common metrics used to track performance:

• Chemical use by type or quantity: Volume of high-risk chemicals purchased or used. This allows you to track when you reduce the amount you're applying or substitute them with less harmful alternatives.
• Number and severity of spills or incidents: Keep a record of events involving leaks, spills or pollution-related hazards, documenting both the number of occurrences and the severity, for example, how widespread it was or whether someone was harmed.
• Air or water quality measurements: Use sensors or check chemical concentrations in indoor air quality, air emissions or water discharge.
• Hazardous waste generated (kg or litres): Total volume of waste requiring special disposal, tracked over time.

Small businesses often set goals to phase out certain high-risk chemicals, reduce hazardous waste by a certain percentage, or eliminate spills. Set targets that match your size and risk level, and update them as you make progress. A simple checklist or logbook is often all you need to stay on track.