In a perspective article published on May 19, 2025, in the journal iScience, Brij Mohan Sharma associated with Masaryk University, Czechia, and ETH Zürich, Switzerland, together with scientists from the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) Foundation, outline the potential impact of shaping consumer behavior for promoting chemically safer and more sustainable consumption.
“In today’s highly consumption-driven society and economy, global chemicals management needs a more inclusive approach to complement existing industry-oriented strategies, such as leveraging consumer behavior shaping as a tool to drive market demand and create a niche for chemically safer products and sustainable consumption,” the first author Sharma, emphasizes.
The authors explain that the conventional approach of managing chemicals focuses on the “production system,” where responsibility largely lies with the chemical industry to implement regulations and provide chemicals and chemical products that are safe for humans and the environment. According to the authors, this approach has had “limited success” as hazardous chemicals are ubiquitous in products such as food packaging (FPF reported), leading to widespread human exposure and health risks (FPF reported). Furthermore, due to its linear and centralized nature the conventional approach “is often associated with regional disparities, inhomogeneous coverage and applicability, and vulnerability to industry influence.”
Therefore, Sharma and co-authors call for complementing the traditional approach with participatory, polycentric, and inclusive strategies. They recommend including the “consumption system” into chemicals management by recognizing the potential of informed and conscious consumer choice. Specifically, by nudging consumer behavior towards safer and more sustainable consumption, demand can help shift the market, encouraging the chemical industry to produce safer products and better comply with regulations.
Key factors influencing consumer behavior include economic and social influences, access to information, preferences, and beliefs. The authors detail interventions related to chemicals management, the target population group, and the resulting innovation opportunities for the chemical industry. The article also describes the key actors (i.e., civil society organizations, government and regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and industry) and their potential roles in nudging consumers toward safer and more sustainable practices.
Reference
Sharma, B. M. et al. (2025). “Complementing global chemicals management through shaping consumer behavior.” iScience. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112700
