Global trends in chemical safety and sustainability

August 26, 2026

Authored by Maria del Carmen Perez  

From an evolving chemical regulatory environment to increased sustainability scrutiny, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) need to monitor and manage compliance activities to help maintain market access and satisfy consumer demand. Maria del Carmen Perez, UL Solutions Global Market Access knowledge associate, discusses key regulatory trends affecting the industry, including extended producer responsibility requirements and regulations by market.

What are the latest chemical safety and sustainability regulatory trends that impact compliance for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)?  

Packaging and packaging waste, waste and recycling, circularity and eco-design, and the restriction of substances such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are evolving global compliance frameworks for EEE. Compliance requirements for extended producer responsibility (EPR) are also becoming more stringent and demanding for EEE, batteries and packaging. These frameworks mostly include registration, structured reporting and certification requirements.

How are chemical safety and sustainability regulatory priorities for EEE evolving across key regions?  

Regulatory priorities for EEE vary significantly by region but show increasing convergence.  

In Europe, broad frameworks on ecodesign, product sustainability and circularity are shaping global alignment for EEE products. These changes influence design, materials and lifecycle requirements. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, EU 2024/1781) establishes a comprehensive framework for future product-specific requirements aimed at improving sustainability and circularity across product life cycles, including carbon footprint reporting and digital product requirements.

In Asia, implementation of chemical management frameworks, digital labeling requirements and expanded EPR obligations is advancing compliance requirements for EEE and related components through stricter substance controls and traceability.  

In North and Latin America, regulatory developments are increasingly focused on PFAS, batteries, circular economy, and the EPR framework. While North America is driven by fragmented state-level initiatives and reporting obligations, Latin America continues expanding producer responsibility and circular economy requirements, with growing alignment to the European regulatory model.  

How are PFAS regulations evolving globally for EEE, and what makes the EU approach more challenging for manufacturers?  

PFAS regulatory frameworks vary significantly across regions, with some jurisdictions proposing or implementing restrictions targeting uses across multiple sectors, including applications in EEE. The European Union is advancing one of the broadest regulatory initiatives through its PFAS restriction proposal, which considers a full ban with a transition period, a ban with use-specific (mostly time-limited) derogations, or continued use under strict conditions that minimize emissions over the full product life cycle.    

This scope forces companies to reassess material selection, supplier compliance and long-term product strategies. Beyond Europe, regulatory activity is also increasing. Japan has added several PFAS groups to its Class I substances under the Chemical Substances Control Law, significantly restricting their manufacture and import. In North America, PFAS regulations continue to develop through state-level initiatives focused on reporting obligations, product restrictions and compliance requirements. Although regulatory frameworks differ by region, the common trend is greater scrutiny of PFAS in products and supply chains, increasing the need for material transparency, supplier engagement and the identification of alternatives for EEE applications.

How are RoHS regulations globally evolving for EEE?

RoHS frameworks are expanding globally, reinforcing substance restrictions, conformity requirements, expanding product scope and documentation obligations for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), while increasing alignment with EU-based models.

Thirty-one countries in the European Union, the EEA and EFTA have transposed the requirements of the EU RoHS Directive into their national legislation.

In Latin America, Brazil has recently adopted a comprehensive RoHS-like framework for EEE, adding country-specific registration, conformity declaration, and traceability requirements.

As highlighted in this UL Solutions article, the evolution of RoHS reflects a balance between global convergence and local divergence, driving higher expectations for testing, documentation and full supply chain traceability across EEE products.

How are EPR schemes becoming more demanding globally for EEE?

EPR schemes are expanding to cover a broad range of EEE categories. Requirements now go beyond recycling obligations to include detailed reporting, registration, the payment of collection, recycling or disposal fees, and measurable recovery targets, increasing operational complexity for producers and importers. For example, Taiwan’s EPR obligations are detailed, and they rely on the HS code to define regulated products including EEE, batteries and packaging. India’s battery EPR requires a QR code containing the producer’s registration number.

This shift requires companies to integrate compliance into operations, manage product flows across markets and align global supply chains, making EPR a core compliance and business challenge.

What new compliance obligations stand out in the Americas for EEE? 

PFAS reporting, permits and state-level bans increasingly affect EEE products and components, creating complex, fragmented — yet stricter — compliance requirements across the region.  

In the United States, PFAS reporting requirements, evolving state-level bans and permitting obligations create a complex regulatory landscape where companies must manage varying rules across jurisdictions. At the same time, battery and EPR-related regulations are expanding, adding requirements for labeling, stewardship programs and participation in collection systems.

What are the main challenges for manufacturers of EEE in global compliance?

Uncertainty remains highest around evolving chemical frameworks, directly impacting EEE due to their broader scope. Increasing regulatory volume amplifies product complexity — components in EEE and systems such as refrigeration or electronics with more than 150 parts must meet multiple requirements across regions.

This extends across global supply chains, requiring deeper data, transparency and coordination. Leading companies differentiate by embedding compliance early in EEE product design, while managing supply chain complexity by recording and tracking large volumes of information.