Grade summary

London-based Johnson Matthey produces ten SIN List substances, four of which are officially recognised as chemicals of high concern by the EU. The company has a method in place to screen and assess the sustainability of its products and a phase-out strategy for hazardous substances. Johnson Matthey follows several voluntary standards of good conduct, but has, nonetheless, been involved in a few environmental violations over the last ten years, including the release of 5,000 litres of toxic iron sulphate solution following an explosion at its UK facility in 2018.

Opportunities for improvement

1. Johnson Matthey has already committed to replacing hazardous chemicals “where safer and economic alternatives are available”. But ChemSec would like the company to go one step further and publicly announce phase-out plans with clear deadlines for these plans.
2. The company’s PARS (Prior Approval Required Substances) committee evaluates the risks of “high hazard substances” and approves the use of some of them for a limited time. However, society needs safer products without harmful chemicals, and product designs should reflect this. Johnson Matthey should, therefore, restrict the use of hazardous chemicals in newly developed products – even if the chemicals have a time limit.
3. The British company should improve safety processes and train employees in order to reduce environmental incidents.

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