ChemCon is an annual conference that brings together experts and professionals from a variety of industries to discuss the latest trends, regulations, and challenges facing the industry. This year's conference took place in San Francisco from March 13 - 17th. This time we were delighted to be official partners of ChemCon, debuting our new booth design and showcasing our Product Compliance Collaboration software.
Well-attended by product stewards from the chemical industry, ChemCon is a particularly informative and engaging event that covers a wide range of topics, including US state legislation, TSCA updates, EU REACH and Sustainability, Asia regulations, and supply chain communication. The agenda can be found here.
The conference began with an overview of the latest US state legislation. The speakers highlighted the importance of staying up to date with state-specific laws and regulations, as well as the need for companies to be proactive in engaging with state lawmakers to ensure that their concerns and interests are represented.
Next, the conference turned to a discussion of the latest updates to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which is a federal law that regulates the manufacture, import, and distribution of chemicals in the United States. The speakers outlined the key changes to TSCA that have taken place in recent years, including the prioritization of chemicals for risk evaluation and the need for more robust safety assessments.
On Wednesday, the conference then shifted its focus to the European Union's REACH regulation and broader sustainability initiatives. The speakers provided insights into the latest updates to the regulation and how companies can comply with it. The day ended with opesus' own John Falk who presented, "Sustainable Products need Collaboration".
John described the challenges that face both process and discrete industry companies. From collecting information from suppliers to sharing data with customers and authorities, there is no shortage of problems. The presentation concluded with many suggestions to improve collaboration, with software being the main driver. If you're interested in a copy of the presentation or want to learn more, please contact us.
Let's not forget the social event! The conference director proudly proclaimed the evening was more about the journey than the destination. How true it was! We boarded an authentic San Francisco cable car and rode it up and down the steep streets to Ghirardelli Square where conference attendees happily enjoyed the local brewery, tasty food, and more importantly, Ghirardelli ice cream!
On Thursday, the Asia regulations highlighted the unique challenges faced by companies operating in this region, where regulations can vary widely between countries. The speakers emphasized the need for companies to stay up to date with the latest regulatory developments and to be proactive in engaging with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance.
Finally, the conference concluded with a discussion of the importance of supply chain communication. John Falk was the chair of the seminar, introducing speakers and facilitating questions and conversation regarding communication strategies and best practices for product stewardship coordination. Speakers emphasized the need for companies to work closely with their suppliers and customers to ensure that safety and compliance concerns are effectively communication and addressed throughout the supply chain.
Overall, ChemCon was a highly informative and engaging conference that highlighted the latest trends, regulations, and challenges facing the chemical industry. Attendees left with a greater understanding of the importance of proactive engagement with regulatory authorities and the need for effective communication throughout the supply chain to ensure safety and compliance.
We hope to see you at the next ChemCon in Vienna, 23 - 27th October 2023!
