On the 11^th of October, 2012 in the conference hall of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the framework of National information campaign “Green Consumer Week – 2012: “Environmentally clean laundry for Ukrainians!” the multi-stakeholder dialogue “Towards Safe Cleanness: how to green consumption of detergents in Ukraine”, in which leading experts on chemical security, quality of water and other issues, scientists, representatives of business, NGOs and authorities took part. The organizer of the event is the UNENGO “MAMA-86” with support of SSNC and in cooperation of Global Compact.

The program included discussion of impact of detergents containing large amounts of phosphates and surfactants on water resources, drinking water quality and health of consumers; prospects of implementation of European standards of security of detergents in Ukraine; eco-friendly goods and services and stimuli necessary for ecologization of Ukrainian market of detergents.

In her opening speech executive director of UNENGO “MAMA-86” Zoriana Mishchuk stressed the importance of discussion of the problem of detergents containing large amounts of phosphates, surfactants and other hazardous substances and their impact on human health and environment. She mentioned that Western European countries long ago realized danger of such detergents and prohibited or restricted the amounts of phosphates and surfactants, meanwhile in Ukraine this problem remain unsolved. Taking advantage of the gaps in Ukrainian legislation, transnational companies which have production in Ukraine, produce and distribute detergents prohibited for sale in their home countries. Low awareness of population and small selection of eco-friendly detergents in supermarkets are also among those factors which impact on the situation. The situation is becoming more critical. Zoriana Mishchuk emphasized that it is necessary to use different channels in cooperation with authorities, business and consumers. This is the aim of this year’s campaign “Green Consumer Week”, initiated by UNENGO “MAMA-86”.

Anna Danyliuk, coordinator of Global Compact network noted that Global Compact supports he initiative of UNENGO “MAMA-86” and will make efforts to involve producers to social dialog and to inform population about the problem.

The first session “Detergents in Ukraine: what is the price for purity of environment and human health” was dedicated to discussion of present situation on Ukrainian market of household chemicals and the consequences of consumption choice of Ukrainians.

Olga Tsygulyova, coordinator of “Chemical security” thematic direction of UNENGO “MAMA-86” presented report on the basic elements of detergents, distributed on Ukrainian market and their negative impact on human health and environment. Olga Tsygulyova also presented the main practical areas to reduce toxicity of detergents abroad and which can be implemented in Ukraine.

Anna Slobodyanyuk, press-secretary of Public company “Kyivvodokanal” told about the problems facing “Kyivvodokanal” as a result of using detergents containing large amounts of phosphates.

Serhiy Snoz, senior researcher at the Medved Institute of Ecological Hygiene and toxicology presented basic approaches to evaluation of safety of household chemicals and gave examples of the ways of regulation of these problems in the countries of European Union.

During the second session “Prospects of legal regulation of security of detergents” the questions of implementation of European standards of security of detergents in Ukraine, prohibition of import and production of detergents with large amounts of phosphates and surfactants and prospects for implementation of new standards of production in Ukraine.

Zoriana Mishchuk emphasized the importance of state control for solution of this problem.

Serhiy Karasevych, deputy head of department of ecology and natural resources management of the Ministry of economic development and trade of Ukraine told about the ways of regulation of the problem at the legislative level. He suggested to initiate an appeal of representatives of business to the Ministry of economic development and trade to develop a system of economic stimuli for transfer to production of eco-friendly detergents.

Oleksandr Bon, head of department of water ecosysems and resources at the Ministry of ecology and natural resources of Ukraine noted that the problem includes many different aspects: state of housing, old technologies of water purification, etc. He emphasized that the Ministry of ecology and natural resources of Ukraine repeatedly declared the necessity to restrict using phosphates in detergents. Oleksandr Bon also recommended initiation and approval of the relevant regulations after approval of the draft law on state regulation of detergents by Verkhovna Rada.

In the framework of the third session “Ecologization of consumption of detergents: businessmen’s point of view” the participants discussed the challenges and opportunities of access to Ukrainian market of eco-friendly goods and services; their advantages, stimuli, necessary for ecologization of Ukrainian market of detergents and voluntary commitments of socially responsible business.

Olena Pniovska, PR manager of Radisson Blu hotel, shared successful experience of the company in using eco-friendly detergents and drew public attention to the marketing opportunities of eco-friendly hotel services.

Yuriy Zalisky, director of the Ukrainian scientific-research institute of organic products, presented the research of Ukrainian market of detergents.

Olena Maevska, head technologist of LLC “Laundry Trade” presented advantages of using eco-friendly detergents on example of “Laundry Trade” company.

Oleksiy Verenikin, director of LLC “De La Mark”, shared his practical experience of popularization of ecologically-friendly detergents on Ukrainian market. Among the main problems he mentioned difficulty of presentation of these goods in supermarkets and low level of popularity of Ukrainian goods among Ukrainians. Oleksiy Verenikin also emphasized importance of legislative regulation of using detergents containing only biodegradable surfactants and presentation of environmentally clean products of national producers in supermarkets.

Concluding the session Anna Danyliuk, coordinator of Global Compact network recommended business to implement three basic principles to make consumption sustainable: ecologization of key product, active using marketing opportunities and communication with consumers and exclusion from sales of those products which are not ecologically friendly and do not promote sustainable development.

Finalizing the discussion Zoriana Mishchuk mentioned the need to create information portal accumulating information on eco-friendly business and its opportunities and presented the interactive map of supporters of environmental cleanness, created by the UNENGO “MAMA-86”.

The participants in the event were offered to provide their recommendations to the outcome document of the multi-stakeholder dialogue, which will be sent to the authorities.