Policy areas

Environment

Whether its environmental permitting, air, waste, water and resource management, CIA works on these policy topics for our member companies and has excellent relationships with government departments and environment regulators throughout the UK along with access to European bodies. We work to find solutions to resolving the challenges of today e.g. UK BAT implementation and look ahead to the future to help UK companies remain competitive by actively influencing the development of new environmental legislation.

 What we do

  • Inform members of emerging and upcoming environmental policy and regulatory changes in the UK.
  • Respond collectively to consultations.
  • Produce CIA guidance on policy issues facing businesses.
  • Develop tools to aid members on their ‘journey’ of continuous improvement. Facilitate good practice sharing and networking.

 

Who we work with

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

SEPA

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Scottish Gov

Scottish Government

Welsh Gov

Welsh Government

Environment agency

Environment Agency (EA)

Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resource Wales (NRW).

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Department for Business and Trade 2

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

  • Scottish Government

  • Welsh Government

  • Environment Agency (EA)

  • Natural Resource Wales (NRW).

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

  • Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Our policy positions

  • Lab tubes

    Innovation Principle - Why now?

    The Innovation Principle enables better regulation by ensuring a balanced approach is taken in policy decision making, stimulating investment in innovation by increasing the confidence of innovators in the regulatory system. 

  • Water treatment facility

    Environmental Permitting & UK’s Best Available Techniques

    The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) and the other UK Best Available Techniques (BAT) Tranche 1 impacted Trade Associations reviewed the recently published UK BAT Waste Gas Treatment outline draft. 

  • Vineyard_Tractor_Okanagan

    Modernising UK’s environmental permitting process

    Continued access to a diverse and innovative chemical sector at home will provide the UK with the raw materials to compete in newly arising low-carbon industries. Without skilled, equipped, and competitive chemistry assets, nascent low carbon industries will take root elsewhere.

Reports

Zero waste. hand holding the earth that plastic bag covering on a green background.

The assessment and classification of waste packaging

Industry guidance for assessing whether packaging to be taken offsite is waste or not and if waste, whether it is waste packaging or not and whether it should be classified as hazardous or non-hazardous

Be part of it 

Work closely with members via an internal network to help member companies both comply with existing UK legislation and aid policy makers with future potential policies. Members are invited to get involved with various environment strategy groups, networks and issue teams. For further information, or to express an interest in joining, please contact Nishma Patel at PatelN@cia.org.uk or Mike Squire at SquireM@cia.org.uk. 

Find out more

Latest policy updates
Latest policy updates

The Environment Agency hosted a Chemical Industry Liaison Group

The group includes regulators from NRW and SEPA with over 10 Trade Associations invited, including CIA. 

Find out more