On the road to Rio + 20: the evolution of environmental ethics for a safer world

摘要

Chemicals are indispensable in the functioning of modern societies. They are produced and used in key sectors of the economy, and the global sales in 2010 were valued at €2350 billion. China presently contributes the largest amount, followed by the United States, Japan, and Germany. In the European Union (EU) the chemical industry gave work to 5.4% of the total number of employees in 2007 (CEFIC 2011).