The Chemical Ambassadors Success Story

The project has successfully mobilised citizens, municipal workers, and policymakers across Europe to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals. By turning scientific knowledge into everyday action, the project has proven that informed communities are the ultimate catalyst for a safer, healthier future.

At the heart of LIFE ChemBee’s success was a massive network of almost 3,000 “LIFE ChemBee Ambassadors.” Trained as frontline health educators within their own communities, these volunteers learned to identify hazardous substances in everyday products—such as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and CMRs (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or toxic to Reproduction substances)—and promoted practical, safer alternatives.

Spanning eight countries, the project developed more than 1,400 social media initiatives with a cumulative reach of 9,8 million EU citizens, while 25,000 people registered for safety courses, and 3,000 “Chemical Ambassadors” were trained as frontline health educators.

📖 Discover regional best practices and inspiring transformation stories in “CHEMICALS AMBASSADORS IN EUROPE – a success story on consumption behaviour change”.

Shifting Consumer Behaviour: Simple Actions, Big Results

Can everyday consumers master complex toxicological information? Yes. LIFE ChemBee proved that empowered consumers quickly become active drivers of demand for safer products.

Our findings show that behavior change thrives when recommendations are prioritised, feasible, and linked to daily routines—such as swapping plastic kitchenware for wood or stainless steel. However, the project also highlighted that consumer willingness hits a wall when safer market alternatives are missing, or when economic factors restrict choices.

📖 Deep dive into how and why end-users drive market change in “Do end-users matter?” and its accompanying Executive Summary.

Systemic Change & Policy Action: Beyond Individual Vigilance

While consumer awareness is vital, protecting public health cannot depend on individual vigilance alone. Placing the burden of safety entirely on the consumer is neither fair nor realistic, especially when considering social justice and affordability.

To achieve a truly sustainable, toxic-free transition, the safer choice must become the easier, cheaper, and default choice on the market.

📚 Read the Policy Paper: Learn why top-down market transitions and stronger regulatory actions are critical in “Towards a Toxic-Free Living Environment – Why Everyday Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals Requires Stronger Action”.

The Eco-Supporters Model: Transforming Municipalities

To drive sustainability from the inside out, LIFE ChemBee successfully adapted Finland’s proven “Ekotuki” (Eco-Support) operating model for public organisations in Greece and France. By training municipal employees to act as internal sustainability ambassadors, high-level environmental goals were translated directly into everyday workplace habits.

Regional Highlights

Greece: Expanded from 2 pilot municipalities to 9 additional local authorities and an entire region. Participants received modular training, specialized guidebooks, and 15 targeted thematic handouts.

France: Engaged 15 local authorities, public bodies, water syndicates, and health insurance funds, specifically targeting EDCs and aligning safety with regional health strategies.

Finland: Supported the expansion by hosting international exchange visits and conducting advanced training for over 400 participants, including 165 kindergarten directors.

The Ripple Effect

The training sparked a profound cultural shift that extended far beyond the office walls. Notably, 60% of participants reported taking these toxic-free habits home to protect their families.

Furthermore, municipalities leveraged Green Public Procurement (GPP) as a strategic lever—embedding toxic-free standards directly into public purchasing decisions to institutionalize long-term environmental health.

📚 Learn how localised outreach and peer-to-peer engagement drive organisational sustainability in the report “Eco-Supporters at municipalities”.

LIFE ChemBee on European Endocrinology Congress

The LIFE ChemBee project presented its results during the Annual European Society of Endocrinology Congress between 9 and 12 May, 2026. Dr Aleksandra Rutkowska talked about the CheckED app tracking of endocrine disruptors at home and prevention counseling. The project LIFE ChemBee poster, infostand and other project outcomes were presented during the conference. Read more here.

Conference ‘From Evidence to Policy: Towards a Toxic Free Environment’

In November 2025, leading scientists, consumer advocates and policymakers gathered in Brussels for the conference ‘From Evidence to Policy: Toward a Tox free Living Environment’. They warned that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in homes and consumer products represents a silent but severe public health and economic crisis. New findings presented to over 65 participants by the LIFE ChemBee and the ToxFree LIFE for All projects as well as the EU Baltic Sea Interreg project NonHazCity3 revealed widespread contamination of European households by complex chemical mixtures of hormone system disrupting substances (so called endocrine disrupters – EDCs) that contribute to chronic disease and impose enormous health costs. Read more here.

Are you worried about hidden hormone-disrupting chemicals? The CheckED app is your personal ally! In just a few minutes, you can find out how much you are potentially exposed to harmful chemicals, and receive personalised results and practical recommendations based on your lifestyle.

Empower yourself to make informed choices for your health and the environment. Do a household check with the CheckED web app and discover valuable, simple tips to create a healthier, cleaner environment for yourself and your loved ones.

CHECK YOUR EXPOSURE WITH THE CHECKED WEB APP

The LIFE ChemBee project adapted the CheckED web app, originally developed by several partners in the predecessor project NonHazCity (INTERREG). This tool engages directly with the key target group — consumers (end users). Ambassadors and their communities survey the products and materials in their homes, bring them together, decide what to change, and then monitor the progress of these changes.

The tool has been tested and used by almost 10,000 households across most EU member states.

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