Events
5th Stakeholder Day announced on 21st April 2026 in Brussels (Cefic office)
ESIG, together with ESVOC members, will host the fifth Stakeholder Day on 21st April 2026 at Cefic’s offices in Brussels. This half-day event provides an open forum for dialogue between industry, downstream users, SMEs, and regulators.
Solvents are essential for the European value chain. Yet, growing regulatory complexity increasingly threatens competitiveness. The Stakeholder Day aims to address the practical implications of current and upcoming regulations and explore workable solutions.
Key Topics:
- REACH revision
- Mixture Assessment Factor (MAF)
- Simplification of Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Grouping approaches
- New harmonized classifications
The program will start with presentations from the European Commission, ECHA, and/or JRC, followed by a panel discussion with industry, SMEs and other stakeholders. Previous editions addressed major themes such as the European Green Deal, Circular Economy, Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and “Safe and Sustainable by Design.”
September Solvent Training: Successful Session in September 2025
On 17 and 18 September 2025, ESIG hosted an interactive two-day training on Solvents Industry Association and Dr. Robert Oades, Senior Product Steward at Shell. The event proved ideal for newcomers, decision-makers, and professionals, regardless of chemistry background.
Agenda Highlights:
- Day 1: Fundamentals of solvents – clear and practical
- Day 2: Real-world applications – from paints to electronics
- Sustainability trends, regulations, and interactive discussions
Participants gained a comprehensive overview of the Solvents industry:
- Origin and types of solvents
- End-uses and applications
- Safety, health, environment, and legislation
- Product stewardship and more
Why did participants join?
Motivations ranged from strengthening basic knowledge to preparing for new roles and enhancing regulatory expertise. Examples:
- “Better commercial understanding of solvents and their applications.”
- “New to the chemical industry – everything was a benefit.”
- “Preparing for a customer-facing sales role in the pharma sector.”
What brought the most value?
Feedback was clear:
- Broad overview of solvents and their applications
- Strong focus on safety and regulations
- Practical examples and product stewardship
- Back-to-basics approach for newcomers
One participant summed it up:
“It was a brilliant couple of days – really enjoyed the training!”
ESIG General Assemblies
On 28 October 2025, the ESIG General Assembly took place in Brussels. The focus was on the strategic development of the organisation, optimisation of team structures, and increased visibility through communication campaigns such as “#ESIGWhoIsWho Campaign” and LinkedIn posts.
Advocacy and communications Groups were merged into “Public Affairs” to ensure more efficient processes and consistent messaging. New chairs were elected, including Anna Tancorra (Public Affairs), Thomas Mensing (Product Stewardship), and Maryam Zare Jeddi (GES/SpERCs).
A key topic was the sustainable and regulatory orientation of the sector. Hadi Yassin, Climate and Energy Modelling Officer at Cefic, presented the iC2050 model, which outlines pathways to climate neutrality for the chemical industry – focusing on renewables, circular economy, and investment in new technologies.
In communications, our more structured ESIG website, and the reach of the Newsflash campaign and LinkedIn activities increased significantly. The “#ESIGWhoIsWho Campaign” campaign and new video projects further strengthened the industry’s visibility. LinkedIn followers rose to 1,054 (+150 since January), and website activity increased significantly: top pages include the Exposure Scenarios Database (4,906 visits), Solvent@work (2,466), and “Solvents – Simply Essential” (1,099). Over the past six months, user acquisition increased by 30% and views by 18%.
In Product Stewardship, the static electricity film was completed, and the Best Practice Guidelines on Respiratory Protection were finalised and published. An IBC film is planned for 2026, followed by the update of our Safe Handling of Solvents film in 2027. The Solvents Human Exposure Database and six SpERCs documents were revised, the use map for Chesar was updated, and an EGRET tool update is planned. ECHA is planning an update of Chesar, and ESIG has proposed simplifications and participated in beta testing in September. The upcoming REACH revision aims to simplify processes while maintaining safety, and ESIG has contributed proposals for simplifying Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Air quality in Europe is improving but remains challenging – especially regarding ozone. ESIG is committed to improving emission inventories and advocating for practical, science-based regulation. New EU requirements, such as the Ecodesign Regulation and the EU Ecolabel, are being actively monitored.
Financially, the 2026 budget was unanimously approved. The next General Assembly will take place on 27 October 2026 in Brussels. Members acknowledged the efficiency gains and the team’s dedication.