Labour was elected in 2024, with a huge majority on a promise to rebuild Britain after 14 years of Tory failure and to deliver economic growth, improve public health, make Britain a clean energy superpower and leave the environment in a better condition for future generations. Those ambitions are rightly focused on major national challenges such as housing, transport, renewing public services, renewable energy, tackling climate change and an industrial revival. But there is another opportunity, often overlooked, that sits at the intersection of all these priorities. That opportunity is to remove hazardous chemicals from everyday use and accelerate the transition to safer, greener alternatives. It is time the Government afforded this area the right level of attention.
From schools and hospitals to offices, factories and public buildings, millions of litres of cleaning chemicals are used every year. They help keep workplaces hygienic and safe, but many products still contain ingredients that can damage human health, pollute waterways and contribute to poor indoor air quality. At a time when innovation has delivered effective, environmentally responsible alternatives, continuing to rely on unnecessary hazardous substances makes little sense. For a Labour Government committed to prevention, sustainability and modernising Britain’s economy, this is an opportunity that should not be ignored.
Labour has repeatedly argued that prevention must become the foundation of a stronger National Health Service. Preventing illness is better for patients and their families; it reduces pressure on our NHS and delivers better value for taxpayers. That principle should also apply to chemical exposure.
Every day, cleaners, care workers, NHS staff, teachers and facilities teams work with products that may contain substances capable of causing respiratory irritation, dermatitis or other occupational illnesses. While regulations require employers to manage these risks, the best form of protection is always to eliminate unnecessary hazards where safer alternatives exist. As a party formed from the trade union movement, we should be placing the welfare of staff in our public services above that of profits for the chemical giants.
The cleaning industry employs hundreds of thousands of people across the UK, many of whom are among the country’s lowest-paid workers. They deserve workplaces that are as safe as possible. Protecting their health is not only a matter of good employment practice; it is a matter of social justice. Labour should be front and centre of that fight. Reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals can help lower the number of occupational illnesses, improve workplace wellbeing and reduce the long-term burden on the NHS. Labour’s commitment to restoring nature and tackling climate change cannot stop with energy generation and transport. It must also extend to the products we manufacture, purchase and use every day.
Many conventional cleaning products contain chemicals that remain in the environment long after they have been washed away. Some contribute to dangerous water pollution. Others release volatile organic compounds, reducing indoor air quality, leading to respiratory problems and adding to environmental emissions. By contrast, many modern green cleaning products are formulated using biodegradable ingredients, plant-based surfactants and lower-emission technologies. Increasingly, they are supplied in concentrated refill systems that reduce plastic waste, transport emissions and unnecessary packaging. This is exactly the type of innovation Labour’s industrial strategy should encourage. Every litre of hazardous chemistry replaced with a safer alternative represents a small but meaningful step towards healthier rivers, cleaner air and reduced environmental harm.
One of the greatest strengths of Government is its purchasing power. The British state is a big spender. The NHS, schools, local authorities, prisons, government departments and public agencies collectively purchase enormous quantities of cleaning products every year. By specifying safer, lower-impact products through public procurement policies and, if necessary, legislation, the Government can help reshape the market without compromising hygiene standards. Public procurement has already been used successfully to encourage innovation in renewable energy, construction and vehicle technology. The same approach can accelerate the development and adoption of greener chemical formulations. Rather than waiting for the market to change on its own, Government can create the demand that drives innovation.
Labour’s growth mission is founded on creating high-quality jobs in the industries of the future. Green chemistry represents one such opportunity. British companies are already developing environmentally responsible cleaning technologies, refill systems, enzyme-based formulations and sustainable packaging. As global demand for safer products continues to grow, the UK can become a leader in green chemical manufacturing and sustainable cleaning technologies, and it could become a major British industry. Clear Government policy provides businesses with the confidence to invest. When manufacturers know that future procurement standards will increasingly favour safer and more sustainable products, they are more likely to invest in research, innovation and domestic production. That means skilled jobs, export opportunities, stronger regional economies and greater economic resilience.
This is not simply an environmental issue. Many businesses are already pursuing ambitious Environmental, Social and Governance objectives. Investors increasingly examine how companies manage chemical safety, environmental impacts and workplace wellbeing before determining investment. Greener cleaning products can help organisations reduce waste, improve indoor environments, strengthen sustainability reporting and demonstrate responsible supply chain management. Far from creating an unnecessary burden, the transition to safer products can improve competitiveness.
No one is suggesting that every conventional cleaning chemical should disappear overnight. That is neither necessary nor desirable. Hospitals, laboratories and specialist industries will continue to require highly effective disinfectants and specialist formulations where they remain necessary. But where safer alternatives deliver equivalent or improved cleaning performance, Government should actively encourage substitution. That means reviewing chemicals of greatest concern, supporting manufacturers to innovate, updating procurement standards and working with industry to develop realistic implementation timetables. The objective should be practical reform, not unnecessary extra regulation.
The transition to greener cleaning products supports several of Labour’s central missions. It contributes to healthier lives by reducing harmful occupational exposure and improving indoor air quality. It supports clean energy and climate action by encouraging lower-carbon manufacturing, reducing waste and promoting more sustainable supply chains. It strengthens economic growth by creating opportunities for British manufacturers and supporting innovation in green technologies. It improves public services by enabling Government to procure products that are safer for workers while delivering better environmental outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that environmental responsibility and economic prosperity can reinforce one another.
Government is often dominated by large infrastructure projects and headline announcements. Yet some of the most meaningful improvements come from modernising the products and systems that millions of people rely on every day. Safer cleaning products may not dominate the front pages, but they can make workplaces healthier, protect the environment, stimulate British innovation and reduce avoidable illness. That is exactly the kind of practical, progressive reform Labour should champion.
If the Government is serious about prevention, clean growth and building a more sustainable economy, then it should look beyond the energy sector alone. It should also embrace the opportunities offered by green chemistry and safer products. A cleaner Britain is not only about renewable electricity or cleaner transport. It is also about the chemicals we choose to manufacture, the products we purchase and the legacy we leave for future generations. Replacing unnecessary hazardous chemicals with safer, greener alternatives is a practical step towards achieving Labour’s vision of a healthier, fairer and more sustainable Britain.
