Enhanced STakeholder Roles for ADdressing Inputs to Baltic Sea from industrial products

Despite significant progress in chemicals management and the ban of several hazardous substances, the ongoing release of a wide range of pollutants into the environment remains a serious threat to the Baltic Sea. Since substances are difficult to remove once they have entered the environment, preventing their release at the source is of key importance.

The new project ESTRADI (Enhanced STakeholder Roles for ADdressing Inputs to Baltic Sea from industrial products) focuses on one of the most significant sectors where chemicals are used – industrial products. The project aims to achieve, at local level, actual reductions in environmental inputs of specific regionally prioritized pollutants, while also setting the scene for more effective action at regional level in the future.

What will the project achieve?

• Pilot actions for reduction. A wide range of stakeholders – including industry, academia, regulatory authorities, NGOs and environmental management actors – will implement pilot actions to reduce environmental inputs of substance groups such as bisphenols, alkylphenols and their ethoxylates, phthalates, organotins, acrylates and diuron. Particular attention will be given to the paints, varnishes, adhesives and sealants sectors.
• A knowledge base for future action. The project will gather information on the use, amounts and releases of the selected substances, as well as past and ongoing experiences in their substitution or reduction, building a regional baseline.
• Proposals for regional action. Building on the lessons learned, the project will develop proposals for fit-for-purpose, resource-efficient regional actions that national authorities can draw on in the future – whenever a substance used in widespread industrial products becomes regionally prioritized.
• Contribution to HELCOM policy. The project’s results will directly support the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP 2021). In the longer term, the findings may also inform a future HELCOM Recommendation.

Project partners

The project is implemented by the HELCOM Secretariat (lead partner) in cooperation with the Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF) in Latvia and Estonia, the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVGMC), and the Association of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry (LAKIFA). HELCOM coordinates the project overall and leads to the drafting of proposals for regional-level action, while the other partners carry out closely aligned work to achieve comparable results across different countries.

Funding and duration

ESTRADI is an Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 project, co-funded by the European Union. The project is running from August 2026 to February 2029.