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Join us, sign our petition calling on European politicians to ban all substances of concern from consumer products by 2029!

It is essential that the regulation of chemicals in a wide range of consumer goods is accelerated and tightened. Toxic substances must be banned in groups with similar chemical compositions and toxicity.

Dangerous pacifiers: hormone disruptors found in products for small children

Investigation by consumer organizations in Czechia, Slovenia and Hungary revealed that several pacifiers, including some labeled „BPA-free,” were found to leach bisphenol A, a known hormone disruptor, highlighting serious gaps in EU chemical safety regulations. The findings have prompted calls for comprehensive bans on all bisphenols in consumer products, especially those intended for children, and greater transparency in manufacturing practices. Click here for the detailed test results!

Shocking results: we found hormone disruptor bisphenols in underwear

Shocking results have emerged from a laboratory test carried out by regional consumer organisations – Hungary (ACC), Austria (VKI), Slovenia (ZPS), Arnika (Chezchia), Czechia and Slovakia (dTest) – led by the Association of Conscious Consumers from Hungary, which for the first time tested for the presence of the hormone disruptor bisphenols in underwear. A total of 166 different types of underwear were tested in this unique collaboration. Click here for the detailed test results!

Policy Briefing Paper published

The laboratory test initiated by consumer associations revealed that approximately 33% of tested samples contained detectable levels of bisphenols, with 10% of samples exceeding the safety thresholds set by authorities. Given these findings, the policy paper calls for an EU-wide ban on bisphenols and their derivatives with endocrine, reprotoxic, or sensitizing properties in textiles by 2029, greater transparency through the Digital Product Passport, and enhanced regulations for ecolabel certifications.

Noticeable Impact

A new survey by the “ToxFree LIFE for All” partnership across five Central European countries reveals growing public concern about toxic chemicals in everyday products, with strong demand for transparency, stricter regulations, and pre-market testing. As awareness rises—fueled by the campaign’s product tests—consumers increasingly trust sustainable products and call on policymakers to ban harmful substances and make safer choices easier.

About the ToxFree LIFE for All project

Why we care about chemicals of concern?

The ToxFree LIFE for All project empowers consumers with information to drive demand for safer, toxic-free products and environments. Informed consumers can make healthier choices that support a greener economy. As public demand grows, producers are pushed to adopt safer alternatives—or risk losing market opportunities and consumer trust.

The impact of consumer choices

Markets as governing structures can only function if consumers are not only aware, but also well informed and willing to act for the public good as citizens. If these conditions apply and information facilitates behaviour change, the impact of toxfree consumer choices will be threefold. By avoiding products that may contain harmful chemicals, consumers reduce their own exposure and risks. At the same time, they signal market demand for safer alternatives and support policies to phase out hazardous substances.

In focus: awareness raising and behaviour change

We raise awareness in the Central and Eastern European region about the environmental and health impacts of chemicals of concern in consumers goods and alternatives by reaching at least 11.950.000 individuals. We expect that by the end of ToxFree LIFE for All, 103.100 consumers will more actively seek for pre-purchasing information, avoid products with harmful substances, choose alternatives or otherwise change their behaviour to reduce chemical exposure.

Contributing to changing the framework conditions

Partners will mobilize citizens to support policies to phase out or eliminate substances of concern; they will provide insights into policy making by presenting test research findings. We will build partnership with civil society organisations and projects across Europe with the aim of reducing human and environmental exposure to chemicals.

KEY ACTIVITIES

Within ToxFree LIFE for All partners will

publish local and coordinated comparative product tests about the most critical and suspicious chemical substances in products;
publish contents in their consumer magazines and websites about risky chemical substances and possible escape strategies for consumers;
mobilize citizens to support progressive policies aiming at the restriction and phasing out of chemical substances of concern;
run engagement, behaviour change and educational programs to help consumers to make better, toxfree lifestyle choices;
build partnership with organisations that are willing to share our agenda to join forces for a toxfree world;
publish briefings and position papers to address decision makers.

Where

The ToxFree LIFE for All project takes place in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia.

The team

Partners together have more than 100 years of experience in product testing, consumer communication and mobilizing.

Coordinator

Tudatos Vásárlók Egyesülete (Association of Conscious Consumers, HU)

Partners

Arnika (Czechia)

dTest (Czechia)

Zveza Potrosnikov Slovenije Drustvo (Slovenia)

Verein für Konsumenteninformation (Austria)

Foreseen budget:

1.998.557 EUR

Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Czechia

LIFE22-GIE-HU-ToxFree LIFE for All, 101114078

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. LIFE22-GIE-HU-ToxFree LIFE for All, 101114078. Co-funded by the Hungarian Ministry of Energy (Z1230232)