POLICY BRIEF - Nanowaste: need for Disposal and Recycling Standard G20 Insights

Nanotechnology is expected to gain significant market share among emerging technologies. It has been forecast that the global nanotechnology industry will grow to reach $75.8 billion by 2020. However, nanotechnology brings new challenges to human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. We recommend that the G20 member states (a) work together to develop efficient and unified policy efforts to regulate the field of nanotechnology, (b) apply Precautionary Principle to all nanotechnology developments, and (c) establish protocols to respond to potential threats of this new and poorly understood field in order maintain and combat unexpected or intentional hazards of nanotechnology to human health and well-being, environment and biodiversity. Priority should be given to (i) commercialization pathways of nanotechnology and related products, (ii) a comprehensive toxicity and health-related studies on the effects of any new nanotechnology development, (iii) comprehensive and effective pathways for safe disposal and combating of unwanted or unexpected effects of nanoproducts, and (iv) the policy coherence set-up within the G20.