Proximity to chemical manufacturing, processing and use has historically come with disproportionate risk to the surrounding communities and ecosystems; this includes the exportation of banned chemicals and hazardous waste to communities with little other economic opportunities.

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Individuals should have the right to live in homes and communities that are not placed at increased risk due to transport or production of chemicals or inadequate protection of facilities.  Use of highly hazardous chemicals increases vulnerability to accidents, natural disasters, or intentional acts of violence and terror.  Adopting chemistries that are inherently benign is the most effective means of ensuring that communities are not placed at undue risk from the chemical enterprise.  Case studies have shown that there are safer alternatives to toxic gases, VOCs, pesticides, and cleaning chemicals implicated in previous incidents.