A two-page summary of the information on chemicals in products contained in the 2020 UNEP Assessment Report on Issues of Concern: Chemicals and Waste Issues Posing Risks to Human Health and the Environment and the 2019 Global Chemicals Outlook II. Chemicals are important components in many of the products that modern society uses and relies on. They may be released at any stage of a product’s life cycle (including production, use, recycling or reuse, end-of-life disposal), resulting in exposures for humans and the environment, and potential adverse effects.