LIFE ChemBee: Ambassadors for the whole of Europe!

At the heart of the project was the free Chemical Ambassador training programme. Over several weeks, participants gained scientific knowledge about hazardous chemicals in everyday products, their effects on human health and the environment, and practical ways to reduce chemical exposure in daily life.

The training followed a blended-learning approach, combining interactive online seminars with self-learning materials, videos, quizzes and practical weekly assignments hosted on the Moodle learning platform. A central element was the Household Chemical Check, originally developed within the predecessor project NonHazCity, which guided participants through a systematic assessment of hazardous chemicals in their own homes. After completing the training, Chemical Ambassadors were encouraged to support relatives, friends and other households in identifying hazardous products and adopting safer alternatives.

The programme also introduced and promoted the App Scan4Chem (later further developed as CheckED), originally created within the LIFE AskREACH project. The app enables consumers to obtain information about substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in products and supports more informed purchasing decisions.

Between autumn 2022 and early spring 2026, BEF Germany organised eight online training courses. The first three courses consisted of seven live online sessions each. In the later training rounds, the programme was further developed by introducing self-learning modules on topics such as „Living and Renovating“ and „Children and Other Risk Groups“. Additional follow-up sessions covered subjects including „Detox Your Garden“ and „How Your Chemical Detox Helps Protect the Climate“.

All live sessions were recorded and made permanently available together with extensive learning materials on the Moodle platform. In addition, BEF Germany organised three in-person training events in Hamburg. These meetings focused on networking, communication skills and coaching techniques, enabling participants to confidently support other households in reducing hazardous chemicals in everyday life.

Our recruitment campaigns combined social media, influencer collaborations, newsletters, public events, sustainability fairs and printed communication materials. Throughout the project, we continuously refined our recruitment strategy and expanded the communication channels that proved most successful.

• 665 applications for the Chemical Ambassador training programme
• 243 certified Chemical Ambassadors
• 312,567 people reached through our recruitment and communication campaigns
• 8 online training courses
• 3 in-person training events in Hamburg
• Around 100 social media posts published across our communication channels
• Numerous information stands, workshops and interactive activities at sustainability fairs, neighbourhood festivals and public events

Together with our project partners, we significantly exceeded the project’s original objectives. Between January 2023 and May 2026, the consortium implemented over 50 Europe-wide recruitment campaigns, combining social media communication, influencer collaborations, newsletters, university partnerships, sustainability fairs and a wide range of additional outreach activities.

The European Consortium at a Glance

• • 11 partner organisations from 9 European countries
  • 4,508,493 people reached through recruitment campaigns
  • 24,725 registrations for the Chemical Ambassador training programme
  • Several thousand certified Chemical Ambassadors trained across Europe
  • Tens of thousands of household chemical checks carried out throughout Europe
  • Development and publication of numerous guidance documents, educational materials, information brochures and scientific reports
  • Establishment of a European network of organisations, municipalities and committed multipliers promoting healthier and less toxic everyday living

LIFE ChemBee demonstrated that accessible knowledge, practical tools and peer-to-peer learning can empower consumers to make healthier and more sustainable choices. At the same time, the project highlighted that individual consumer behaviour alone cannot eliminate exposure to hazardous chemicals. Many exposure pathways are determined by product design, manufacturing and regulatory frameworks, requiring continued political action and stronger legislation.

The training programme, educational materials and digital tools developed within LIFE ChemBee remain freely available after the project’s completion. They continue to support municipalities, educational institutions, organisations and committed citizens across Europe in promoting healthier homes, informed consumer choices and a less toxic environment for future generations.