The changes made to the Roadmap to Zero can be found in the change log, found in the bottom left corner.
The change log details changes made in all chapters.
Key changes
Chemical Purchasing
Updated to improve clarity, align with the ZDHC Supplier to Zero (StZ) V2 requirements, and strengthen guidance. Updates include revised terminology and explanations, the addition of guidance on virgin and non-virgin commodity chemicals and recording chemical lot/batch numbers, a new requirement for facilities to use ZDHC MRSL conformant chemicals (including solvents and other chemical substances), correction of a spelling error, and restructuring the requirements from two to four to align with StZ V2.
InCheck Reporting
The chapter has been updated with new guidance defining facility scope for InCheck reporting, and the requirements have been revised to align with ZDHC Supplier to Zero (StZ) V2.
Chemical Traceability
Requirements wording updated to align with StZ V2. The inventory management requirement was broadened from FIFO to FEFO and/or FIFO, depending on whether the facility manages chemicals by expiration date or purchase date. Additional guidance, examples, and FEFO-specific clarification have been added. As part of this update, the earlier requirement to record lot/batch numbers of all chemicals purchased by the facility has been removed.
Input Materials Purchasing
Updated to strengthen guidance on responsible purchasing, supplier risk assessment, and verification of input materials to manage chemical risks and prevent restricted or hazardous substances from entering production. The requirement wording has been updated and a footnote has been added to the guidance for additional clarity. The downloadable "Scope of Input Materials" and "ZDHC MIL Template" files have also been updated by revising the "Material or component" related data points, replacing “materials" with "Materials or components” in both files. The definition for the “Input material” in the "Scope of Input Materials" file has also been updated.
Chemical Management Policy
Newly added chapter with one requirement.
Chemical Management Strategy
The previous four requirements have been consolidated into three, with the requirement wording updated to align with StZ V2. The requirement to prepare an action plan to implement the chemical management strategy has been merged into the requirement for a documented chemical management strategy, reinforcing a more integrated approach to strategy development and implementation. In addition, the upstream supplier engagement guidance has been expanded with additional scope, objectives, responsibilities, and practical examples to provide greater clarity.
Safe Chemical Storage
The previous four requirements have been consolidated into two, with the requirement wording updated to align with StZ V2. The requirements have been streamlined by integrating the previous storage design, safety card, and chemical compatibility elements into a broader requirement focused on the assessment and design of safe chemical storage areas, providing a more holistic approach to safe chemical storage.
Waste Management
The previous six requirements have been consolidated into three, with the requirement wording updated to align with StZ V2. Requirements relating to the identification, segregation, quantification, handling, and transport of chemical waste have been integrated into a single requirement with supporting guidance, providing a more streamlined and comprehensive approach to chemical waste management.
Chemical Handling and Worker Safety
The requirement wording has been updated.
Document and Process Control
The requirement wording has been updated to provide greater clarity, and new guidance on root cause analysis (RCA) has been added under the requirement "A chemical incident management system is implemented". This strengthens expectations for investigating chemical incidents, identifying underlying causes, and implementing effective corrective actions to help prevent recurrence.
Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines
The ZDHC Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines have been enhanced with new MRSL parameters, revised test methods, tighter wastewater limits, expanded sludge testing, and semi-announced sampling. Clarifications have also been made to wastewater flow rate requirements, discharge definitions, compliance expectations, MRSL detections, corrective action implementation, and terminology to improve consistency and support effective implementation of the Guidelines.
Chemical Related Waste Disposal
The requirement wording has been updated to improve clarity, and the recommendations related to chemical-related waste reduction have been revised to better support implementation and alignment with the requirement.
Air Emissions Guidelines
Moved from Version 1 to Version 2
The existing requirements have been renamed to align with StZ V2, the PTE-VOC calculation methodology has been expanded with a complete calculation formula, the Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions guidance has been updated to clarify the required activity data (including fugitive emissions), and the previously marked "coming soon" requirement for setting Paris Agreement-aligned GHG reduction targets has now been published.