US Achieves Dual Triumph: Chemical Releases Down as Economy Grows
Washington D.C. – In a significant announcement highlighting the nation's progress toward sustainable economic development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its latest Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis for reporting year 2023. The data reveals a compelling trend: toxic chemical releases have decreased even as the American economy, particularly the chemical industry, has continued to thrive. This demonstrates a powerful synergy between environmental protection and economic prosperity.
Key Environmental and Economic Highlights
The 2023 TRI National Analysis, published today, August 21, 2025, showcases how American industries are improving their environmental performance while simultaneously contributing to national economic growth.
- Significant Reduction in Releases: Between 2014 and 2023, environmental releases of TRI-listed chemicals saw a substantial 21% reduction. Air releases, a critical component of environmental health, decreased by an even more impressive 32% during this period.
- Manufacturing Sector's Dual Success: Over the same ten-year span (2014-2023), manufacturing facilities reduced their chemical releases by 15%, while the manufacturing sector's contribution to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 13%. This suggests that economic expansion does not necessarily come at the expense of environmental quality.
- Automotive Industry Leads by Example: A specific spotlight on automotive manufacturing further illustrates this trend. From 2014 to 2023, the sector's economic value surged by 34%, coupled with a 14% decrease in chemical releases.
- Waste Management Improvements: In 2023, a remarkable 90% of TRI chemical waste was managed through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery, and treatment, indicating a strong commitment to responsible waste handling across industries.
Long-Term Progress and PFAS Chemicals
The EPA's analysis also provides a broader historical perspective, noting that from 1998 to 2023, companies managing TRI chemicals, including substances like lead, mercury, dioxins, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have reduced releases by 54%. This long-term environmental improvement has occurred alongside a 74% increase in the national GDP.
For reporting year 2023, nine new PFAS chemicals were added to the reporting requirements, bringing the total number of PFAS tracked by the TRI program to 189. In 2023, 61 facilities managed 1.6 million pounds of PFAS as waste, achieving a 16% decrease in chemical releases for these substances.
Looking Ahead: Public Engagement
To provide further insights into these findings, the EPA is hosting a public webinar on September 30, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, offering an overview of the 2023 TRI National Analysis.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. has achieved a notable reduction in toxic chemical releases while simultaneously experiencing economic growth.
- Manufacturing and automotive sectors are demonstrating that industry can improve environmental performance and expand economically.
- Responsible waste management practices, including recycling and treatment, are increasingly being adopted.
- The EPA continues to expand its tracking of emerging contaminants like PFAS, showing a commitment to addressing persistent environmental challenges.
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