Over the next two decades, global chemical production is set to double, primarily outside of developed countries. Governments and stakeholders from industry, academia and civil society are striving to address safety concerns and manage the risks associated with the production and use of chemicals and associated wastes. Currently, an intersessional process is taking place to define international efforts for the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020. One key topic is whether the science-policy interface (SPI) should be strengthened and, if so, how this could best be achieved. This report by the International Panel on Chemical Pollution (IPCP) aims to inform governments and stakeholders about this topic. It outlines desirable objectives and functions of a strong, two-way SPI identified by a group of international experts, maps the existing science-policy interface bodies in the chemicals and waste cluster, identifies gaps based on desirable objectives and functions, discusses lessons learned from other clusters, and explores different scenarios for strengthening the interface.