Since Chemical Leasing is a service-oriented business model, the customer pays for the service provided by the chemical, not for the substance itself. In this way, the customer avoids buying more amounts of chemical than he actually needs for his production, like is often the case in traditional business models. Traditionally the customer is also responsible for the disposal and recycling of chemicals. Within ChL business models this responsibility for disposal and recycling remains with the supplier of the chemical.

The role of chemical suppliers does also change with the implementation of ChL business models. His economic success is not linked with product turnover anymore, but with the efficiency the chemicals are used with. Therefore the supplier of chemicals will try to optimise the process his chemicals are used in and improve the conditions for recycling in order to reduce the net amount consumed. Instead of being paid for the amount of chemical supplied, he is actually paid for the expert know-how he provides.

Consumption of chemicals will decline as chemicals sales volume turns from a factor increasing profit ("the more you sell, the more you earn") to an expense factor ("less is more").