Forum Standing Committee Working Groups

Substitution and Alternatives
Selected References

  • The art of delivering Toxic Free products - Report
    Substitution of toxic chemicals presents both challenges and opportunities. This is discussed in a new ChemSec publication, called Substitution 1.0. The report provides an introduction into the process of chemicals managements and substitution of hazardous substances, as well as hands-on examples from some of the companies we work with.
  • Cleaning up our Chemical Homes - Changing the market to supply toxic-free products
    Greenpeace, 16 January 2007
    Greenpeace’s Chemical Home database was launched in 2003 to demonstrate that the substitution of hazardous substances with safer alternatives is already happening. In many cases, the use of hazardous substances is not necessary, as suitable alternatives are already being used by innovative companies that want to be market leaders. Our database also supports the need for legislation by highlighting those companies who fail to act to phase harmful substances out of their products.

    This report reviews the progress that companies have made towards substitution during the life of the database. It shows that consumers can choose from many products that are already free of these substances, and that many companies have embraced the process of substitution by phasing hazardous substances out of their brands.
  • TOXICS IN YOUR PORTFOLIO?
    MORE COMPANIES FACING SHAREHOLDER
    RESOLUTIONS ON CHEMICAL RISKS IN PRODUCTS
    COMPANIES FACING SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTIONS ON CHEMICAL RISKS IN PRODUCTS GROW FROM JUST THREE IN ‘04-‘05 TO 17 IN ‘06-‘07
    From Asthma to Teflon … From Cosmetics Safety to Pesticides … Concerns Mount About Chemical Risks;
    Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN)
    Richard Liroff, Director of IEHN
  • The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx™) Topic Hun and Sector Resources
    Topic Hubs™ are web-based guides to peer-reviewed pollution prevention information and expertise on a particular subject. Additional resources (sector resources) provide additional links to pollution prevention information. The links are compiled by the individual P2Rx center, but are not in the topic hub format.

    The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx™) is a consortium of eight regional pollution prevention information centers, funded in part through grants from EPA. These centers all provide pollution prevention information, networking opportunities and other services to States, local governments and technical assistance providers in their region. The centers represent a broad constituency, including state and local pollution prevention programs, manufacturing extension partnerships, cooperative extension and nonprofit organizations. The diversity of audience contributes to an overall breadth of P2 information and opportunities
  • About PPRC
  • TOOLS AND APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
    Joel Tickner, ScD and Ken Geiser, PhD
    Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
    Overview of Presentation:
    • Moving towards safer chemicals and processes. Facility and chemical planning
    • Approaches to alternatives/substitution assessment
    • Tools for understanding chemical risks and developing safer chemicals
    • Challenges and lessons
  • Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars and the Need for Safe Alternatives
    Ecology Center
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
    The study found significantly higher levels of PBDEs in vehicle dust and windshield wipe samples than those found in homes and offices in previous studies. Since the average American spends more than 1.5 hours in their car every day, this is a significant source of indoor air pollution. The study ranks car manufacturers according to the levels of toxic chemicals found inside the vehicles.
  • Report commissioned by the Swedish Chemicals Agency
    Authors: Sven Ove Hansson and Christina Rudén, both affiliated to the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.
    The report begins by defining the substitution principle (chapter 1). After that the authors “triangulate” it by showing how it relates to three other important principles in risk assessment and risk management, namely inherent safety (chapter 2), the precautionary principle (chapter 3) and risk analysis (chapter 4). This is followed by a chapter on comparative risk assessment, that is an essential component in any application of the substitution principle (chapter 5), and a chapter discussing practical measures that can be taken in order to increase the application of the substitution principle (chapter 6). Finally, the conclusions are summarized (chapter 7)