Four strategies companies are using to build safer chemicals programs

Implementing a safer chemicals program to phase out chemicals of concern can be complex — especially when major blockers stand in the way. In our webinar on safer chemicals, we asked attendees about their biggest challenges around implementation. Their top two?  

1. Difficulty finding alternatives 
2. Misaligned goals and priorities across departments 

To help businesses address these and other challenges, Jillian Stacy, SVP for Enhesa Sustainable Chemistry and Global Expert Services, shared four practical strategies in our Safer chemicals: How to choose and implement effectively webinar.  

The insights draw on real-world examples from our work over the past decade, supporting companies across various sectors to roll out safer chemicals programs. These approaches can help businesses overcome the barriers to implementation. 

1. Focus on high-volume products

One of the most effective ways to implement a safer chemicals program is to prioritize high-volume products — those that have the most impact on consumers and the supply chain.   

Here’s how businesses we’ve worked with approach this strategy:  

• Identify the top products for phase out by volume 

• Ensure full chemical transparency for each priority product 

• Screen each chemical against both priority lists and priority hazard endpoints 

• Collaborate with suppliers to discover areas of concern 

• Develop corrective action plans to swap out chemicals of concern 

• Evaluate potential alternatives using Chemical Hazard Assessments (CHAs) 

Successful safer chemicals programs include enhanced supplier engagement and more in-depth chemical assessment. Since every company receives different levels of information from its supply chain, each business will define its program or action plan based on supplier cooperation and the level of chemical assessment it can achieve.  

2. Assess new materials or products

If tackling your current list of chemicals feels overwhelming or time-intensive, a practical alternative is to start with what’s new. Many companies we work with begin their sustainable chemistry journey by focusing on all new materials and products entering their supply chain and business.  

By focusing on new materials and products, you can start with a smaller set of your chemicals, and scale up from there.  

This approach involves:  

• Implementing restrictions that require full list screening and hazard assessments for all new chemicals being proposed or introduced 

• Only accepting substances that meet your defined criteria 

• Establishing expectations with both internal teams and suppliers that chemical screening is a prerequisite for all new materials before developing further 

• Ensuring you obtain full chemical transparency for each material 

• Screening each chemical against priority lists and priority hazard endpoints 

• Rejecting any materials that don’t meet your list screening or chemical assessment criteria 

As Stacy says in the webinar: “Your business gets to decide what the pass-fail criteria is — it’s up to you to define, and this is one way to approach that.”

3. Create a proactive Restricted Substances List (RSL)

A proactive way to prevent chemicals of concern from entering your supply chain is to develop an internal Restricted Substances List (RSL), or “no-go” list of chemicals to share with your suppliers and sourcing teams. 

There’s a lot of flexibility to tailor your RSL to meet your specific business needs and strategic objectives. As Stacy explains, your approach can depend on your business mindset in relation to compliance and sustainability:  

• If you’re in a compliance mindset, create your RSL by reviewing the major regulatory lists relevant to your markets 

• If you’re in a compliance+ mindset, look further into industry or sector-specific lists, such as AFIRM or Okeo-Text for textiles, or GADSL for automotive 

• If you’re in a sustainability mindset, go beyond compliance and what’s currently restricted. Include chemicals that may be regulated in the future, based on their hazard profiles 

Steps for developing your internal RSL: 

• Evaluate chemicals in your inventory against priority lists and priority endpoints 

• Add identified chemicals of concern to your RSL 

• Establish thresholds and criteria 

• Communicate the RSL and expectations for compliance with all suppliers and procurement teams 

• Set clear expectations for compliance 

Some companies choose to make their RSLs available publicly on their websites — both to signal their commitment and to support transparency.  

4. Create a certification or testing standard

Another effective way to drive safer chemistry in your business is to establish a certification or testing standard that matches your criteria and requires compliance from your suppliers. 

To put this into practice:  

• Identify priority lists and hazard endpoints that matter most to your organization 

• Create a program that requires suppliers to disclose ingredients and comply with your assessment criteria 

• Make proof of compliance a requirement for sourcing and product development  

The relevance of this approach will vary depending on your sector and product type. For some industries, such as apparel or electronics, certifications are well-established. For others, companies may need to take the lead in developing their own standards.  

As Stacy says: “Depending on your product type and your sector, certification standards may be more or less relevant. But where they do exist — or where you’re willing to craft your own standard — they’re a powerful way to begin to understand what’s in your products and the risks to your business.”

Keys to success: What sets effective programs apart

In our webinar, Stacy summarized the key common actions other businesses have employed to set up effective safer chemistry programs. Each company:  

• Clearly defines what ‘chemicals of concern’ or ‘safe chemistry’ mean to its business 

• Uses efficient tools to evaluate and assess potentially chemical hazards, combining list screening and Chemical Hazard Assessments (CHAs) 

• Develops a cohesive understanding of the chemicals being used in its products, processes, and supply chain 

• Communicates clearly with all teams to secure buy-in both internally and externally 

Additional best practice tips from Enhesa sustainable Chemistry experts include:  

• Use the same criteria to assess alternatives that you used to identify chemicals of concern in the first place to avoid regrettable substitutions 

• Empower your suppliers to assess their chemicals using the same criteria 

• Establish and implement corrective action plans for when a chemical of concern is identified either in your supply chain or organization

Final thoughts: From strategy to implementation

When starting your safer chemicals program, you can start small and build up. A clear direction is important. Whether you decide to focus on high-volume products, screen new materials and products, create an internal RSL, or develop a certification standard, each of these four strategies offers a practical path forward.