Implementing a safer chemicals program: Strategies for success
Implementation strategies to incorporate safer chemicals in your processes
Implementing a safer chemicals program presents challenges even after a business has identified chemicals of concern. The next step is to devise an effective strategy to prioritize and take action, so that companies can swap out potentially harmful substances for more sustainable ones.
In this recent webinar, Jillian Stacy, SVP for Enhesa Sustainable Chemistry and Global Expert Services, shared expert insights into how organizations can develop their strategic plan for safer chemicals, including addressing common prioritization challenges and learning from successful customer case studies.
Navigating implementation hurdles
A survey conducted by Enhesa Sustainable Chemistry found that more than half identified “implementing more efficient ways to assess chemicals” as a primary challenge in improving their focus on sustainable chemistry.
While many companies understand what they need to do to advance sustainable chemistry, execution remains a stumbling block.
So, how can companies successfully implement their safer chemicals programs?
Prioritizing chemicals of concern
There are several approaches companies can take to prioritizing problematic chemicals to phase out — do you start by looking at regulatory requirements, or do you look at chemical characteristics?
Each company’s path will be unique but understanding your company’s place on the ‘readiness curve’ will determine and guide your approach, explains Stacy.
Compliance-focused mindset: Companies that focus on compliance will prioritize chemicals based on whether a substance if currently regulated or appears on any restricted substances lists (RSls). This approach involves using list screening to compare chemical CAS RNs to those included in RSLs.
However, the challenge for businesses lies in the volume of lists to work through. Stacy recommends narrowing the focus to specific jurisdictions or markets, or, alternatively, start by tackling leading lists, such as REACH and TSCA.
Compliance+ mindset: Companies aiming to go beyond compliance will consider chemical watch lists and relevant chemical groups. This approach involves scrutinizing lists from NGOs or non-profit associations and exploring related chemicals for holistic oversight.
Many associations and industries now publish sector-specific RSLs, such as AFIRM (apparel and footwear), Okeo-Tex (textiles), and GADSL (automotive), which can serve as a useful tool for prioritization.
Sustainability mindset: Companies focusing on sustainability will leverage chemical hazard assessments (CHAs) to understand the hazards in their chemicals, irrespective of current regulations.
This forward-looking approach goes beyond compliance objectives only and helps businesses prepare for changing regulation. By using CHAs to evaluate human and environmental endpoints, businesses can pinpoint which substances are likely to become problematic in future.
Determining where you are on this curve will help inform how you go about identifying problematic chemicals, but also plays into how you prioritize those chemicals, and the actions you take.
Jillian Stacy SVP, Enhesa Sustainable Chemistry and Global Expert ServicesTaking action: Strategies to execute your safer chemicals program
Once chemicals of concern are prioritized, taking targeted action to phase them out and introduce safer alternatives is the next step. Stacy advises tailoring the approach to what works for your business and shared four examples of how other companies have started this sustainability work.
Focusing on a subset of products
This approach narrows the focus onto a subset of products to begin working on, for example:
- Understanding the full inventory of chemicals to establish a baseline and find opportunities for improvement.
- Implementing a program requiring suppliers to provide full disclosure on new materials and chemicals, which puts the focus on hazards being introduced into product lines.
- Focusing on phasing out chemicals of concern in existing product lines, potentially providing the largest impact for the organization.
Creating an internal RSL
In addition to going beyond existing RSLs, business can create their own. This approach, says Stacy, is a valuable way to gain an understanding of which chemicals your company is, or should be, restricting.
Building internal clarity also builds external clarity with suppliers, giving them an understanding of your business expectation and creating the potential for clearer and faster responses.
Creating a company standard
Some companies decide to create their own standards of certification programs based on their priority screening criteria. Several companies, for example, standardize their criteria across list screening, CHAs, and chemical scoring rubrics to help prioritize chemicals to phase out. Having these standards can provide a quick guide on which chemicals or substances are prohibited at the first stage, aligning internal and external teams toward the same process.
Applying additional filters
In some cases, says Stacy, companies are faced with an overwhelming number of immediate gaps or ‘red flags’ in their chemicals. When this happens, applying additional filters can help further streamline prioritization.
Examples include filters such as chemicals of concern with the highest volume or concentrations, or those being provided by key suppliers who will be more responsive to requests for change.
Key takeaways for implementing a safer chemicals program
Summarizing the strategies covered in the webinar, Stacy shared the following key takeaways:
- Tailor your program: Make sure your action plan matches your organization’s needs and objectives. For example, full chemical disclosure or using full chemical hazard lists.
- Assess your readiness: Identifying where you are on the readiness curve will inform your action plan. Are you focusing just on compliance, beyond compliance, or on wider sustainability issues?
- Know the process: Define what chemicals of concern mean for your business, identify the most problematic substances in your supply chain via RSLs, CHAs, or other chemical scrutiny, prioritize the phasing out of the most harmful chemicals, and take action by implementing your strategy company-wide
- Prioritize accordingly: When evaluating which chemicals need to be prioritized for phasing out, review which substances are currently regulated, which might be in the future, and review the chemical characteristics against specific endpoints.
- Implement carefully: Plan your implementation carefully by beginning with one specific action for all teams to follow.
Don’t create a huge burden for your suppliers if you’re not ready for it, if you’re not going to act on it, if you’re not going to enforce decisions in your supply chain.
Jillian Stacy SVP, Enhesa Sustainable Chemistry and Global Expert ServicesImplement safer chemicals
Building on key insights from our previous webinar on defining and identifying chemicals, the following webinar focuses on implementing this knowledge.
Learn more about developing a strategic plan, overcoming the challenges of implementation, and best practices from businesses who have already advanced their chemicals program.