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Publications

GC3 project groups have produced the following publications. These are available for free download and distribution. These cutting-edge resources were developed though the efforts of GC3 project groups and provide extensive case examples, research, and analysis related to the application of green chemistry and design for environment. For more information on publications, please contact us.

Lessons for Green Chemistry Commercialization

The Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst at the University of Massachusetts Lowell produced a report commissioned by GC3, “Analyzing Success Factors to Accelerate the Commercialization of New Technologies that Replace Incumbents.” Through a series of four case studies, coupled with research and expert interviews, the report reveals practical insights and strategic lessons to quicken the diffusion of green and sustainable chemistry technologies into the marketplace. Knowing these accelerating factors will be a critical piece of the puzzle to support the continued shift and transformation towards safer more sustainable solutions. 

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2021 GC3 Year in Review

The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) is pleased to announce publication of its Annual Year in Review. The report highlights GC3 and GC3 member accomplishments as we work to accelerate the growth of green chemistry solutions. Come join us as we work to change chemistry!

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Landscape Analysis of Drivers, Enablers, and Barriers to Plasticizer Substitution

December 2021

The goal of this report is to identify barriers and enablers to the adoption of green and sustainable chemistry that can be effectively leveraged to accelerate commercialization and adoption actions in the future. The report focuses on identifying factors that have led to the successful substitution of plasticizers in some product categories and to understand what is holding substitution back in others.

Plasticizer Substitution Report (pdf)

Plasticizer Substitution Case Studies (pdf)

 

Green Chemistry: A Strong Driver of Innovation, Growth, and Business Opportunity

November 2021

As investors and manufacturers seek new market opportunities for growth in the chemical sector, one of the portfolios attracting attention is the expanding portfolio of green chemicals—chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances from manufacture through disposal. While green chemistry has traditionally represented a very small segment of the broader chemistry industry, there is emerging evidence that this segment is poised to grow rapidly. In this report, we examine the business case for investment in green chemistry on the part of manufacturers, retailers, brands, and R&D teams. We present compelling evidence through a multi-method approach, relying on case studies, consumer product sales trends, economic value-added analysis, and prior research that suggests the green chemicals and products sector is growing rapidly and will likely become a dominant element of major investment portfolios in the near future.

Executive Summary (pdf)
Green Chemistry: A Strong Driver of Innovation, Growth, and Business Opportunity (pdf)

Case Studies:

GC3 Recommended Framework for Ingredient Disclosure for Articles

July 2021

GC3 member retailers are working to implement chemicals policies and strategies that require information about chemicals in articles to enable informed decision making about the products they source and sell. GC3 member suppliers recognize the need for sharing this information with their business customers but are understandably concerned about data security and the level of effort required to supply these data. The GC3 undertook this project to develop an initial framework for article ingredient disclosure that delineates a common set of data elements to include. This framework is designed to help guide communication and facilitate agreements between retailers and suppliers, as well as harmonize retailers’ requests of suppliers.

GC3 Recommended Framework for Ingredient Disclosure for Articles (pdf)


The GC3 Blueprint of Green Chemistry Opportunities for a
Circular Economy

February 2021

GC3 members are increasingly challenged to achieve multiple sustainability objectives, such as those outlined in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including carbon reduction and circularity. There are increasing policy, marketplace, and investor demands for more circular materials and products. The GC3 Blueprint of Green Chemistry Opportunities for a Circular Economy report discusses how green chemistry can support and amplify the circular economy goals, as developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to help companies throughout the industrial value chain harness the power of green chemistry to meet the growing need for a more sustainable economy.

The GC3 Blueprint of Green Chemistry Opportunities for a Circular Economy (pdf)


Measuring Progress towards Green Chemistry

December 2015

The GC3 commissioned this research from Environmental & Public Health Consulting to support its efforts to mainstream green chemistry by understanding barriers and opportunities to accelerating green chemistry adoption across supply chains. Metrics play a critical role in understanding if green chemistry design, policy, business, or educational efforts are leading us towards desired outcomes. The purpose of this Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) report is to identify and characterize metrics that can be used to measure progress in green chemistry.

Measuring Progress towards Green Chemistry - Report (pdf)

An Agenda to Mainstream Green Chemistry

November 2015

Ninety percent of manufactured goods are in some way linked to the chemical industry. Yet, despite its many environmental, public health, business, and economic benefits, green chemistry is still only a small part of the chemical enterprise. The GC3's Agenda to Mainstream Green Chemistry identifies strategies and actions needed from all corners to significantly accelerate green chemistry's practice and impact. The document integrates existing and original research on green chemistry barriers and accelerators, along with input from our members who are leaders in the field.

Advancing Green Chemistry: Barriers to Adoption & Ways to Accelerate Green Chemistry in Supply Chains

June 2015

There continues to be a growing interest and awareness in green chemistry. There are successful cases of adoption of safer alternatives, and scaling of supply, in response to demands from regulators and customers. However, overall progress is slow, measured in decades. Despite efforts from many stakeholders to accelerate green chemistry use adoption rates remain low. Why aren’t more green chemicals in use? What are the barriers? What is the means to accelerate adoption? The GC3 commissioned T. Fennelley and Associates to answer these questions through a series of supply chain interviews, discussions, and document review.

Advancing Green Chemistry - Report
(pdf)
Advancing Green Chemistry Webinar - Slide plus audio (mp4)
Advancing Green Chemistry Webinar - Slides only (pdf)

Making the Business & Economic Case for Safer Chemistry

April 2015

This report, authored by the consulting firm Trucost, evaluates the potential business and economic value of safer chemistry. This includes reducing the use and generation of hazardous substances, reducing the human health and environmental impacts of processes and products, and creating safer products. The research included interviews with 17 industry experts, as well as a review of literature and available data on the business and economic opportunities achievable through safer chemistry and the business and economic value at risk from not adopting safer chemistry.


Making the Case for Safer Chemistry - Report (pdf)
Making the Case for Safer Chemistry - Press release
(pdf)

Chemical Hazard Assessments of Alternative Plasticizers for Wire & Cable Applications

June 2013

The Business and Academic Partnership Project Group of the GC3 developed and piloted a new type of collaboration between companies and universities to evaluate safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. The goal was to generate robust assessments of alternatives to support chemical substitution decision-making by GC3 companies and their supply chain partners, through pooling of knowledge, data and funds. The model was developed through a pilot project focused on identifying and evaluating alternatives to a known toxic phthalate plasticizer in wire & cable applications -- DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate). This project report provides a summary of the project results and links to detailed chemical hazard assessments for nine plasticizers.

Download Document (pdf)
Download BASF's comments on the GreenScreen™ assessment of Hexamoll® DINCH® (pdf)

Meeting Customers' Needs for Chemical Data: A Guidance Document for Suppliers

February 2011

Business-to-business communication of chemical data, such as chemical identity and health and safety impacts, along supply chains is critically important to product manufacturers' efforts to make informed decisions on the health and environmental impacts of the products that they put on the market. Forward looking companies working to bring safer products to market need the active engagement of suppliers to provide relevant chemical information. This document provides tools and examples in support of improved supply chain communication between suppliers and their customers, and in the development of more sustainable products.

 Download Document (pdf)

 

Compilation of Terms Marketing Green Products: A Green Glossary

November 2010

In an effort to gain some clarity about the definitions of terms commonly used to market and sell "green" products, a GC3 working group has developed a "Green Glossary." Terms that are commonly used to market and sell green products were researched and a number of these were selected for inclusion in Version One of the Glossary. Gathered from various sources including government, industry, certifiers, and the nonprofit sector, the glossary presents a variety of definitions for single terms, highlighting the conditions making greenwashing so prevalent in the marketplace.

Download Introduction (pdf)
Download Glossary (pdf)

Best Practices in Product Chemicals Management in the Retail Industry

December 2009

Faced with growing demands to identify, disclose and substitute potentially harmful chemical ingredients in the products they sell, innovative retailers are incorporating product chemicals management systems into their sustainability strategies. This report examines the influences on retailers to encourage the adoption of chemicals management systems; the systems that Apple, Boots, Green Depot, Patagonia, REI, Staples, and Walmart have adopted; and the challenges, benefits, and best practices identified in the development and implementation of these systems.

Download Report (pdf)

 

Gathering Chemical Information and Advancing Safer Chemistry in Complex Supply Chains: Case Studies of Nike, S.C. Johnson, and Hewlett-Packard

September 2009

As part of the Tools for Safer Chemical Assessment working group, three case studies of leading firms with complex supply chains were conducted to explore and share experiences on how these companies gather chemical information from their supply chains and how they use this information to develop safer products. A summary report synthesizes the lessons learned and best practices that were distilled from each of the case studies.

Download the Summary Report (pdf)

Download the case studies:
Nike (pdf)  |  S. C. Johnson (pdf)  |  Hewlett-Packard (pdf)

 

Growing the Green Economy: A State's Guide to Creating Opportunities
for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment

September 2009

For more than fifteen years, green chemistry and design for environment have been used successfully to benefit both the environment and the economy. In an effort to further entrench these approaches as the fundamental bedrock of industry practices and government policies, the GC3 and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable have teamed up to provide this guide outlining options for states to successfully promote research, development and application of these approaches to eliminate or reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in manufacturing and to promote a green economy.

Download Document (pdf)

 

An Analysis of Corporate Restricted Substance Lists (RSLs) and
Their Implications for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment

November 2008

Given the general lack of information on many chemicals in commerce, some companies have developed screening programs and criteria to guide hazardous materials restrictions. Despite the development of these lists and publication by certain sectors or companies, there has been no effort to date to pool restricted substances lists across sectors and companies to better understand the types of chemicals restricted and rationale for their restriction. GC3 companies contributed their restricted substances lists for this analysis of key differences, trends, and the importance of RSLs within various industrial sectors.

Download Analysis & Compiled RSLs (pdf)