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In September, I attended the annual meeting of Change Chemistry, a multi-stakeholder forum comprising corporations, academic institutions, start-ups, investors, regulators, and nonprofits that collectively work to accelerate the development and commercialization of green and sustainable chemistry solutions.
The Forum, originally known as the “Green Chemistry and Commerce Council,” has been running for two decades. This year, its members gathered to reflect on its achievements over the past twenty years and to imagine what its work will look like over the next twenty.
Noteworthy Progress: 2005 – 2025
Transparency
Since 2005, the market has made significant progress in sharing chemical information about products, particularly on the consumer side. The EU, where chemicals of concern are shared across the value chain, is the clear leader in this area. The EU is also moving to identify and potentially restrict entire classes of chemicals of concern, such as PFAS.* In the US, more than 300 States have passed legislation to restrict PFAS.
*Read more about PFAS and all other starred terms in the Sustainable Chemistry Glossary at the bottom of the page.
Hazardous chemicals assessment
Product Hazardous Assessments, which evaluate ingredients against known human health and environmental hazards, now include tools such as the Green Screen®,* Cradle to Cradle®,* Safer Choice,* and several additional standards that integrate hazardous assessments and alternatives into products.
The GFC (Global Framework on Chemicals—for a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste) was first adopted in 2023 and is now the leading voluntary framework for governments and stakeholders working to address chemical lifecycles in products and waste. The Framework aims to address the gaps in previous frameworks, calling for identifying, prioritizing, and addressing chemicals of concern, while promoting safer alternatives and innovative solutions in product value chains to benefit human health and the environment.
Looking ahead, despite the achievements of the past 20 years, metrics for measuring ongoing progress are lacking. To develop useful metrics, we must consider what information will be relevant for the next twenty years and how it can be effectively integrated into corporate sustainability reporting.
Company Takeaways
Chemicals management in the Retail sector has progressed measurably over the past several years. In May 2016, Green Chemistry & Commerce Retailer Leadership Council companies issued a joint statement on the use of green chemistry* and safer alternatives. Signers included Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, and The Home Depot. Lowe’s adopted its own chemicals policy and began working with its suppliers on implementation. However, information-sharing constraints are handicapping efforts to spur innovation in its supply chain.
P&G discussed one of its Future Fit Materials* and its new proprietary technology, “Dissolution.” Developed in-house at P&G, Dissolution cleans contaminants from recycled plastic polymers and increases the amount of post-consumer recycled content (PCR) in its products. P&G has licensed the technology to Pure Cycle, a start-up that operates its flagship polypropylene purification/recycling plant in Ohio.
At International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), 79% of new product innovations feature a sustainability value proposition (SVP),* and the company has established a goal to have 100% of its products incorporate an SVP by 2030. IFF discussed its design and development of Future Fit Materials, including enzymatic biomaterials* and polymers, which enable IFF to utilize plant-based sugars and produce polysaccharides. IFF utilizes these biomaterials to tailor the properties of polymers, fine-tuning them for various performance needs.
Noted BCAM Holdings by Strategy
Lowe’s : US Value holding
Sustainable Chemistry Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Enzymatic biomaterials | Enzymatic biomaterials harness enzymes’ specificity and mild operating conditions to enable on-demand plastic remodeling or degradation and “designed end-of-life” plastics. |
| Future-Fit Materials (FFM) | “Future-Fit Materials” (FFM) is a cross-industry concept and working group co-led by Change Chemistry (formerly GC3) and Sustainable Brands to speed up the shift to materials that are inherently safer and more sustainable regarding human/ecotoxicity, circularity, climate impact, and de-fossilization. |
| Green chemistry | Green chemistry (also known as sustainable chemistry) designs chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances throughout the entire product life cycle. |
| PFAS (per—and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) | PFAS (per—and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) comprise a large group of human-made chemicals used in industrial and consumer products for their resistance to water, grease, heat, and staining. Also known as “forever chemicals,” some PFAS have half-lives lasting several decades. |
| Sustainability value proposition (SVP) | A sustainability value proposition (SVP) is a statement that articulates the economic, environmental, and social benefits a company offers to its customers, society, and the planet, relevant to competitors. An SVP focuses on sustainable practices and offerings that solve specific customer needs and result in a positive, net-benefit outcome. |
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Company developments described in this report occurred during the period of our engagement but should not be assumed to have resulted from Boston Common’s activities. Where we believe our engagement contributed to a development, we describe the basis for that assessment.
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