I just returned from the International Symposium on Alternatives Assessments. This emerging field is focused on the adoption of safer chemicals and ultimately safer products and materials.
It was hosted by the University Massachusetts Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. A group of technical experts met to discuss ways to advance the science and practice of Alternatives Assessments. Opportunities and discussions towards greater cross-sectorial collaboration, sharing of data, and a more formal field of practice were considered.
What is an Alternatives Assessment?
An Alternatives Assessment is a process used to replace a chemical of concern with a safer alternative that does not result in a regrettable substitution.
The process identifies, compares and selects chemicals, (including those in materials, processes or technologies) on the basis of their hazards, performance, and economic viability.
The core elements of any Alternatives Assessment should include:
- A Lifecycle thinking approach
- Chemical Hazard Assessment (weighted higher than exposure)
- Exposure
- Technical Assessment (Performance. Does it work?)
- Economic Assessment (What is the cost?)
Why do they matter?
Several U.S. states, including California, with its Safer Consumer Products Program and the EU REACH are requiring retailers and suppliers to phase out chemicals of concern and replace them with safer alternatives. An Alternatives Assessment provides a detailed approach to comply with these regulations.
In addition, new science and market drivers such as ZDHC and LEED v4 Material Selection are focused on safer chemical selections.
Common Principles, suggested by BizNGO, for Alternatives Assessment include:
- Reduce hazard
- Minimize exposure
- Use best available information
- Be transparent
- Resolve tradeoffs
- Take action
What resources exist to help implement an Alternatives Assessments?
Available Alternatives Assessment frameworks exist and they all have many similarities. These include BizNGO protocol, SubSport, EPA DfE, Interstate Chemicals Clearing House IC2 and the National Academy Sciences.
The work ahead
Issues that must be solved include: limited available data and the role of “Exposure” in an assessment. Both are very complicated!
“Comparative exposure assessment” plays an important role in understanding the overall safety of alternatives, which is different from a risk assessment. The experts are thinking through, what does exposure mean to reduce the inherent hazard of a given chemical?
There is a desire to avoid the dependency on exposure controls, which is what often happens in chemical risk assessments – a chemical is deemed low risk, if we assume we can control exposure, which is not always the case.
Impact to your business
Questions to Consider:
- Do you have strategies in place to find safer alternatives?
- Do you have the expertise to do Alternatives Assessments to meet an existing regulation?
For help with any issue associated with chemicals, contact Amanda Cattermole at (415) 412 8406 or Amanda@cattermoleconsulting.com. We can help you develop powerful solutions to protect your company and brand reputation that result in safer products manufactured in cleaner supply chains.
Tips and Insights contains information to help you make informed chemicals management decisions. Each post highlights a particular topic and includes questions for you to consider .