Design of Safer Chemicals

In this report, the role various harmful chemicals have in the production of textiles and apparel are evaluated and five key Innovation Areas are identified. There are insights to accelerate the adoption of new safer technologies, and the work of over a hundred young innovative companies are highlighted.

The Safer Materials in Food Packaging report articulates the needs for innovation in food packaging and showcases innovative companies and potential solutions to the sector's health and environmental challenges.

In this report, major safer chemistry challenges and solutions in ingredients and materials across the beauty and personal care industry are highlighted.  Specific needs for new ingredients and materials are highlighted, and a snapshot of innovative safer chemistry companies developing promising new materials is provided. The report also highlights evolving brands and retailers standards for safety and sustainability that move the industry forward.

This guidance was developed with the aim to advance broader agreement on a general approach and criteria for the selection of safer alternatives, with a focus on chemical substitution. It is intended to advance a consistent understanding of the minimum requirements needed to determine whether a chemical alternative is safer than the priority chemical, product, or technology for substitution, independent of the entity performing the assessment or the alternatives assessment framework being used. 

Most contemporary chemical processes rely on non-renewable resources and reagents associated with negative impact on environment and human health. As a result, the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework is launched to guide the innovation towards safe and sustainable materials and chemical products. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical in the production of plastics but known to activate oestrogen receptors and linked by numerous studies to adverse effects on both human health and the environment.

The pharmaceutical industry is currently experiencing increasing demand for small-molecule drugs. However, a significant portion of the raw materials used in drug production are fossil-based, originating from crude oil. This reliance on non-renewable resources presents major challenges, particularly in the context of global environmental crises such as climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and dwindling oil reserves.