Incentivizing safe and sustainable chemistry. Lessons learned from scientific, government, and industry collaborations
There are increasing scientific concerns about the health implications of chemicals used in manufacturing processes and products. These concerns are leading to increased consumer, market, and regulatory pressures to eliminate chemicals of concern. However, our science, policy, and market actions still primarily focus on studying and avoiding problems rather than focusing on design and adoption of safer solutions. Joel Tickner will discuss some of the drivers of safer chemicals and materials, the challenges of the current science and policy system that inhibit safer chemistry and outline some of the changes needed to achieve a transition to safer chemicals and products.
There are three important transformations to accelerate a solutions-oriented agenda that focuses on the transition to safer chemistry:
- a science transformation (which focuses on enhancing our scientific toolbox to more rapidly evaluate hazards and exposures, compare alternatives, and design new, more sustainable chemicals and materials);
- a market transformation (increasing both the demand for safer chemicals by chemical users as well as the supply of safer chemistries);
- a policy transformation (policies that allow rapid preventive actions on problem chemicals and incentivize the design and adoption of safer alternatives).
Joel Tickner leads the Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, UMass Lowell where is group works on research, analysis, and strategy to make chemistry safer for people and the planet. His research focuses on the development of innovative scientific methods, policies, and practice to accelerate the design and application of safer products and manufacturing processes. He is an expert on environmental health, risk assessment, green chemistry, chemicals policy, and pollution prevention.
His research has led to the establishment and growth of the field of chemical alternatives assessment, the process of comparing alternatives for chemicals of concern. He is the founding Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment, a professional association dedicated to advancing the science, practice, and policy of alternatives assessment and informed substitution.
Tickner also founded the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), a powerful network of more than 100 companies, bringing together the entire value chain from chemical producers to major brands and retailers. The GC3 is highly credible convener that drives commercialization, adoption, and scale of green chemistry solutions across sectors and supply chains.
Tickner is a Professor of Environmental Health at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, where he has worked to build interdisciplinary bridges across departments and colleges to position the university as a leading institution in the design and application of sustainable chemicals and materials. Until recently, he was Co-Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute, which provides resources and tools to help businesses and communities in Massachusetts to find safer alternatives to toxic chemicals.