WHAT IS THE GC3?The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) is a project of the Chemical Policy & Science Initiative at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts

Lowell. The group was formed in 2005 following a Sustainable Business and Safer Chemistry conference hosted by the Lowell Center and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. The GC3 provides an open forum for participants to discuss and share information and experiences relating to advancing green chemistry and design for environment as it

pertains to sustainable supply chain management.

WHAT IS THE GC3?The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) is a project of the Chemical Policy & Science Initiative at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts

Lowell. The group was formed in 2005 following a Sustainable Business and Safer Chemistry conference hosted by the Lowell Center and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. The GC3 provides an open forum for participants to discuss and share information and experiences relating to advancing green chemistry and design for environment as it

pertains to sustainable supply chain management.

MISSIONThe mission of the GC3 is to promote and support green chemistry and the design for environment (DfE) approaches to research and practices nationally and internationally among companies and other governmental and non-governmental entities by:•Implementing green chemistry and identifying safer alternatives throughout the supply chain.•Sharing strategies to overcome barriers to these efforts; and•Promoting education and information about green chemistry and design for the environment.

HOW THE GC3 WORKSThe GC3 has three active working groups:•Advancing Green Chemistry: Works with government and interested stakeholders to promote the design for environment approach and adoption of green chemistry.•Tools for Chemical Assessment: Identifies safer chemicals and designs decision-making models to facilitate choices in selecting appropriate chemicals.•Drivers for Innovation and Safer Products: Identifies drivers for innovation and shares strategies businesses are developing to identify and produce safer products.

WORKING TOGETHER TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES•Exchange of information and networking•Focus on entire supply chain•Sharing burdens on new systems development•Sharing data collections and assessments•Sharing alternative solutions•Ability to engage across industry sectors•Cost reduction and shared knowledge•Ability to correct problems before they occur

MISSIONThe mission of the GC3 is to promote and support green chemistry and the design for environment (DfE) approaches to research and practices nationally and internationally among companies and other governmental and non-governmental entities by:•Implementing green chemistry and identifying safer alternatives throughout the supply chain.•Sharing strategies to overcome barriers to these efforts; and•Promoting education and information about green chemistry and design for the environment.

HOW THE GC3 WORKSThe GC3 has three active working groups:•Advancing Green Chemistry: Works with government and interested stakeholders to promote the design for environment approach and adoption of green chemistry.•Tools for Chemical Assessment: Identifies safer chemicals and designs decision-making models to facilitate choices in selecting appropriate chemicals.•Drivers for Innovation and Safer Products: Identifies drivers for innovation and shares strategies businesses are developing to identify and produce safer products.

WORKING TOGETHER TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES•Exchange of information and networking•Focus on entire supply chain•Sharing burdens on new systems development•Sharing data collections and assessments•Sharing alternative solutions•Ability to engage across industry sectors•Cost reduction and shared knowledge•Ability to correct problems before they occur

ACCOMPLISHMENTS•Webinars to discuss timely issues and ideas.•Quarterly newsletter with updates and news stories.•Annual Roundtable bringing participants together.•Various publications, including:

•An Analysis of Corporate Restricted Substance Lists and Their Implications for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment•Growing the Green Economy: A State’s Guide to Creating Opportunities for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment•Gathering Complex Information and Advancing Safer Chemistry in Complex Supply Chains

GREEN CHEMISTRY AND DfEGreen Chemistry is the utilization of a set of 12 principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products.

The DfE concept encourages businesses to incorporate environmental and health considerations in the design and redesign of products and processes.

CHALLENGES OF GREEN CHEMISTRY AND DfE•Unwillingness or inability of suppliers to provide chemical ingredient information.•Frequent treatment of chemical information as proprietary.•Unclear or confusing data requirements under regulatory or green certification programs.•Inadequate resources needed to develop standards, track and monitor chemicals policy around the world.•Unwillingness of suppliers to embrace green chemistry and DfE approaches.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS•Webinars to discuss timely issues and ideas.•Quarterly newsletter with updates and news stories.•Annual Roundtable bringing participants together.•Various publications, including:

•An Analysis of Corporate Restricted Substance Lists and Their Implications for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment•Growing the Green Economy: A State’s Guide to Creating Opportunities for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment•Gathering Complex Information and Advancing Safer Chemistry in Complex Supply Chains

GREEN CHEMISTRY AND DfEGreen Chemistry is the utilization of a set of 12 principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products.

The DfE concept encourages businesses to incorporate environmental and health considerations in the design and redesign of products and processes.

CHALLENGES OF GREEN CHEMISTRY AND DfE•Unwillingness or inability of suppliers to provide chemical ingredient information.•Frequent treatment of chemical information as proprietary.•Unclear or confusing data requirements under regulatory or green certification programs.•Inadequate resources needed to develop standards, track and monitor chemicals policy around the world.•Unwillingness of suppliers to embrace green chemistry and DfE approaches.

PARTICIPATING INDUSTRIESMore than 80 companies are involved, including the following

industrial sectors:•Pharmaceutical•Office and Business Suppliers•Food Services•Computers and Electronics•Cleaning Products•Sporting Goods•Textiles•Retail•Manufacturing•Construction•Personal Care Products

EXAMPLES OF COMPANIES INVOLVED•Sysco•Staples•Nike•Hewlett-Packard•Diversey Corporation•Steelcase•Corporate Express

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT US AT:PHONE

(978) 934-2997EMAIL

Melissa_Coffin@uml.eduWEB

www.greenchemistryandcommerce.org

PARTICIPATING INDUSTRIESMore than 80 companies are involved, including the following

industrial sectors:•Pharmaceutical•Office and Business Suppliers•Food Services•Computers and Electronics•Cleaning Products•Sporting Goods•Textiles•Retail•Manufacturing•Construction•Personal Care Products

EXAMPLES OF COMPANIES INVOLVED•Sysco•Staples•Nike•Hewlett-Packard•Diversey Corporation•Steelcase•Corporate Express

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT US AT:PHONE

(978) 934-2997EMAIL

Melissa_Coffin@uml.eduWEB

www.greenchemistryandcommerce.org

GREEN CHEMISTRY & COMMERCE COUNCIL: A CALL FOR CHAMPIONSGREEN CHEMISTRY & COMMERCE COUNCIL: A CALL FOR CHAMPIONS