Choosing Safer Alternatives: Evolving the Science and Practice of Alternatives Assessment
IdentiIdentifying and transitioning to safer, sustainable chemicals is crucial to achieving a sustainable future. Alternatives assessment, developed in the 1990s, evaluates and selects safer chemical substitutes, avoiding regrettable replacements. This approach, initially advanced by scientists and regulators in Europe and the U.S., has become a best practice for managing chemical risks to workers, the public, and the environment.
As alternative assessment evolves, it addresses new challenges and adapts methodologies to improve its effectiveness in policy and industry. This includes refining its role in regulatory and non-regulatory strategies and enhancing its application in identifying scalable, safer alternatives in industrial contexts.
This GC&E Friday will highlight the latest advancements in alternative assessment. Topics will include methods, practices, and policy applications, with a focus on green chemistry, engineered nanomaterials, environmental justice, sustainability considerations, product certification, and policy design. This event aims to foster discussion and share insights from professionals to advance the field.
In this presentation you’ll learn:
• How the field of alternatives assessment is evolving considering new developments in Safe and Sustainable by Design and emerging methods and practices for addressing environmental justice and nanomaterials
• Benefits and challenges in the use product certifications as tools for vetting hazards in products
• Emerging best practices in the design of policies to support informed substitution
Speakers
Beyond Plastics: Green Chemistry Solutions for Healthier Communities
Plastic pollution is a global crisis with far-reaching impacts on human health, from microplastics in drinking water to toxic chemicals released during degradation. This session will delve into innovative green chemistry solutions for rethinking and redesigning materials to promote healthier ecosystems and communities.
In this session you’ll:
• Learn about new technologies and materials to combat plastic pollution
• Understand how plastic pollution affects human health
• Get practical steps from experts to reduce plastic-related health hazards
• Connect with professionals and discuss sustainable practices
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award Keynotes
Every year the editors of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, partner with the ACS Green Chemistry Institute to recognize the research contributions of early-career scientists, working in green chemistry, green engineering, and sustainability in the chemical enterprise. Lectureship award winners are selected for three regions: The Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and Asia-Pacific. View the corresponding Editorial for more information about the award. In this GC&E Friday, you will be hearing the amazing work of these astounding researchers and how their work is moving us one step closer to a sustainable future.
What You’ll learn/Why Attend:
• Discover groundbreaking work in green chemistry and sustainability.
• Learn about new methods for pollution control and polymer recycling.
• Hear from researchers across the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
