17th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference
17th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, North Bethesda, MD, June 18, 2013
Alternatives assessment has emerged in the past decade and a half as the practical implementation of the precautionary principle. Chemical hazard assessment has developed as a key element of alternatives assessment in the context of selecting replacements for chemicals of concern. Alternatives assessment allows for not only the drop-in replacements of chemicals of concern, but also material, process and design changes to achieve the desired functionality. Assessment tools and decision-making methodologies are continuing to emerge and evolve as government and industry grapple with the appropriate criteria and acceptable trade-offs to reduce chemical impacts on human health and the environment. This presentation will provide an overview of emerging methodologies being developed to guide the identification and selection of viable replacements for chemicals of concern. These methodologies include Alternatives Assessment protocols, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Life-Cycle Analysis or the use of life cycle considerations to inform decision-making.