ACS GCI Formulator’s Roundtable

The ACS Green Chemistry Institute^® Formulator’s Roundtable (Roundtable) is a partnership between the ACS Green Chemistry Institute^® (ACS GCI) and the formulated products industry designed to be the driving force to use green chemistry in creating innovative products that are environmentally sustainable throughout the entire product life cycle and safer to make and use.

Recent News

• Ever Greener Cleaners (Chemical & Engineering News, January 5, 2009)
• Cleaning Products Go Green (HAPPI Magazine)
• Introducing the Launch of the ACS GCI Formulator’s Roundtable (ACS GCI’s The Nexus, December 2008)

Mission

To be a driving force in the formulated products industry to use Green Chemistry in creating innovative products that are environmentally sustainable throughout its product life cycle and safer to make and use.

Strategic Priorities

• Promote transparency and consistency through a set of green chemistry principles for formulated products.

The Roundtable recognizes the importance of establishing a unified voice on the principles of an environmentally preferable product for clarity and credibility across all stakeholder groups. The Roundtable will work collaboratively to establish these principles.

• Drive good science in the development of environmentally preferred products standard/ certification.

The Roundtable recognizes the importance that “good science” is used in decision making and ensuring technical rigor in influencing environmentally preferred products certification and/or standard development. Leverage the independent position of ACS GCI to gain recognition that the ACS GCI Formulator’s Roundtable be a resource to standard-setting bodies. Collaborate with global stakeholders, including governments and other organizations, to support harmonization in standard setting with an emphasis on continuous improvement that resonates with consumer expectations.

• Inform and influence suppliers and academia to develop greener alternatives.

The Roundtable acknowledges its position to generate an aggregate demand for greener alternatives to currently used raw materials. The Roundtable will develop collaborations and/or funding opportunities to engage the suppliers, academia, and the larger scientific community in this endeavor to identify greener materials. Focus will be on identifying greener alternatives for commodity types of raw materials and will avoid any proprietary ingredients.

• Be recognized leaders in Green Chemistry.

Proactively influence green chemistry related debate with regulators, non government organizations, customers, and consumers. Influence suppliers, regulators, retailers and academic research. Establish recognized leadership for driving Green Chemistry. Use our collective learning to promote Green Chemistry.

• Incorporate risk-based decision making into green chemistry.

The Roundtable seeks to expand the current use of hazard assessments in determination of “greenness” to incorporate risk-based decision-making and the precautionary principle when appropriate. The level of technical rigor used in sustainability assessments should be related to the quantity and quality of chemical information available. The Roundtable encourages the development and improved access to data to support decision making on products and ingredients. This may be accomplished by, but is not limited to, the development of tools, funding research, collaborating with suppliers, supporting curriculum development, etc.

Membership

The ACS GCI Formulator’s Roundtable welcomes the active participation of member companies meeting the description below. Companies pledge their support and contribute to the Roundtable by making available their knowledge and experience as well as providing financial support. Members participate in quarterly meetings via teleconference and/or internet and work with committees to direct and develop resources to meet the objectives of Roundtable. At least one in-person meeting is scheduled per year. Each member company may designate employees to participate in the Roundtable. Diversity in expertise provides an opportunity to address the green chemistry needs of the formulated industry from a wider perspective.

Members

Any corporation, or subsidiary, division or unit thereof, significantly engaged in the formulation of soap, detergents and cleaning preparations and/or perfumes, cosmetics, and other toilet preparations under his or its own brand names. This includes all corporations identifying with SIC Industry Group 284.