Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3)

1. Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) A project of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell

2. What is the GC3? • A business-to-business network of more than 80 companies formed in 2005 • An open forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities for advancing • Green chemistry and DfE • Managing sustainable supply chains • Transitioning toward safer chemical alternatives

3. Mission To promote and support the green chemistry and design for the environment approaches to research and practices nationally and internationally among companies, governmental and non-governmental entities.

4. Goals • Implementing green chemistry and identifying safer alternatives throughout the supply chain. • Sharing strategies to overcome barriers to these efforts. • Promoting education and information about green chemistry and design for the environment.

5. Working Group Projects • Database of tools for safer chemical assessments • Analysis of trends in corporate restricted substances lists • Series of supply chain case studies • Glossary of common terms used in marketing green products • Case studies in product chemicals management by retailers • Green chemistry resource guide for states & higher education • Collaboration with EPA to improve transparency in the DfE program • Partnerships for solutions between industry and academia • Defining a Minimum Chemical Data Set along supply chains

6. Benefits to Participating “The GC3 lets you tap into a collective knowledge, rather than having to develop everything yourself.” -John Frazier, Director of Considered Chemistry, Nike • Exchange of information and networking • Focus on entire supply chain • Sharing burdens of new systems development and tools • Sharing alternative solutions • Ability to engage across industry sectors • Cost reduction from shared knowledge • Collaboration among industry, NGOs and government organizations • Collaboration on chemical standards while supporting individual information

7. Recent Publications Growing the Green Economy: A State’s Guide to Creating Opportunities for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment An Analysis of Corporate Restricted Substance Lists (RSLs) and Their Implications for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment Gathering Complex Information and Advancing Safer Chemistry in Complex Supply Chains: Case Studies of Nike, S.C. Johnson, and Hewlett-Packard

8. A Call for Champions “We would certainly recommend to our colleagues to consider becoming a part of the GC3. It’s critical in these times that we have as many voices from as many different places and viewpoints as we can.” – Roger McFadden, VP and Senior Scientist, Staples, Inc. The GC3 engages champions and innovators. We are looking for leaders who want to be ahead of the curve and for companies that want to distinguish themselves in the marketplace, contributing to a more sustainable world.

9. Contact: www.GreenChemistryAndCommerce.org Read our brochure Watch our video For More Information Melissa Coffin at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (978) 934-2997 or melissa_coffin@uml.edu