Ingredient Intelligence

Unlocking reporting on chemical risks and opportunity


Our trusted, globally harmonized chemical hazard dataset helps brands, retailers, and investors gain new insights, build stronger brands, and increase consumer trust with science-based, data-driven reporting

Logo for 'Ingredient Intelligence Report,' powered by ChemForward, featuring colorful pie chart design and text in various shades of blue, green, yellow, red, and gray.

Each year, ChemFORWARD analyzes data from dozens of brands, retailers, and suppliers to produce custom Ingredient Intelligence Reports (IIRs) and year over year metrics from data on thousands of SKUs with hundreds of thousands of ingredients.

Ingredient Intelligence Reports are used to provide clear, comparable data for chemical management reporting. Reports are designed to offer insights to:

  • Measure progress against established chemical management goals;

  • Verify the elimination of chemicals of high concern (compliance with RSLs);

  • Identify emerging issues to help stay ahead of regulations and trends;

  • Quantify the use of safer chemistry; and

  • Target investment to fill data gaps.

INGREDIENT INTELLIGENCE
SCREENING PROCESS

ChemFORWARD uses harmonized hazard bands based on leading chemical hazard assessment methods to provide actionable decision support. 

To generate the report, the ChemFORWARD dataset is used to screen the ingredient list provided by the client. Hazard Bands are assigned to each ingredient. The results are reviewed by a toxicologist and a summary narrative is developed.

Table showing hazard band levels in ChemFORWARD with color codes: A (green) for low hazard, B (light green) for some moderate hazards, C (yellow) for moderate hazard or uncertainty, D (orange) for moderate to high hazard, F (red) for high hazards, and a gray cell with a question mark for requesting a chemical hazard assessment.

REPORTING EXAMPLES

DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS

Numbered list on a presentation slide with four points about chemical safety. Point 1: RSLs and compliance activities are working. Point 2: Safer chemistry is being used, signaling a shift from 'free-of' to 'safer' claims. Point 3: Chemical hazard data is missing for 45-50% of ingredients, creating risk and potential for substitutions. Point 4: 50% of data gaps are botanical ingredients, risk increases as safety is presumed.
A table listing chemical substances with columns for CAS number, substance name, count in SKU, and hazard band. Substances include water, titanium dioxide, glycerin, mica, iron oxide, phenoxyethanol, dimethicone, and silica, with hazard bands B, C, and A, and some cells in gray or with question marks.

PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW

HAZARD BAND SUMMARY

A donut chart with five segments labeled B, C, F, and a question mark representing 20%, 32%, 3%, and 45% respectively. The largest segment is labeled with a question mark and represents 45%.

PRODUCT SUMMARY

Table listing ingredients in product A, including coconut oil, castor oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, jojoba seed oil, DL-alpha-Tocopherol, rosemary extract, and titanium dioxide. Some items are labeled 'B' or 'IP' and one is 'C.'

TOXIC IS EASY, SAFE IS HARD

“It takes a lot more information to prove that a chemical is inherently safe than it does to prove that it is toxic. Just knowing that a chemical is a known carcinogen or that it causes skin sensitization can be enough to rule it out as a good candidate for product applications. But to be sure that it is inherently benign for its intended use means that nearly two dozen human and environmental endpoints need to be considered and data gaps must be filled. A lack of hazard data does not mean that a chemical is inherently benign,”

Lauren Heine, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, ChemFORWARD

A person standing on the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean during sunset.

Chemical Hazard Assessments

The ChemFORWARD chemical hazard and safer alternatives database is populated and continually updated by licensed toxicologists using a comprehensive, globally accepted methodology. Each CHA is peer reviewed by independent toxicologists before being posted.

A comprehensive chemical hazard assessment includes 24 human and environmental endpoints, routes of exposure, and classification rationales for each endpoint. The chemical is then assigned a roll-up hazard band. 

Table comparing effects of different animal exposure types on human health, environmental, and other factors, with color-coded indicators and abbreviations.

GET STARTED TODAY

There are measurable benefits to brands and retailers that show leadership and commitment to continual improvement on chemical management. You can’t manage what you can’t measure

    • Respond confidently to retailer disclosure requirements

    • Enhance brand reputation

    • Grow consumer confidence

    • Increase science-based communication with suppliers

    • Increase investor trust

    • Know which chemicals are in the products you are selling and the associated hazards

    • Move beyond regulatory compliance

    • Confidently respond to consumer and NGO campaigns

    • Get ahead of regulation and consumer concerns by proactively embedding safer chemistry

    • Easily evaluate progress against chemical management strategies

    • Avoid regulatory risk with proactive chemical hazard evaluation

    • Minimize reputation risks with increased transparency

    • Eliminate redesign risk by staying ahead of regulations and market shifts