Preventing "Regrettable Substitutions": ChemFORWARD to Lead Key Session at SETAC 2025
DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 17, 2025
How do we stop companies from replacing one hazardous chemical for another? That's the crucial challenge ChemFORWARD's Gabby Rigutto, M.S., Manager of Research and Data Quality, and Chris Bartlett, Ph.D, Lead Toxicologist, will tackle when they chair a high-impact session at the SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) North America 46th Annual Meeting on Monday, November 17th in Portland, Oregon.
Driving Safer Product Design
Rigutto and Bartlett will chair a session entitled, “Use of Chemical Hazard Assessments to Drive Informed Substitution in Alternative Assessments,” in collaboration with Meg Whittaker, Ph.D, of ToxServices. This session is a cornerstone event for the A4 (Advancement and Application of Alternatives Assessment) Interest Group.
The session focuses on how chemical hazard assessment data is a critical component of Alternative Assessments (AAs). Comprehensive hazard data that allows practitioners to ensure that they avoid regrettable substitutions, which occur when a company replaces a hazardous ingredient with a new chemical that turns out to be just as dangerous. By rigorously comparing hazard data, practitioners can identify and promote truly safer chemicals, ultimately reducing the inherent hazard of materials in the global supply chain.
The session will include perspectives on the role of hazard assessments in AA, novel tools for the process, and valuable case studies on informed substitution from leading industry and government experts.
Unlocking Data to End the Burden of Testing
As part of the session, Rigutto and Bartlett will present “Use of ChemFORWARD’s Data Trust to Inform Safer Alternative Selection: PPRC Case Study.”
This presentation will detail how, through collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center’s (PPRC) Certification Assistance Program (CAP), the shared data repository has supported the identification of chemicals that have since been added to the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Ingredients List (SCIL), as well as the CleanGredients database of chemical ingredients that have been pre-approved for use in products that meet the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Standard. It serves as a resource for formulators, making it easier and faster for them to create and market greener cleaning products. This case study will highlight how this shared repository can help formulators and product manufacturers accelerate the identification of safer alternatives, thereby creating and marketing greener cleaning products.
"We're moving beyond just eliminating the 'bad' chemicals," says Gabby Rigutto. "Our goal is to use the ChemFORWARD Data Trust to actively illuminate safer and functional alternatives, making informed substitution frictionless for companies worldwide."
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ChemFORWARD is a science-based non-profit organization that manages the Chemical Hazard Data Trust. Its mission is to create broad access to chemical hazard data and illuminate safer alternatives, to end toxic chemical exposure, and enable safe and sustainable commerce.
If you are an Alternative Assessment practitioner or product manufacturer interested in leveraging shared data to accelerate safer product design, visit www.chemforward.org and contact info@chemforward.org to learn how to access the Data Trust.
