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Accelerating the Transition to Safer Chemistry
Strategic Research. Actionable Analysis. Ecosystem Convening. Global Impact.
At the Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst (the Catalyst), we don't just advocate for "stopping the bad"—we specialize in "growing the better." Leveraging over three decades of action-oriented research at UMass Lowell, the Catalyst provides high-level strategic services designed to eliminate chemical hazards by scaling viable, safer and sustainable alternatives. As a result of its extensive technical and policy expertise, along with strong facilitation and ecosystem connecting skills, the Catalyst has built deep, broad, and trusted networks of scientists, advocates, policymakers, and business leaders globally to address the complex challenges of the transition to safer and more sustainable chemicals, materials, and products.
Core Services:
1. Alternatives Assessment & Informed Substitution
We don't just study hazards; we pioneered the frameworks used to find and adopt solutions. We provide the technical and methodological expertise to ensure transitions are rigorous yet pragmatic.
Methodology Development: Creating and adapting alternatives assessment frameworks.
Technical Support: Helping businesses and agencies identify and evaluate commercially viable, safer alternatives.
Gap Analysis: Identifying where research and innovation are needed most to replace toxic incumbent chemicals.
2. Policy Strategy & Legislative Advocacy
Capitalizing on our role in assessing and developing model policies and programs for governments in the US, Canada, and Europe, we help partners navigate and shape governance that advances safer and more sustainable chemistry.
Policy Models and Program Development: Assessing and designing regulatory, economic, and incentive-based policy frameworks and instruments as well as model programs for governments to accelerate the transition to safer and sustainable chemistry.
Regulatory Analysis: Providing deep-dive policy analysis for government authorities.
3. Market Research & Commercialization Analysis
The "valley of death" between laboratory discovery and industrial scale is where many sustainable chemistry solutions fail. We analyze the market barriers and enablers to ensure sustainable chemistry is widely adopted.
Supply Chain Analysis: Mapping the path from feedstock to consumer product.
Barriers to Entry: Researching technical, economic, and organizational hurdles to commercialization.
Transition Finance: Collaborating with the financial sector to identify tools and options to direct investment toward sustainable chemical technologies.
4. Strategic Stakeholder Engagement & Community Building
We believe that systemic change happens through better understanding and collaboration. We leverage our deep and trusted networks to bringing together the business, governments, advocates, and academic researchers to solve challenging problems through transparent dialogue and enhanced understanding.
Multistakeholder Working Innovation and Substitution Working Groups: Facilitating expert collaborative innovation initiatives to solve complex chemical challenges, such as substituting 6PPD in tires and alternative anti-fouling for recreational boat craft.
Value Chain Collaboration: Facilitating dialogue between suppliers, manufacturers, and brands to address innovation challenges.
Consensus Vision, Roadmap and Strategy Creation: Facilitating the development of global definitions and criteria for "Sustainable Chemistry."
Expert Networks: Building a global community of practice around alternatives assessment.
5. Chemical Industry Transformation
While significantly contributing to quality of life and economic development, the chemical industry is also a major contributor to several planetary crises. We build understanding through analysis and dialogue of the factors that led to the rapid growth of the current generation of chemicals to help shape the transition to a safer, more sustainable and resilient chemical industry of the future.
Historical Analysis: Advancing understanding of the factors that create and transform sectors through the TT Chao Symposium on Innovation and other research.
Transition Research: Understanding key needs, enablers, and barriers to an industry transformation.
Transition Vision and Roadmaps: Developing frameworks and roadmaps for industry transformation, convening a broad set of stakeholder.
6. Speaking and Lecturing Roles
The Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst is led by world-renowned researchers strategists who have shaped the global dialogue on alternatives assessment and sustainable chemistry for over two decades. We provide high-impact speaking services for international conferences, corporate boardrooms, and governmental briefings.
Alternatives Assessment & Informed Substitution
Policy and Government Strategy
Collaborative Innovation
Transition Finance
Strategic Stakeholder Convening
Why partner with the Catalyst?
Legacy of Impact: Based at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production within UMasss Lowell (Est. 1993), we bring decades of credibility to every project.
Proven Influence: Our research doesn't sit on shelves; it sits on the desks of global policymakers, business decision-makers and others.
Global Leadership: Led by highly regarded researchers and leaders Dr. Joel Tickner and Molly Jacobs, our team offers a direct line to the forefront of research, application, and policy on safer and more sustainable chemicals.
Independent & Trusted: As an independent initiative, we provide objective analysis that builds trust across industry, government, and non-profit sectors.
Action-Oriented: We focus on practical strategies that lead to impact.
Ready to drive change?
Join us in accelerating the transition to a safer, more sustainable chemical future.