Assessing Alternatives Assessing Alternatives

Assessing Alternatives

Identifying and adopting safer alternatives to toxic chemicals is a core aspect of toxics use reduction.

TURI conducts alternative assessments as part of its mission to assist chemical users find and adopt safer solutions to the use of toxic substances.  An alternatives assessment looks comprehensively at the uses of chemicals of concern and the availability of safer, technically feasible and affordable alternatives. These alternatives may be chemical substitutions, but may also be modifications to processes or product redesigns that facilitate the shift to safer processes and products.

Principles of Alternatives Assessments

There are 6 Principles of Alternatives Assessments:

  • Reduce Hazard
  • Minimize Exposure
  • Use Best Available Information
  • Require Disclosure and Transparency
  • Resolve Trade-Offs
  • Take Action

TURI collaborates with academic partners, other US state and federal agencies, and international organizations to develop and refine alternatives assessment methods.

TURI Company Success Stories

Featured alternatives assessments

Report & Analysis
Assessment of Alternatives to F-Gas Refrigerants

An analysis of safer options to F-gas refrigerants to mitigate PFAS pollution and climate change.

Report & Analysis
Assessment of Safer and Effective Alternatives for Coating Removal Products

Our findings of feasible alternatives to methylene chloride and other chemicals of high concern used in coating removal products.

Report & Analysis
Safer alternatives assessment: the Massachusetts process as a model for state governments

In 2006 the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute conducted a study to determine if states could identify safer alternatives to five chemicals of concern.

Report & Analysis
Evaluation for Alternatives to Hexavalent Chromium Sealants

Polysulfide sealants containing soluble hexavalent chromium compounds are currently being used in a variety of applications in aerospace/defense manufacturing.

Report & Analysis
CHEMICAL ALTERNATIVES ASSESSMENT: CLEANING SOLUTIONS FORMULATIONS

On behalf of a cleaning solutions formulator, the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) investigated the relative chemical hazards of five enzymatic detergent formulations, which included 21 individual chemicals.

Report & Analysis
“Five Chemicals” Alternatives Assessment

TURI identified technically and economically feasible safer alternatives to, lead, formaldehyde, perchloroethylene (PCE), hexavalent chromium, and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) for the specific applications studied

Report & Analysis
Assessment of Safer and Effective Alternatives to Methylene Chloride for Paint Stripping Products

Methylene chloride is a widely used component in paint stripping products.

Report & Analysis
Assessment of Alternatives to Cleaners and Sanitizers for the Brewing Industry

Breweries need to both clean and sanitize their vats between batches.

Report & Analysis
Alternatives to Halogenated Solvents Used in Surface Cleaning

Halogenated solvents have historically been used for a wide variety of industrial surface cleaning needs in numerous industry sectors.

Report & Analysis
Assessment of Alternatives to Cleaners and Sanitizers for teh Brewing Industry – Supplement 2 Safety Data Sheets

Report & Analysis
Assessment of Alternatives to Cleaners and Sanitizers for the Brewing Industry – Supplement 1

The P2OASys evaluations were performed using Safety Data Sheets for each product which can be found in Supplement 2.

Report & Analysis
Alternatives Assessment for Perchloroethylene for the Dry Cleaning Industry

Information to help facilities adopt safer alternatives PCE or “perc” in their operations