The Six Classes video series launch

The Green Science Policy Institute, an HRCS client, will premiere its Six Classes video series and educational website this summer. Each hour-long webcast will feature three short videos and live conversation with distinguished scientists and thought leaders about chemical classes of concern, where they are used, why they are harmful, and how to reduce their use in everyday products.

June 22, 11:00am PST: Introduction, Highly Fluorinated Chemicals, Antimicrobials
June 29, 11:00am PST: Introduction, Flame Retardants, Bisphenols & Phthalates
July 6, 11:00am PST:    Introduction, Solvents, Certain Metals

To register for any of the above webcasts, please fill out this form.

There are more than 80,000 untested chemicals in use today. Many of the most problematic substances in everyday products are from six families or “classes” of chemicals. When selecting products, both businesses and consumers should determine whether a product contains any chemical from the Six Classes. If it does, one should evaluate whether the chemical is really needed and if it’s worth the potential for harm. Some innovative businesses such as IKEA, Kaiser Permanente, Levi Strauss Inc, and Crate and Barrel are already using this Six Classes approach to phase out entire classes of chemicals of concern. Manufacturers should also apply this approach and use green chemistry to replace harmful chemical products and processes with chemicals and processes that have been designed with the health of humans and ecosystems in mind.