Substitution - how should I think?

This article has been translated with machine translation.

Navigate to:
Tools > Substitution

When working with substitution - how should I think?

In the context of chemicals, substitution usually means replacing a dangerous chemical with another, less dangerous one, but it can also be a process that is changed or replaced. Even reducing the amount of a chemical you use or completely stopping using a chemical or a process are examples of substitution.

The main purpose of the substitution module in iChemistry, is to be able to document your work, regardless if it is keeping a chemical or replacing it. Please note that iChemistry will not give you recommendations on alternative products.

Where to start

Since it is the most hazardous chemicals that should be prioritized first in the substitution work, we recommend that you start from the Overview's Restriction and prohibition lists. If you for example find that you have products on the REACH Candidate list of SVHC or CMR product, you can start with these.

There is also a given risk score for all products in the substitution module, which you can use as a guideline as to which products can be prioritized.

The products are prioritized (1-5) where the priority of 1 means highest priority. The priority is calculated by:

The product risk phrases/hazard statements (e.g. H360 will give a high priority)
Added inventory quantities
If past accidents have been specified in the risk assessment for the product.

Your alternatives for substitution

1. Replace product A with product B?

What should you look for when comparing product A with product B?

A suggestion is that you use safety data sheet (SDS) to compare the products; look at hazard statements, classification and other information that you can easily find in the SDS.

In iChemistry you have the possibility to compare products in the substitution module. Please note that the system will not make recommendations for alternative products, you need to know which products to compare yourself.

2. Reduce the amount

Limit or reduce the usage amount of the product to the very minimum or what is necessary. As a manufacturer, look at why a product is classified and consider replacing the single substance in the mixture that is causing the whole product to be classified.

3. Remove unnecessary products

If you have several different products of the same product type, e.g. 10 different lubricants, you have a great opportunity to phase out all products that are not necessary. This can also have a positive effect on your costs.

4. Change method

What do you us this chemical for, what is the result you need? How important is this process? Can we change the process somehow, for example change materials/machines to avoid using this chemical?

Why is this important?

There can be a lot of aspects to why substitution of products is important, but some of them are:

For the sake of the employees and the environment
Legal requirements
Positive for your brand
Economic aspects

Look at the whole perspective for a product; dosage, recyclable packaging, work environment / external environment...

Start reviewing products that are: most dangerous, have the largest amount, are most often used, are used for a long time, have the greatest exposure, are most difficult to protect yourself against, have the greatest risk of mistakes, etc.

Let iChemistry help you to locate these products; use e.g. the following restriction lists:

CMR products
SVHC (REACH Candidate list)
Allergens
Reach Annex XIV
SIN list

While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, this translation may not be entirely error-free. Please consider this when interpreting the information.