User friendly tools for industry to measure and reduce chemical footprints (Tox-redUSE)

Research Project, 2022 – 2024

Responsible management of chemicals and waste for sustainable development is one of UN's global goals and part of the EU's Green Deal. The entire life cycle of chemicals, goods and waste must be considered to reduce negative effects on humans and the environment. "C hemical footprint" is a life cycle-based indicator of chemical pollution.
The indicator has the potential to be a tool for the industry to measure and reduce their chemical footprints and thereby achieve important sustainability goals. The project aims to make tools for chemical footprints more useable for the industry.
Scientifically accepted models for chemical footprint assessment have in research projects where industrial actors and researchers collaborated proven to be complex to use. The threshold for industrial application has often been too high. This project aims to lower this threshold and enable a good implementation of these tools. By analysing workflows and decision-making processes at companies tools will be adapted for maximum usability in the industry. This at the same time as it is ensured that the scientific accuracy of the tools is preserved.
In the project, companies will collaborate with researchers from both social science and natural science. In an iterative process, interviews are held, and mock-up tools are created and evaluated. Results from these company specific studies are merged into a common concept and implementation plan that can be applied to stakeholders outside the project.