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Safer Substitutes
Let’s work together
If you are reformulating to reduce hazard profiles, replace substances of concern, or looking for lower-risk alternatives that maintain performance, our teams can help. We work with you to identify materials that may offer comparable functionality with reduced human health and/or environmental hazards, supported by supplier data and recognized assessment approaches.
Why do safer substitutes matter?
Pressure to reduce hazardous substances is increasing across value chains, driven by regulation, safety concerns, and customer and consumer expectations. Substitution—replacing a conventional material with a safer alternative—is one pathway to reduce potential risks to human health and the environment.
Chemical substitution is complex. A product that is “safer” in one respect may still carry risks, and trade-offs across performance, hazard endpoints, or life cycle impacts must be considered carefully.
Our Safer Substitute characteristic in the Univar Solutions Sustainable & Natural Product (SNP) framework is designed to help you identify materials that may represent an improvement in hazard profile compared to a relevant conventional alternative, based on available data. It is not a guarantee of safety or regulatory compliance for any specific use.
What it means
In the SNP framework, Safer Substitutes are materials that offer comparable performance in application to a conventional product while demonstrating reduced human health and/or environmental hazards.
This is a relative, data-based comparison rather than an absolute claim. All substances—including safer alternatives—may carry some level of risk depending on exposure and use conditions.
This characteristic focuses on hazard comparison and substitution potential. It does not, by itself, mean a product is “non-toxic,” “risk-free,” or appropriate for any specific claim or application. Final suitability depends on formulation, use conditions, and regulatory context.
How it works
Safer Substitute status is determined at the product level based on supplier-provided data and structured comparison approaches.
Step 1: Screening for substances of concern
Products considered for this characteristic are expected to avoid substances listed on recognized regulatory and international restricted substance lists, such as:
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
- Carcinogens identified by authoritative bodies
- Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substances
Step 2: Hazard comparison
Suppliers may demonstrate relative safety using one of two approaches:
- Hazard scoring tools (where available)
Supplier-provided assessments using recognized tools such as GreenScreen®, Safer Choice, or similar frameworks - GHS classification comparison
Evaluation of hazard classes (e.g., toxicity, flammability, environmental impact), where the safer substitute must:
o Be equivalent or better in all assessed categories
o Show improvement in at least one meaningful hazard endpoint
Where relevant, additional factors such as biodegradability or environmental fate may also support substitution decisions.
This characteristic is based on nformation provided by suppliers and supporting documentation. We do not independently verify all hazard classifications, methodologies, or conclusions. Customers remain responsible for evaluating suitability, performance, and claims in their specific applications
Criteria and Standards
Information may reference, where relevant:
- Restricted substance lists and regulatory frameworks
(e.g., Stockholm Convention, ECHA SVHC, EPA PBT lists) - Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
For classification and comparison of human health and environmental hazards - Third-party hazard assessment tools
(e.g., GreenScreen, Safer Choice, SciVeraLENS)
These criteria support a structured, evidence-based comparison of hazard profiles. They do not indicate regulatory approval, certification, or suitability for specific claims unless explicitly confirmed by the supplier or relevant authority.
Supporting Documentation
To classify materials under this characteristic, we typically look for:
- Hazard assessment reports or scoring outputs from third-party tools
- Supplier statements outlining hazard comparisons and rationale
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for both the alternative and the conventional product
- Supporting data on specific endpoints (e.g., toxicity, flammability, environmental fate)
- References to regulatory status or absence from restricted substance lists
This documentation supports internal review and customer discussions. It does not replace regulatory review or confirm claim suitability for finished products.
Let's Work Together
If you are evaluating alternatives to substances of concern, improving safety profiles, or responding to regulatory and customer requirements, our teams can help. We work with you to identify safer substitute options, interpret hazard data, and support informed substitution decisions alongside your own technical, regulatory, and legal assessments.
Explore our Sustainable & Natural product framework
Safer Substitutes is one of the characteristics within the Univar Solutions Sustainable & Natural Product (SNP) framework, alongside Bio-based, Natural, Carbon footprinting, Circularity, Biodegradable and/or Compostable, and Social and Environmental impact accreditation. Together, these characteristics help you understand how hazard profile, performance, feedstock, and end-of-life considerations fit within a broader sustainability context.
Explore our accredited products
Looking for alternatives to substances of concern in your formulations? Browse our SNP-classified portfolio to identify materials that may offer improved hazard profiles while maintaining performance.
NOTICE: All product information is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication based on information received from the supplier and secondary databases. However, Univar Solutions is not able to verify whether third-party data is accurate, complete, and up-to-date and assumes no responsibility, obligation, or liability for the information provided. NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SUCH AS THOSE OF MERCHANTABILTIY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED. Customer is solely responsible for determining whether products and/or the information provided are appropriate for Customer’s use, and Customer assumes all risk and liability in acting on the information provided.
Our Suppliers also sign our Supplier Code of Conduct so you can be assured that we are working throughout our supply chain to transparently create our Sustainable & Natural Products Portfolio.
