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Dear Change Chemistry community and friends, | |
I am honored to write to you for the first time as Executive Director, a role I stepped into just over a month ago. In these early weeks, I have devoted myself to learning, listening, and connecting—immersing myself in what makes our organization and this community so remarkable.
My days have been rich with discovery: meeting several times a week with Change Chemistry’s Founder, Joel Tickner, engaging in thoughtful discussions with the Change Chemistry team, interviewing Advisory Committee members and general members, and reaching out to current and potential partners. Each conversation has offered valuable insights and reinforced my belief that Change Chemistry stands at a unique and critical intersection in the journey toward safer and more sustainable chemicals.
Through early conversations, a few key themes have surfaced: the power of our “big tent” community and its ability to foster cross-sector collaboration; the opportunity to influence market drivers like policy, investment, customer demand, and regulation; and the need for consistent, credible ways to measure progress at multiple levels. I’m also reflecting on the constructive tensions within our work—how we can embrace the diversity of our members while addressing their varying needs—and on the importance of showing up with humility and partnership as part of a broader ecosystem advancing safer, more sustainable chemistry. I’m especially focused on listening deeply and engaging our full community as we shape a bold, clear strategy for 2026.
I invite you to read my full letter here, and I hope you’ll continue sharing your insights, questions, and ideas as we move forward together.
With appreciation and anticipation,
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Jason Pearson
Executive Director, Change Chemistry
| | Read more highlights like this in our conversation with two leaders from CAS — Molly Strausbaugh and Ian MacGregor. | | Creating a Safe and Circular Future With Sustainable Chemistry | Circular solutions can’t succeed without safer chemistry — yet this link is often overlooked. During Circularity week in April, Change Chemistry partnered with ChemFORWARD and the Safer Chemistry Impact Fund to host a workshop on how safer chemistry enables a truly circular economy. The event highlighted key challenges, such as hazardous chemical recirculation and unknown hazard profiles, and offered practical pathways to design out waste, strengthen supply chains, and unlock innovation through collaboration. With aligned goals, better data, and strategic partnerships, a safer and circular future is within reach. | |
We’re excited to share what’s in store for the 2025 Innovators Roundtable, which will take place from September 9 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio, and online! This year's agenda features a dynamic lineup of keynote addresses, startup pitches, panel sessions, and networking opportunities to spark collaboration and drive progress in sustainable chemistry. | |
Here's a first look at what's planned:
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Tour of Battelle Headquarters: Join us on day one for exclusive tours of one of the world’s leading scientific research institutions.
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Startup Network pitch presentations: Discover emerging innovations in sustainable chemistry through two rounds of pitch presentations featuring companies from across the sector.
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Insightful keynotes & panel sessions: Hear from leading voices as we explore strategies for scaling adoption, measuring impact, shaping policy, and building champions for sustainable chemistry across the value chain.
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Receptions and networking events: From midday networking breaks to evening receptions at Battelle and CAS, there are plenty of opportunities to build new partnerships and reconnect with peers.
| Check out the preliminary agenda and join global innovators, policymakers, and industry experts as we explore the challenges and opportunities facing our field. Plus, hear what past attendees have shared about their experiences at our events. | | Join us in welcoming our newest members, Matereal Inc., Firecrown Advisors, Fipra, and Lite-1 Bio, to the Change Chemistry community! Our members are leaders in driving the commercial adoption of green chemistry across industries and supply chains – including leading chemical companies, major brand manufacturers, large retailers, and innovative startups! | Interested in becoming a Change Chemistry Member? Join the community to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas, and build new partnerships. | | |
We’re buzzing about recent events, publications, and more on LinkedIn. Follow us to stay engaged! Here are some highlights from the past month:
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ICYMI: Change Chemistry Welcomes New Executive Director | Big news! We recently introduced Jason Pearson as Change Chemistry’s new Executive Director. In our announcement post, we shared how Jason’s three decades of leadership in business sustainability will help shape the next phase of our work.
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Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund Featured by Green Rose Chemistry | "Asli’s unique strength? Translating complex regulations into clear guidance across industries. Whether she’s training cross-functional teams, moderating global events, or shaping future policy, she brings insight, clarity, and vision to every conversation." We love this post from our colleagues at Green Rose Chemistry that spotlights our European Program Lead, Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund.
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Reflections From World Bio Markets | At World Bio Markets in The Hague, Netherlands, Change Chemistry convened a panel discussion that explored prioritizing both safety and sustainability in innovation and policy for sustainable chemistry. Check out this post from Dr. Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Chair of our Board of Directors, who hosted the conversation with panelists Dr. Ivana Krkljuš, Laura Kherbeck-Bogaert, and Shaun Russell.
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Sponsor the 2025 Innovators Roundtable | Is your company looking to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to safe and sustainable chemistry? Sponsor Change Chemistry’s 2025 Innovators Roundtable!
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Bridging the Gap: A Green Chemistry Innovation and Education Workshop | Based in New York? Join our friends at Beyond Benign and the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute for a workshop at the Rochester Institute of Technology on July 9. This free gathering will explore how green chemistry can be applied across classrooms, campuses, and the private sector.
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MEMBERS! Making the Case: Securing Internal Buy-in for Sustainable Chemistry | On August 7, join us for the third webinar in our member-exclusive series designed to equip champions with tools to communicate the value of sustainable chemistry across their organizations. Chris Aiello (WD-40) will share strategies for building leadership support, navigating competing business priorities, and embedding sustainability into internal decision-making systems.
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Want to Participate in a Change Chemistry Webinar? | If you are interested in presenting in a Change Chemistry webinar and sharing your experiences, successes, and solutions with the wider Change Chemistry community, please contact Morgan Ward.
| | Check out these stories from the sustainable chemistry community. | | -
EPA’s Safer Choice Survives, Diminished | After facing possible elimination, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice program, which supports the use of environmentally friendly and low-toxicity consumer product ingredients, will continue. Now folded into the agency’s New Chemicals division, the program’s future remains uncertain amid broader EPA restructuring tied to Project 2025. Change Chemistry Strategic Advisor Dr. Joel Tickner credited its survival to rare alignment among industry and advocacy groups, but warned that staffing and priorities could still shift.
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Change Chemistry’s New Leader Says Chemical Firms Can Still Innovate Amid Uncertainty | In a recent interview, Jason Pearson shared his vision for accelerating the commercialization of sustainable chemistry technologies despite rising economic pressures and shifting policy landscapes. He emphasized that the fundamental drivers for safer, low-carbon solutions remain strong — and that Change Chemistry’s role is to help unlock them through strategic collaboration, targeted conversations, and innovation readiness across the value chain.
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ASC Adhesive & Sealant Sustainability Summit | September 22–24 | Join Dr. Rui Resendes, our Director of Partnerships & Business Development, at the 2025 Sustainability Summit in Cleveland, Ohio. Hosted by the Adhesive & Sealant Council, this interactive gathering brings together professionals across industry and academia to advance sustainability strategy, share insights, and shape the future of adhesives and sealants. Attendees will collaborate on actionable initiatives to support long-term industry resiliency and impact.
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Future-Proof the Green Transition | October 7 | As the EU accelerates its green transition, aligning innovation, chemical safety, and sustainability goals is more important than ever. Save the date for Future-Proof the Green Transition – Mobilize for Safe and Sustainable Innovation, a full-day conference in Stockholm, Sweden, that will convene leaders from research, policy, and industry to explore how Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) can be embedded earlier in development. Change Chemistry’s European Program Lead, Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund, will moderate the event to explore how Sweden’s innovation ecosystem can support the scale and adoption of SSbD practices across the value chain. Interested in attending or learning more? Contact Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund.
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