Through investor-led working groups and strategic partnerships, IEHN catalyzes action across multiple sectors to improve corporate chemical management practices, strengthen transparency, and accelerate the transition to safer alternatives. Our efforts align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and emerging global frameworks on chemicals, plastics, and biodiversity.
Retail & Consumer Goods: Raising the Bar on Chemical Transparency
IEHN investors are transforming how brands manage chemical risk. Through direct engagement, shareholder resolutions, and the Chemical Footprint Project, we’ve helped push over 30 major companies—including Disney and Dollar General—to benchmark progress on safer chemical use. Our guidance documents equip companies with actionable steps to phase out toxics and adopt hazard-based strategies.
Impact: 43% of targeted retailers and 40% of consumer goods companies joined the 2023 CFP Survey.
Biodiversity & Pesticide Use: Aligning Corporate Practice with Global Nature Goals
Co-led with Mercy Investment Services, this group empowers investors to address biodiversity loss and pesticide risk in food and agriculture supply chains. We’ve driven action from Starbucks, Costco, Target, and Kroger, with growing alignment to frameworks like TNFD and the UN Global Biodiversity Framework.
Impact: Investors are catalyzing biodiversity mapping and pesticide reduction strategies across leading food brands.
Sustainable Chemicals Finance: Rewiring Capital Flows for Safer Innovation
In partnership with UMass and global UN stakeholders, IEHN co-leads a groundbreaking advisory group shaping financial pathways for sustainable chemistry. From advancing AI tools to replace PFAS to publishing high-impact roadmaps in leading journals, our work is redefining how R&D, policy, and investment intersect.
Impact: Driving safer chemistry indicators into the UN Global Framework on Chemicals and sparking new academic–investor collaborations.
Sustainable Solar: Building Cleaner Energy Supply Chains
IEHN is working with Boston Common AM and Mercy Investment Services to eliminate harmful chemicals from solar and clean energy sectors. Through the Solar Scorecard and Solar Supply Chains reports, we’re building the business case for safer materials across solar, semiconductor, and EV production.
Impact: Groundbreaking research is shaping investor expectations and elevating chemical management in renewable energy companies like First Solar.
Environmental Justice: Centering Equity in Clean Production
Hosted at ICCR, this investor working group—supported by IEHN—confronts how toxic exposures intersect with racial and social inequities. Using our environmental justice and safer chemicals frameworks, investors are securing corporate audits and accountability measures to reduce harm in communities.
Impact: Investor resolutions are driving racial equity audits and reforming how companies manage toxics in products and operations.