Z2Data Partners with ChemFORWARD to Shed Light on Chemical-Based Supply Chain Risks and Opportunities

June 12, 2025 – Z2Data, Inc. is partnering with ChemFORWARD to help companies gain greater insight on the chemicals used in their products, the hazards they pose, and the potential to source safer, more sustainable alternatives.

ChemFORWARD is a non-profit, science-based organization that manages the Chemical Hazard Data Trust, a shared repository of chemical hazard data and comprehensive chemical hazard assessments (CHAs). 

Electronics companies are facing increasing regulatory pressure around the chemicals used in their products. These stem from regulations including the bi-annual REACH updates, the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), as well as growing public awareness of chemicals like PFAS and their use in everyday consumer goods. To stay compliant in an era of dynamic regulation across multiple markets, companies must not only understand the chemical makeup of their products but also have the visibility and data required to report on them to regulatory bodies.

Today, many companies are still responding reactively to these regulations, often only addressing a chemical in their full material disclosure (FMD) after it’s been added to a restricted or banned list. This reactivity creates a compliance gap that can have steep financial consequences while putting consumers and the environment at prolonged risk. It also leads to costly redesigns, as companies scramble to remove regulated chemicals after the fact. In an era where corporate responsibility is paramount to many consumers and shareholders—and the penalties for falling short are rising—more companies are seeking a proactive approach to chemical management. They want to know not only which chemicals in their products are currently regulated but also which are likely to be regulated in the future. But without clear data on their current chemical usage and viable alternatives to choose from, taking a proactive approach can be overwhelming.

To address this, Z2Data and ChemFORWARD are partnering to give companies greater visibility into the substances used in both existing and new products and insight into the hazards of those substances based on the best available science. Through this partnership, ChemFORWARD’s CHA data on over 200,000 commercial chemicals will be integrated into Z2Data’s Compliance Manager solution. This will allow compliance and procurement teams to identify the substances in their products and understand their associated hazard ratings.

ChemFORWARD’s Hazard Band system offers a clear, grading-style framework for assessing chemical hazards. Chemicals rated “A” or “B” carry low to moderate hazards and are generally considered safer alternatives. A “C” rating is assigned to chemicals which are generally considered safer, but carry moderate hazards which may warrant further assessment for acceptability based on the use case.  A “D” rating indicates a high hazard chemical that could be regulated in the future. An “F” rating denotes high-hazard chemicals—many of which are already regulated. Chemicals that do not yet have sufficient hazard data available in the Data Trust are given a “?” rating, indicating that a CHA is needed. Chemicals with an “IP” label means the CHA is in progress and the chemical will be given a grade as soon as the assessment and verification are completed. 

One of the most valuable aspects of ChemFORWARD’s grading system is that it’s built on shared knowledge. The Chemical Hazard Data Trust centralizes this information in a collaborative repository, using a unique cost-sharing and data-sharing model that has reduced the cost of access by an order of magnitude.

The Data Trust is designed to streamline access to comprehensive CHAs authored by credentialed toxicology firms and verified by independent toxicologists as well as chemical hazard, functional, and physical/chemical property data from dozens of credible sources. It curates, maintains, and continuously improves this data, harmonizing it into a format that supports actionable decision-making.

As more CHAs are conducted, more chemicals are assigned a Hazard Band and the underlying endpoint data and hazard score are added to the Data Trust—allowing all companies using the Data Trust to benefit from the findings. This collective approach helps organizations pool their efforts, eliminate duplicative effort, increase data quality, and expand visibility into chemical hazards across the industry.

By harnessing this capability within Z2Data, companies can take proactive steps to identify and begin sourcing alternatives for chemicals that present risk in their portfolio. This is especially valuable for organizations aiming to stay ahead of future regulations by designing with safety, sustainability and compliance in mind. It also supports efforts to proactively protect brand reputation, especially for companies with consumer-facing products.

ChemFORWARD’s feature will be available as an add-on to Z2Data’s Compliance Manager. To learn more about this collaboration, please contact Z2Data.