Updating and further expanding GSK's solvent sustainability guide

Abstract

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has previously reported on the development of a GSK solvent guide, the incorporation of lifecycle impact and the expansion of the guide including a customisable version intended for posting in different business areas. This guide has recently been enhanced by: (1) adding 44 additional solvents, many of which have literature claims to be “green”; (2) adjusting the way in which multiple health, environment, safety, and waste categories are combined to reach a single composite score and colour assignment; (3) updating the data behind all scores, especially toxicology and health hazard assessment, and revising the methodology to reflect current guidelines and data. The full methodology behind this work is hereby shared. The new GSK Solvent Sustainability Guide enables GSK scientists to objectively assess solvents. It facilitates both comparison of individual sustainability criteria, and a composite score and colour for rank ordering, incorporating multiple facets of sustainability.