What Green Science Policy Institute does

Green Science Policy Institute (GSPI) is a Berkeley, California-based non-profit research and policy organization founded in 2008-2009 by Arlene Blum to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in consumer products, the human body, and the environment. Operating with a small staff (1-10 employees), the institute develops and communicates peer-reviewed research on chemicals of concern and translates it into policy outcomes, with work spanning furniture flammability standards, organohalogen flame retardants, PFAS, antimicrobials, bisphenols and phthalates, solvents, and certain metals.

GSPI's core offering is the Six Classes framework, a methodology that evaluates groups of chemicals together rather than one at a time in order to prevent regrettable substitution. Supporting assets include PFAS Central (a dedicated consumer-facing knowledge website), the Material Buyers Club (a coalition of large institutional purchasers including Genentech, Google, Harvard University, Kaiser Permanente, Meta, Salesforce, and the San Francisco Department of the Environment), peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature Sustainability and Environmental Science & Technology, multiple consensus statements (Florence, Madrid, San Antonio), and policy advocacy services including CPSC petition work and legislative engagement. Notable achievements include the 2017 CPSC acceptance of its petition against organohalogen flame retardants, contribution to California's TB117-2013 furniture flammability standard update, and recent bipartisan legislative engagement on vehicle flammability standards.

GSPI funds its operations primarily through donations and grants from foundations and government sources, including Healthy Babies Bright Futures, the JPB Foundation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its go-to-market motion is community-led: it convenes institutional purchasers, partners with academic collaborators (Duke, Johns Hopkins, University of Toronto, University of Notre Dame, Silent Spring Institute, Environmental Working Group), and uses a multi-channel content strategy (peer-reviewed publications, consensus statements, newsletter, blog, social media, conference presentations) to influence policymakers, businesses, and consumers. Information, frameworks, and resources are provided free of charge, with the institute benefiting from validated supply-side adoption (e.g., IKEA's public endorsement of the Six Classes approach).

Name

Green Science Policy Institute

Legal name

Green Science Policy Institute

Website

https://greensciencepolicy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Green Science Policy Institute is a Berkeley-based nonprofit that develops peer-reviewed research and policy advocacy to reduce harmful chemicals in consumer products, serving institutional purchasers, policymakers, and consumers via its Six Classes framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Health Policy Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Hazardous Chemicals & Toxic Substances Regulators (REACH/TSCA-style) (HLAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Chemical safety policy
• Toxic chemical research
• Environmental health advocacy
• Chemical risk assessment
• Harmful chemical reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit organization, GSPI operates primarily through donations and foundation grants. Funding sources mentioned include Healthy Babies Bright Futures, the JPB Foundation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Green Science Policy Institute develops and communicates peer-reviewed scientific research about harmful chemicals and works to change policy and purchasing to reduce their use in consumer products. The institute's core methodology is the Six Classes Framework, which evaluates groups of chemicals together rather than one at a time to prevent regrettable substitution. GSPI operates the Material Buyers Club to convene institutional purchasers, publishes scientific findings, advocates for science-based chemical regulation, and provides consumer education resources.

Product overview

Green Science Policy Institute is a research and policy organization (not a software product company) that offers scientific expertise, advocacy services, and educational resources to reduce harmful chemicals in products. The core offering is the Six Classes Framework—a methodology for evaluating chemical classes together to prevent regrettable substitution. Supporting resources include PFAS Central (a dedicated knowledge website), the Material Buyers Club (a collaborative purchasing program for institutional members), consumer guidance resources, peer-reviewed scientific publications, and policy advocacy services. These offerings work together to educate and build partnerships among business, government, academia, and nonprofits to find innovative solutions for reducing toxic chemicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Six Classes: A framework developed by GSPI to evaluate groups of chemicals together rather than one at a time, to prevent regrettable substitution where harmful chemicals are replaced by equally dangerous substitutes.
• PFAS Central

Products and services

• Six Classes Framework A science-based methodology developed by GSPI that evaluates groups of chemicals together rather than one at a time, aiming to prevent regrettable substitution where harmful chemicals are replaced by similarly dangerous alternatives. Used by policymakers, institutional purchasers, and businesses to guide chemical regulation and procurement decisions.
• PFAS Central A dedicated website operated by GSPI providing comprehensive information about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), including health risks, regulations, and PFAS-free product listings. Targets consumers, businesses, and policymakers seeking PFAS-related guidance.
• Material Buyers Club A membership program convening large institutional purchasers—including Genentech, Google, Harvard University, Kaiser Permanente, Meta, and Salesforce—who share strategies to limit the Six Classes of harmful chemicals in their purchasing decisions and create healthier workplaces.
• Consumer Resources Practical educational resources for consumers including foam replacement instructions for furniture, tips to reduce toxic exposures, fact sheets on harmful chemicals, and FAQ sections. Targets individuals and families concerned about chemical exposure.
• Scientific Publications Peer-reviewed journal articles and research reports documenting GSPI findings on flame retardants, PFAS, antimicrobials, and other chemical classes of concern, published in leading journals including Nature Sustainability, Environmental Science & Technology, and Environmental Health Perspectives.
• Policy Advocacy Services Collaboration with governments, businesses, and NGOs to develop and promote science-based policies for reducing harmful chemicals, including petition filings (e.g., 2015 CPSC petition), legislative support (e.g., Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026), and expert testimony.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sofa swap reduced blood PBDE levels by 50% in 1.4 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IKEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKEA has been using the Six Classes approach for many years, and it has helped them minimize the use of harmful chemicals for healthier people and environment.
• GenentechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club working to create healthier workplaces by limiting use of Six Classes of harmful chemicals in purchasing.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club working to create healthier workplaces by limiting use of Six Classes of harmful chemicals in purchasing.
• Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club working to create healthier workplaces by limiting use of Six Classes of harmful chemicals in purchasing.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club working to create healthier workplaces. Kaiser Permanente also maintains a list of safer products.
• MetacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club working to create healthier workplaces by limiting use of Six Classes of harmful chemicals in purchasing.
• SalesforcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club working to create healthier workplaces by limiting use of Six Classes of harmful chemicals in purchasing.
• San Francisco Department of the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Material Buyers Club. San Francisco has implemented SF Approved products program and uses Six Classes framework for toxics reduction work.
• Duke UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on research measuring flame retardants in furniture and children's products, including the 2024 study on flame retardants in cars.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on research including antimicrobial resistance study and chemical loophole research.
• University of TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on multiple studies including PFAS in cosmetics, polymeric flame retardants research, and antimicrobial resistance.
• University of Notre DamecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on PFAS research including studies on fast food packaging and cosmetics testing.
• Silent Spring InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on PFAS in food packaging research and responsible disposal studies.
• Environmental Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on PFAS in food packaging research and California furniture study.
• EarthjusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal counsel for the CPSC petition to ban organohalogen flame retardants in household products.
• California Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on sofa swap study showing reduction in flame retardant levels in people after replacing old furniture.
• International Association of Fire FighterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetitioner and endorser of efforts to update flammability standards and reduce flame retardants in vehicles and furniture.
• Consumer ReportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorser of the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026 and ongoing efforts to update vehicle flammability standards.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Environmental Working Group (EWG): EWG is a research and advocacy nonprofit that publishes consumer-facing information and technical reports on chemical exposures, food safety, and product ingredients. It is a named research partner of GSPI and competes for similar foundation funding and media attention on overlapping issue areas such as PFAS and food packaging.
• Silent Spring Institute: Silent Spring Institute is a nonprofit research organization focused on environmental causes of breast cancer and chemical exposures. It is a documented research collaborator with GSPI on PFAS in food packaging studies and shares the same mission of linking peer-reviewed science to chemical policy reform.
• Earthjustice: Earthjustice is a public-interest environmental law organization that provides legal representation in chemical regulation cases. It served as legal counsel for GSPI's CPSC petition on organohalogen flame retardants, making it a direct operational partner and a peer in the safer-chemicals advocacy ecosystem.
• Clean Production Action: Clean Production Action is a nonprofit that develops tools and guidance (e.g., the Chemical Hazards Database and GreenScreen) for eliminating toxic chemicals in products. Its class-based, precautionary methodology directly parallels GSPI's Six Classes framework, making it a methodological peer.
• Center for Environmental Health (CEH): CEH is a nonprofit that works with businesses, policymakers, and communities to hold manufacturers accountable for toxic chemical exposures in products and environments. Its litigation-and-advocacy model on chemicals such as phthalates and flame retardants overlaps with GSPI's chemical-class reduction work.
• Toxic-Free Future: Toxic-Free Future is a Pacific Northwest-based nonprofit that uses science, policy, and market engagement to reduce toxic chemical exposures. Its targeted focus on safer chemicals and procurement aligns directly with GSPI's approach, while serving a more regional base.
• Safer Chemicals Healthy Families (Mind the Store): Safer Chemicals Healthy Families is a coalition of environmental health groups that pressures retailers to disclose and eliminate hazardous chemicals (Mind the Store program). It shares GSPI's purchasing-side strategy and policy advocacy on toxic chemicals in consumer products.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): EDF is a large-scale environmental advocacy organization with a broad portfolio spanning climate, oceans, and human health. While much larger than GSPI, it works on chemical policy reform at the federal level and competes for the same regulatory and corporate engagement opportunities.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): NRDC is a major environmental advocacy nonprofit with significant scientific and policy capacity on chemical safety. It engages with federal agencies and corporations on PFAS, flame retardants, and product safety, paralleling GSPI's regulatory and corporate procurement work at greater scale.

Emerging players

• ChemFORWARD: ChemFORWARD is a nonprofit data platform that curates chemical hazard assessments to enable safer substitution. It serves a similar audience of institutional purchasers and brand owners that GSPI engages through the Material Buyers Club, and is an adjacent rather than overlapping methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/greensciencepoli
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEIUqAUV6MLYLGAQ2nv8mGA
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreenSciencePolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-science-policy-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Green Science Policy Institute