The main aim of the Grön Kemi project is to encourage the development of more health- and environment adapted chemical products without loss of product performance. We concentrate on so-called 'high volume products' that contain risk compounds and that are widely spread in society.

We have worked with lubricants, car tyres, alkylate petrol for two-stroke engines, antifouling paints, house paints, car care chemicals and chemical products used in shipping. Grön Kemi's approach is first to gather detailed knowledge of the product area in question. An important part of this research is the identification of opportunities and obstacles to change. The results of the research are presented in a report.

Then we try to initiate a process between forward-thinking manufacturers and consumers in order to drive forward development. Influencing market forces is often a very effective tool for achieving rapid and comprehensive changes. We aim to create good examples whose effects can spread like ripples on the surface of a lake.

The actions needed to kick-start development are very varied. For example, the action could be putting pressure to reduce tax on alkylate petrol for outboard motors, or it could be the publication of a list of car tyre models that are free from HA oils. It could even be undertaking a comparison of the effectiveness of different makes of environmentally adapted paints, or developing environmental and health-effect criteria for stern tube oils.

The Grön Kemi project was created in its current form in spring 2000 and is run by the following organisations:
Gothenburg Region Association of Local Authorities (Göteborgsregionens Kommunalförbund)
Västra Götaland County Administration (Länsstyrelsen i Västra Götalands Län)
The Region of Västra Götaland (Västra Götalandsregionen)
Business Region Göteborg

Those working with the project are:

Working group:
Jan Ahlbom, environmental engineer, Västra Götaland County Administration
jan.ahlbom@o.lst.se
Ulf Duus, toxicologist, consultant
ulf.duus@telia.com
Lennart Lagerfors, administrator
lennart.lagerfors@gr.to

Steering group:
Ulrika Samuelsson, Västra Götaland County Administration
Lennart Lagerfors, Gothenburg Region Association of Local Authorities
Peter Holmberg, The Region of Västra Götaland
Göran Värmby Business Region Göteborg

Our logo

Our logo is a stylised structural formula for chlorophyll a - one of the cleverest molecules on earth. Chlorophyll is the green-coloured substance that manages to capture the energy from light, release energy-rich electrons and oxidise water into life-giving oxygen. This 'win-win' situation that is an inspiration to the Grön Kemi project team.