New year, new students, new lab goggles… and some of the best green chemistry education tools out there.
To kick off the 2025–2026 academic year, we’re sharing a curated collection of green chemistry resources from the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) written by educators, for educators! Some are widely used and educator-approved; others are newly developed tools we’re especially excited to spotlight this fall. What they all have in common: they’re freely available, classroom-tested, and modular, making it easy for instructors to adapt them or use them as-is, lowering the barrier to bringing green chemistry into any course.
These resources are specifically designed for higher education faculty teaching general chemistry, green chemistry, toxicology, and related courses. Whether you’re building a new course, refreshing a lecture or a lab, or looking for new ways to make chemistry feel more relevant, these resources offer tangible, flexible ways to bring green chemistry into focus this year.
1. Help Students Build Real-World Hazard Assessment Skills
Resource: Use of ChemFORWARD for Chemical Hazard Evaluation and Assessment in Academic Settings
Best for: Introductory–advanced undergraduate courses in green chemistry, general chemistry, or cosmetic science
Green chemistry isn’t just about understanding sustainability in theory; it’s about equipping students with the tools they’ll need in the lab, in research, and across industry. That’s the thinking behind this hands-on module developed by Beyond Benign and ChemFORWARD. It trains students to use the ChemFORWARD platform—a chemical hazard database—to identify chemical hazards, avoid regrettable substitutions, and choose safer alternatives.
The module includes lecture slides, implementation guidance, and plug-and-play assignments that can be used as standalone activities or built into an existing course. Faculty who teach at Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) institutions can request temporary access to the ChemFORWARD database for use in their classroom, making this a truly practical, professional-grade teaching tool.
🧪 Bonus: This resource was also featured in a Greener Curriculum Showcase Series session, where educators walked through the module and shared tips for classroom use. Watch the session here.
2. Show Students What Greener Innovation Looks Like in Industry
Resource: Exploring Sustainable Practices in Metal Plating: The Drive for Greener Innovations
Best for: General chemistry, organic chemistry, or environmental science courses at the undergraduate level
PFAS is a hot topic in environmental health, and this case study gives students a concrete example of how green chemistry can be used to solve real-world industrial problems. Developed in collaboration with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I), this six-lesson module walks through how one New York metal plating company worked with regulators and scientists to eliminate a PFAS-based fume suppressant, replacing it with a safer, greener alternative.
Instructors can use this case study to help students understand the science behind PFAS, the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, and the business, health, and regulatory drivers behind chemical innovation. It also aligns with the American Chemical Society (ACS) Guidelines for Bachelor’s Programs requirement that case studies demonstrate “the interplay of chemical, environmental health, regulatory, and business considerations that dictate chemical processes and product design.” With ACS set to begin assessing for its green chemistry and sustainability requirements in 2026, this resource can be a timely way for ACS-accredited institutions to meet those expectations.
It’s also a valuable tool for showing how cross-sector collaboration plays a role in shifting industry practices.
3. Connect Chemistry to Environmental Justice and Community Impact
Resource: The Olin Chemical Superfund Site Case Study
Best for: Introductory college-level courses in general chemistry, toxicology, or sustainability
This case study centers on a Superfund site in Wilmington, Massachusetts — the Olin Chemical Superfund Site — where decades of toxic waste left a lasting legacy. Developed by Beyond Benign in partnership with the MIT Superfund Research Program, the four-lesson module introduces students to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program, the chemistry behind hazardous substances, and the growing role of green chemistry in preventing future harm.
Students examine toxicology, pollution, and remediation, but the resource goes further, encouraging educators and students to create case studies based on Superfund sites in their own communities. It’s a compelling way to make chemistry personal, urgent, and connected to real lives and places.
🧪 Bonus: This resource was featured in a Greener Curriculum Showcase Series session, where educators shared implementation strategies and ideas for classroom adaptation. Watch the session here.
4. Bring Toxicology into Chemistry Without Reinventing Your Syllabus
Resource: Toxicology for Chemists Curriculum
Best for: Undergraduate courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, environmental science, and green chemistry
Toxicology is a foundational part of designing safer chemicals; however, for many chemistry educators, it’s challenging to know where to start. That’s why Beyond Benign teamed up with educators, toxicologists, and industry experts to create this open-access curriculum. Designed to be modular and flexible, the Toxicology for Chemists series makes it easy to weave toxicology into your existing courses, whether through a single lecture or an entire unit.
The curriculum includes lecture slides, case studies, assignments, and in-class activities. Topics range from foundational concepts, such as hazard versus risk, to more advanced areas, including toxicokinetics, predictive toxicology, and environmental fate.
Explore the full curriculum on the GCTLC.
5. Build a Full-Semester Foundation in Green Chemistry
Resource: Green Chemistry University Course
Best for: Educators looking to introduce or revamp a full-semester undergraduate green chemistry course
Looking to go beyond modular lesson plans? This comprehensive 14-week course, developed by Beyond Benign and the Yale Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering, guides students through the fundamentals of green chemistry and its applications to global health and environmental challenges. Created through the Global Green Chemistry Initiative, the course includes a syllabus, lecture materials, and lab exercises.
It’s ideal for instructors seeking a well-structured entry point or upgrade for an existing general chemistry course.
6. Make Safer Solvent Choices Simple and Accessible
Resource: Beyond Benign Greener Solvent Guide
Best for: Undergraduate chemistry lab courses or any classroom working toward safer lab practices
This quick-reference guide from Beyond Benign synthesizes data from existing solvent selection guides into a single, visual format that’s easy to post in labs or add to course materials.
While not a full curriculum module, the Greener Solvent Guide is one of the most widely used tools in Beyond Benign’s teaching ecosystem. It helps students and instructors make more informed choices about solvents, reinforcing green chemistry principles in everyday lab work. Whether you’re starting conversations about safer solvents or embedding solvent selection into lab design, this tool offers a clear and accessible entry point.
🧪 Bonus: Educators often print and post the guide in labs — or even distribute it as a magnet — so students have constant access to safer alternatives.
How to get involved:
- If you haven’t yet joined the GCTLC, create your free profile today to access all of these resources and many more.
- Subscribe to Beyond Benign’s newsletter to get green chemistry news, resources, and inspiration delivered to your inbox monthly.
