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 in collaboration with educators 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) signing institutions can request temporary access to the ChemFORWARD database for use in their classroom, making this a truly practical, professional-grade teaching tool.

This case study centers on a Superfund site in Wilmington, Massachusetts, where decades of chemical manufacturing contaminated local groundwater and drinking water. Developed by Beyond Benign in collaboration with educators with support from the MIT Superfund Research Program, the four-lesson module introduces students to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program, the toxicology of chemicals released into the environment, and green chemistry innovations designed to prevent future harm.

Students explore the site’s contamination and cleanup efforts, including the relationship between chemical exposure and community health, while considering the social responsibility of the chemical community. The resource also guides educators and students in developing case studies around Superfund sites in their own regions—helping students connect toxicology and green chemistry concepts to real places and communities.

Developed by Beyond Benign in collaboration with educators and industry experts from Omni Tech International, and supported by the United Soybean Board, this new three-module curriculum uses one of the world’s most abundant renewable crops as a lens for teaching core chemistry concepts and the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.

Module I introduces soy as a renewable feedstock and traces its history from ancient cultivation to modern industrial use. Module II walks through seven industry case studies showing how soy-based materials are replacing petroleum-derived adhesives, surfactants, and coatings, while also introducing students to Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis. Module III brings it all into the lab, with hands-on experiments converting soybean oil into functional materials using greener synthesis methods.

It’s a resource that connects chemistry to real economies and real communities—a gateway, as one curriculum contributor put it, into the broader field of bio-based chemistry that students will need to understand as the field transitions away from petroleum-derived materials.

Co-developed by Beyond Benign in collaboration with educators and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI), this template package helps instructors create their own classroom-ready case studies grounded in real-world chemistry. The package gives educators a flexible tool: paired workbook and user-guide documents that walk through selecting a topic, building narrative context, integrating core chemistry concepts, and assessing student learning.

The template also helps faculty respond to evolving expectations for undergraduate chemistry education. The ACS updated its Guidelines for Bachelor’s Degree Programs to formally expect case studies connecting chemistry to real-world decision-making, making an easy on-ramp for building your own case studies matter now more than ever.

“The template was clear and easy to use. It gave me ideas about what was important to include to support other instructors in using the materials. I like its emphasis on backward design, which is how I typically design my teaching materials.”

This self-paced online course covers the history and importance of green chemistry, aligning your curriculum with standards from the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC), implementing changes in your own courses, and connecting chemistry to environmental justice. Sessions can be taken individually or together toward a certificate of completion, and the course is free for everyone for a limited time (and always free for GCC signers).

It’s a solid entry point if you’re looking to build a foundation before diving into any of the modules above, or if you want a structured way to think through integrating green chemistry into your program more broadly.

“It provides a comprehensive, big-picture view of the field alongside a wealth of practical resources, all delivered in a highly manageable self-paced format.”

How to Get Involved

• Submit a case study: Our Call for Case Studies: Integrating Sustainability and Green Chemistry in the Classroom is open through September 30, 2026. Accepted case studies are published with a DOI and full author credit.
• Bring the Green Chemistry Commitment to your department: Learn more about the GCC.
• Explore the full resource library: Find hundreds more free, classroom-tested resources on the GCTLC.
• Subscribe to Beyond Benign’s newsletter to get green chemistry news, resources, and inspiration delivered to your inbox monthly. Subscribe here.