Pioneering End-to-End Green Chemical Production

Building a Strong Data Strategy for Innovation

Disconnected data has long been a barrier to meaningful sustainability progress. Without an integrated view of the supply chain, manufacturing processes, operations, and beyond, companies struggle to identify opportunities where waste can be reduced, resource usage optimized, or workflows improved.

Strategic knowledge management approaches can accelerate innovation by revealing insights hidden within disparate R&D, production, and supply chain data. Applying AI-powered analysis to scientific literature, for example, can uncover greener manufacturing routes or identify opportunities for material substitutions for ongoing market eligibility that may otherwise go unnoticed.

A structured, harmonized data ecosystem is essential. As noted by Molly Strausbaugh, Director of Scientific Content Management at CAS, “If a company is using a non-preferred ingredient, we can help find a viable substitute. Recently CAS developed and applied a data science-enabled approach to identify around 100 candidate alternatives to just one chemical found in many different manufactured goods. But none of that would be possible without the structured, interconnected content at the foundation of it all. Our system isn’t just a database—it’s a living, curated framework designed by human subject matter experts to support innovation at every level.”

Turning Waste into a Resource for Sustainability and Profitability

In recent years, waste materials, such as metals, from chemical manufacturing and related industries, accounted for 88% of the 28.6 billion pounds of waste generated across the U.S.¹

Waste is often viewed as an unavoidable cost. Yet companies with a strong data strategy can uncover surprising value hidden within byproducts and waste streams. Systematically analyzing waste and byproducts allows companies to identify reuse or repurposing opportunities that contribute to sustainability and profitability. In a clear success story, a leader in specialty chemicals identified new applications for chemical byproducts, transforming previously discarded materials into commercially viable products.

CAS helped the specialty chemicals company identify new application leads for waste compounds by applying deep industry expertise and mining scientific literature and patents. CAS used relational substance searches and AI-powered analysis to surface relevant insights across multiple scientific disciplines. This allowed the specialty chemicals researchers to focus on high-potential ideas rather than manually sifting through vast data sources.

The operations manager of R&D said, “We wanted to find commercially sustainable uses for our byproducts, which would help reduce waste and make our production processes more efficient. CAS helped us do that.”

The results:

• 75% of waste compounds found viable new applications.
• Two compounds moved forward for feasibility testing.
• One compound was identified as potentially opening a new market.

By rethinking waste through the lens of innovation, companies can create secondary revenue streams, reduce disposal costs, and advance their sustainability goals simultaneously.

Enhancing supply chain transparency to reduce risk

Sustainability doesn’t stop in the lab or on the manufacturing floor. True environmental stewardship requires visibility across the entire supply chain — from raw material sourcing to product delivery and post-consumption outcomes. In chemical manufacturing, where global supply chains often involve hazardous materials and tightly regulated processes, limited visibility heightens the risk of supply disruptions, environmental incidents, and non-compliance with frameworks like REACH, TSCA, and emerging ESG mandates.

Greater visibility into the supply chain helps organizations spot risks earlier—reducing environmental impact, minimizing inefficiencies, and improving regulatory compliance. For example, by connecting supply chain maps to commercial end items through Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes, companies can identify substances of concern in the supply chain and understand their role in finished products. The data strategy can become even more powerful by linking CAS Registry Numbers with HTS codes, GHS hazard data, and commercial metadata. This level of integration supports not only regulatory compliance and transparency but also smarter decisions at the product level. With this kind of data-driven mapping, organizations can enable greener sourcing and more sustainable production practices. It also strengthens resilience by allowing teams to identify and address vulnerabilities before they become costly problems. 

A strong data strategy underpins effective supply chain transparency by enabling:

• Integration of siloed procurement, production, and ESG data for unified visibility
• Mapping of supplier relationships beyond direct vendors to uncover hidden sustainability and compliance risks
• Application of predictive analytics to flag vulnerabilities and inform smarter, greener decision-making

Ultimately, greater transparency builds stakeholder trust and transforms supply chain management into a strategic tool for environmental responsibility, risk reduction, and long-term value creation.

Sustainability as a Strategic Growth Lever

Sustainability initiatives, when powered by strategic data management and digital innovation, can evolve from operational obligations into engines of growth, efficiency, and competitive differentiation.

Organizations that embed these principles today will not only meet regulatory expectations but will also lead their industries into a greener, more resilient future. The right partner, equipped with both deep scientific and data expertise, can help  accelerate the journey from compliance to market leadership  — creating lasting value for businesses, their stakeholders, and the world at large.

Partner with CAS to enhance your data strategy and accelerate the impact of sustainability initiatives. Learn more at cas.org.