Alternative Assessment is a process for identifying, comparing and selecting safer alternatives to chemicals of concern, A primary goal of Alternatives Assessment is to reduce risk to humans and the environment by identifying safer choices.
Clean Production Action and the Business-NGO Working Group have developed a set of resources for choosing safer chemicals including
The Guide to Safer Chemicals
http://www.bizngo.org/pdf/GuideToSaferChemicals-v1_2.pdf
The Principles for Safer Chemicals and The Principles for Safer Plastics
http://www.bizngo.org/guidingPrinciples.php
http://www.bizngo.org/pdf/cpa-plastic-principles-bizngo.pdf
and the GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals
http://www.cleanproduction.org/Greenscreen.php