The Future of Compliance: 3E's CEO on AI and Automation

The Future of Compliance: 3E’s CEO on AI and Automation 

The world of chemical management is becoming more complex by the day. As regulations multiply and supply chains stretch across the globe, staying compliant while driving growth is a significant challenge. Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, offers a path forward, but how can businesses harness its power responsibly and effectively? 

To explore this, our CEO, Greg Gartland, recently joined the All Things Chemical podcast. He shared his perspective on the future of chemical intelligence, the transformative potential of AI for regulatory compliance, and the critical need for trustworthy data.  

This article dives into the key takeaways from that conversation, offering a glimpse into how chemical compliance automation is not just a future concept, but a present-day necessity. 

The Unstoppable Rise of AI in EHS & Sustainability 

Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize how environmental, health, and safety (EHS) professionals work. As regulatory demands intensify without a corresponding increase in team budgets, technology becomes the essential lever for boosting productivity and agility. Greg noted that the convergence of increasing regulatory complexity and advanced technology has created a unique and exciting moment for the industry. 

However, with this advancement in technology comes a heightened need for responsibility and some oversight. The effectiveness of any AI model is entirely dependent on the quality and trustworthiness of the data that fuels it. Publicly available large language models often draw from unvetted sources, which is a significant risk in a field where accuracy is paramount. 

“AI is the most significant and transformative innovation since the internet… [but] AI’s power is 100 percent dependent entirely on the sort of data trustworthiness that underpins it.”
– Greg Gartland, CEO, 3E 

Setting a New Standard for Data Reliability 

How accurate does compliance data need to be? For many business applications, 95% accuracy might seem acceptable. But when dealing with chemical safety, product stewardship, and regulatory reporting, the stakes are much higher. A small error can lead to significant consequences, including fines, product recalls, operational shutdowns, and, most importantly, risks to human health and the environment. 

This is why we pursue a standard of excellence far beyond the norm. Our goal is to deliver intelligence that our customers can rely on for their most critical decisions. 

“In the workflows we serve, 95% accuracy is not, is not good enough… 99.999 is the standard. And that’s what we’re pointed at.”
– Greg Gartland, CEO, 3E 

Tackling Supply Chain Complexity with Intelligent Automation 

The global supply chain is a web of interdependencies, and its fragility has become more apparent than ever. For companies in the chemical industry and beyond, obtaining timely and accurate information from suppliers is a persistent challenge. A recent 3E survey highlighted the issue, with 51% of respondents reporting poor quality data from their suppliers and nearly half experiencing non-responsiveness. 

This information gap creates significant risk and inefficiency. Downstream users struggle to meet their own compliance obligations, while suppliers are overwhelmed with repetitive requests for information. AI for regulatory compliance offers a powerful solution to this dilemma. 

By leveraging intelligent automation, companies can streamline the process of collecting, validating, and managing supplier data. 3E is developing solutions that allow suppliers to securely provide their information-such as safety data sheets, technical data sheets, and environmental product declarations-in its native format. Our technology then extracts, normalizes, and structures this data, making it usable for downstream compliance workflows. This approach drastically reduces the burden on suppliers and provides their customers with the high-quality, transparent data they need to operate flexibly and confidently. 

Horizon Scanning: Staying Ahead of Emerging Regulations 

Regulatory landscapes are in constant motion. From PFAS to microplastics, new areas of concern emerge regularly, leading to a wave of state, federal, and international policy initiatives. Being caught off guard by a new regulation can be extremely costly, impacting everything from R&D and manufacturing to market access and end-of-life management. 

Anticipating regulatory change is a core component of modern product stewardship. Greg highlighted how 3E leverages advanced tools to help customers with horizon scanning. Through our acquisition of Chemycal, we integrated a powerful platform that uses AI to monitor and analyze thousands of regulatory news articles, cross-referencing them with chemical identifiers and jurisdictions. 

This capability allows EHS professionals to identify and track emerging trends related to specific substances or regulations long before they become law. This foresight is invaluable, enabling companies to proactively reformulate products, adjust supply chains, and prepare for future compliance obligations. This forward-looking intelligence is a key part of our Regulatory Consulting Services. 

The Future is Bright: Compliance as a Business Enabler 

For too long, EHS and compliance have been viewed primarily as cost centers focused on risk avoidance. While risk management remains a core function, the role of the modern EHS professional is evolving into a strategic business enabler. 

By leveraging technology and data, compliance teams can provide the insights needed to accelerate innovation, enter new markets, and build more resilient business operations. They are becoming essential voices at the table, helping to guide their organizations toward sustainable growth. 

At 3E, we are proud to partner with EHS leaders to elevate their role and empower them to drive positive business outcomes. Our purpose is to protect people and safeguard products, and we fulfill it by building a world-class data and technology enterprise that our customers can trust. 

To hear more from Greg Gartland on the future of chemical intelligence, listen to the full podcast episode on All Things Chemical.