13 States Release States’ Principles for TSCA Reform
December 3, 2009
On Wednesday, Dec. 2, the thirteen states of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington released a document outlining their shared principles for reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
View the signed document of principles: Document of Principles
States’ Principles on Reform of the Toxic Substance Control Act December 2, 2009: States’ Principles on Reform of the Toxic Substance Control Act
Better Living Through Green Chemistry
November 19, 2009
Ken Zarker, P2 Policy & Integration Chair recently posted the blog entitled Better Living Though a Green Economy at http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/. This blog discuss the report entitled “Growing the Green Economy through Green Chemistry and Design for Environment” that has been recently released.
States, Academics, and Industry to Collaborate and Promote Safer Products: New Report Outlines Framework for Green Chemisty and Design of Environment
November 17, 2009
WASHINGTON D.C., November 17, 2009 - Business, states and higher education have a new resource to support efforts to advance safer products in the market place.
It’s a report released today by the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR), and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (UMASS Lowell). See: http://www.p2.org/wp-content/uploads/growing-the-green-economy.pdf
The report, entitled “Growing the Green Economy through Green Chemistry and Design for Environment” is a resource guide to assist states to develop a green chemistry and design for environment framework. Seeking to reduce the use of hazardous substances and finding safer alternatives will in turn promote environmentally sustainable business practices and economic opportunities.
“Green chemistry offers states economic opportunity that focuses on safer chemicals and products,” said Ken Zarker, NPPR Policy Chair. “We expect this report will be a useful resource to those states considering opportunities for growing green jobs.”
Green chemistry was defined by Drs. Paul Anastas and John Warner as “the utilization of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemicals products.”
Design for environment (DfE) is a program within the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency that “uses the office’s chemical assessment tools and expertise to inform substitution to safer chemistries.” This report clearly defines a vision and an approach to use creative green chemistry and DfE policy approaches as key economic tools.
The report recommends states take action to promote safer products in four broad areas: 1) information development, collection and dissemination, 2) economic incentives; 3) recognition programs, and 4) regulation and policy, including the following:
* Promote chemical information and alternatives assessment.
* Provide tax incentives for green chemistry and design for environment.
* Implement award programs for green chemistry and design for environment.
* Require safer alternatives planning.
“This report will promote new collaborations and business leadership to assist industry with the tools to spur cleaner products and services,” says Roger McFadden, Senior Scientist, Staples, Inc. “The successful completion of all these actions is needed to help drive innovation throughout the supply chain to promote sustainability.”
This project was a collaborative effort among business, government, nongovernmental organizations, and academia.
“This is a great first step forward,” says Joel Tickner, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at UMASS Lowell. “This report is both timely and strategic as it will promote states’ action on toxics reduction, greening the supply chain, and economic growth - the framework for a more sustainable chemical industry. We expect many new cross-sector initiatives that will advance the goals of environmental protection and economic development.”
The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) is facilitated by the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at UMASS Lowell and provides an open forum for participants to discuss and share information and experiences relating to advancing green chemistry and design for the environment as it pertains to sustainable supply chain management. The mission of the GC3 is to promote and support green chemistry and the design for environment approach to research and practices nationally and internationally among companies and other governmental and non-governmental entities. See: http://greenchemistryandcommerce.org/home.php
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest membership organization in the United States devoted solely to pollution prevention (P2). The mission of the Roundtable is to provide a national forum for promoting the development, implementation, and evaluation of efforts to avoid, eliminate, or reduce pollution at the source. See: http://www.p2.org
The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at UMASS Lowell facilitates the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council. It uses rigorous science, collaborative research, and innovative strategies to promote communities, workplaces, and products that are healthy, humane, and respectful of natural systems. The Center is composed of faculty, staff, and graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell who work collaboratively with citizen groups, workers, businesses, institutions, and government agencies to build healthy work environments, thriving communities, and viable businesses that support a more sustainable world. See: http://www.sustainableproduction.org
Contacts:
Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) Roger McFadden, Vice President, Senior Scientist Staples, Inc.,
303-862-0421, Roger.McFadden@Staples.com
National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) Ken Zarker, Chair, Pollution Prevention Policy and Integration Committee Ph. 360-407-6724; Cell: 512-913-0731 kzar461@ecy.wa.gov
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production Joel Tickner, Director and Associate Professor of Community Health and Sustainability University of Massachusetts Lowell, 978-934-2981,
Joel_Tickner@uml.edu
For a PDF of this press release 11-17-09-final-green-chemistry-press-release-2.
P2 Measurement Tools Methodologies Report
August 20, 2009
Growing the Green Economy Report
August 18, 2009
P2 Results Data System Report
March 4, 2009
Road to Sustainability 2004 - 2006
Pollution Prevention Produces Results
July 8, 2008
In 2005, NPPR began collecting data from pollution prevention programs throughout the United States for a comprehensive evaluation of the achievements of these programs from 2001 to 2003. In September 2006, NPPR released “Pollution Prevention Produces Results.”
“Pollution Prevention Produces Results: Waste Reductions, Resource Conservation, and Cost Savings” is a collection and evaluation of the pollution prevention (P2) efforts of 29 state, regional, and local governments in the United States from 2001 to 2003. the documented achievements for those three years include: over 6 billion pounds of air and water pollution as well as hazardous and solid waste that are no longer being released into the environment; a reduction in energy usage by 1.2 billion kiloWatt hours; and conservation of potable water of over 44 billion gallons. The resultant cost savings and economic benefit add up to more than $500 million. This is about 5 times the total budget for these P2 programs for the corresponding time period, and more than 25 times the federal investment.
