NPPR News
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Message from the Chair
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by Laura Henne
NPPR workgroups bring pollution prevention professionals together from across the country in a collaborative fashion to share ideas, information, and deliverables. Are you interested in leading a new NPPR workgroup or joining an existing one? We have the resources to help you do that!
In addition to our current workgroups https://p2.org/workgroups, we invite you to make recommendations for and to lead new workgroups. If you have a state-wide or regional pollution prevention initiative and would like to make it national or international, we would like to help. NPPR is also interested in forming workgroups around any of the new National Emphasis Areas that you may already be working on. These include Chemical Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, and Tribal. More information on the National Emphasis Areas can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/p2/p2-national-emphasis-areas-neas.
Please email our new Communications Coordinator at admin@p2.org to request more information, sign up for an existing workgroup, or express interest in a new workgroup. |
Nominations Due by July 1 for NPPR Board of Directors Election
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Are you passionate about making a difference to help protect our planet? Take the next step and become a volunteer to help promote the benefits of Pollution Prevention!
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR), the largest membership organization in the United States devoted solely to pollution prevention (P2), is accepting Board of Directors nominations for EPA Regions 2, 3 and 7 and for two at-large candidates. There is a particular need to fill an at-large vacancy on the Board. Regional candidates must be a representative of a local, state, or tribal governmental organization. The at-large board positions are open to all voting NPPR members in good standing.
Board representatives participate in monthly conference calls, attend board meetings, participate in a NPPR workgroup and/or committee, provide views of NPPR members, and promote NPPR. The term is 3 years starting October 1, 2022.
If you are interested in running, please review the roles and responsibilities of board members at https://p2.org/BoD-Roles-and-Responsibilities, then send a brief bio to admin@p2.org by July 1, 2022.
For more information contact: Derek derek.boer@state.co.us, (303) 692-2977; Kurt Middelkoop kurt.middelkoop@tmac.org (817)-307-0613, or Hugh ONeill hugh.oneill@ecy.wa.gov (360) 789-3925. |
P2U Save the Date: June 28, 2-3:30 pm (ET)
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NPPR's popular P2U webinar series is back! This month we will be looking at the connection between green business programs and pollution prevention with three fabulous guest speakers. A registration invitation will be sent out later this week.
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MVP2 Award Nominations Now Being Accepted
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Do you know a program, project, or individual with exemplary pollution prevention performance? NPPR is currently accepting nominations for the 2022 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) Awards.
Nominees should demonstrate pollution prevention innovation, measurable results, transferability, commitment, and optimization of available resources.
The seven award categories are: 1) Project or Program, 2) Multimedia project (generally a written publication or video), 3) Ken Zarker Memorial P2 Champion, 4) Fred Granek Memorial P2 Ambassador, 5) Student, 6) Educator, and 7) Volunteer.
Award Applications are available at http://www.p2.org/mvp2-awards/.
NPPR members may submit nominations free of charge. There is a $50 application fee for each submittal from a non-member. Applications should be no longer than two pages, unless otherwise noted (i.e., Multimedia, Project/Program).
Winners will be announced during P2 Week in late September.
If you have any questions, please email admin@p2.org. |
2021 MVP2 P2 Volunteer Award Spotlight
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Laurie Johnson has been a volunteer member of the Colorado Pollution Prevention Advisory Board (PPAB) for over 3 years setting pollution prevention vision and strategies. Over that time, she has helped the board establish a clear vision and set areas of focus. In 2020, however, Laurie went above and beyond to volunteer to work with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) staff to plan and facilitate a strategic planning session for the PPAB's Assistance Committee. Laurie led the facilitation and continues to volunteer her time to work with the committee to refine the goals/objectives into a cohesive work plan that will guide the program for the next three years.
Additionally, Laurie's leadership on the PPAB has been instrumental in establishing clear PPAB areas of focus and action items that have positively contributed to the work of the Sustainability Unit at CDPHE. Her candor and practical advice help to improve green business programs and help the Sustainability Unit to be more effective.
In times when government resources are scarce and more and more is demanded of staff - having a volunteer spend such a significant amount of time helping is exceptional. Laurie's leadership has inspired staff and board members to establish bold goals backed up with a clear action plan to reach them. |
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Workgroup Updates
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About NPPR Workgroups
NPPR's workgroups
bring together P2 professionals from across the country to share ideas, information, and deliverables. The topical areas coincide with EPA national emphasis areas and other areas of interest to the P2 community.
NPPR currently hosts six active workgroups. They are:
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Metal Finishing (Metal Manufacturing & Fabrication)
The Metal Finishing Workgroup will hold its next meeting June 21 at 10-11am PT (1-2pm ET) and will feature 2 guest speakers!
Michael Johnson with Lean Environment, Inc. will speak about solid, actionable techniques that can be applied across many industries.
Miguel Rodas will give us an update on the LA Sanitation & Environment pilot project.
There will also be time for the speakers to answer your questions. |
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From the States
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Region 1
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Toxics Use Reduction Institute Releases Guide to Safer Alternatives for Halogenated Solvents
TURI's new Alternatives to Halogenated Solvents Used in Surface Cleaning Guide provides insight into safer options for specific applications, shows how to evaluate those alternatives, and provides guidance to determine information needed from equipment vendors. Links to case studies sprinkled throughout showcase safer alternative chemistries and equipment used, performance testing process, and return on investment. |
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Island Dog Brewing Finds Preferable Cleaner With Help from Toxics Use Reduction Institute Cleaning Lab
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute Cleaning Lab identified a viable neutral cleaner to replace Island Dog Brewing's alkaline CIP cleaner. The alternative cleaner can also be used at a lower temperature.
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Region 2
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NYSP2I Releases New Case Study Comparing Just Salad's Reusable Bowl and Disposable Container
At the request of Just Salad, the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute performed an ISO 14040/44 compliant comparative assertion LCA of the company's MyBowl Program and a comparable disposable fiber bowl.
The results of the LCA showed that after just two uses, the MyBowl has fewer global warming and water consumption impacts than the disposable fiber bowl. |
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NYSP2I Partners with Syracuse University to Curb Impacts of Wasted Food on Rural Communities
A new collaboration between the New York State Pollution Institute (NYSP2I), a program managed by the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) at Rochester Institute for Technology (RIT), and the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS) at Syracuse University aims to stem wasted food in rural New York State. Together, the organizations will work with rural communities across the state to develop a series of workshops and guidance material, as well as to identify opportunities for technical assistance and strategic planning.
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Region 5
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A worker at Rendleman Orchards loads boxes onto a truck for delivery to a food bank (photo credit: Zach Samaras, ISTC)
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Farm to Food Bank Project Helps Illinois Growers Get Surplus Produce to Food Banks
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Feeding Illinois, and other organizations are partnering to explore new, viable ways to connect farmers directly with food banks to increase the state’s food supply for the food insecure and to reduce waste.
The Farm to Food Bank program partners recently completed a feasibility study for a statewide program. The report identifies approaches to address barriers, evaluates logistical challenges, and uncovers locally appropriate strategies. Through interviews, surveys, focus groups, and pilot projects, it was clear that a such a program would be welcomed by both the farming and food banking communities. The partners will use the study as a roadmap to roll out a state-funded program in Illinois. Besides ISTC and Feeding Illinois, study collaborators include the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Specialty Growers Association.
The project team has conducted pilot projects with several growers. During the summer of 2021, Rendleman and Flamm orchards in Union County distributed nearly 375,000 pounds of peaches and nectarines to food banks throughout Illinois. The team recently published a case study of the Rendleman Orchards pilot project.
The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Food Assistance Program. |
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MnTAP Announces 2022 Intern Projects
MnTAP has announced their lineup of 2022 intern projects. Participating companies include manufacturers of signs, medical diagnostic equipment, textiles, horse shoes, food, and ethanol.
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Region 7
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National Steering Committee Award Winners
NPPR member Nancy Larson with the Kansas State University - Pollution Prevention Institute and 2008 MVP2 Award winner Sara Johnson with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services both won 2022 National Steering Committee Awards. Congratulations to both of them!
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Region 10
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Washington State Department of Ecology Issues New Assessment of PFAS in Food Packaging
The second in the series, this May 2022 report found safer alternatives to PFAS in five types of food packaging:
- Bags and sleeves
- Bowls
- Flat serviceware, which includes items like plates and trays
- Open-top containers, which includes items like French fry cartons and food cups
- Closed containers, which includes items like clamshells
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Other documents in their PFAS series can be found at:
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Collection of Ecology's PFAS Publications Here
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Washington State Department of Ecology Releases Cost Analysis for Pollution Prevention
The Washington State Department of Ecology has published Cost Analysis for Pollution Prevention, a guide to help identify major costs for current industrial processes and potential pollution prevention alternatives. It provides basic information about calculating payback while considering operational costs, environmental compliance requirements, and oversight costs.
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US EPA News
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EPA Announces 2022 Green Chemistry Challenge Award Winners
This year's winners are:
- Professor Song Lin of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, for developing a new, more efficient process to create large and complicated molecules that are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Merck, Rahway, New Jersey, for developing a greener way to make LAGEVRIO™ (molnupiravir), an antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
- Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, for an improved manufacturing process for LUMAKRAS™ (sotorasib), a novel drug for the treatment of certain non-small cell lung cancers.
- Provivi, Santa Monica, California, for creating ProviviFAW®, a biological pheromone-based product that controls the fall armyworm, a destructive pest of corn.
- Professor Mark Mascal of the University of California, Davis, California, in partnership with Origin Materials, for a technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by producing chemicals for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic from biomass derived from sugar fructose.
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EPA Issues First Test Order Under National Testing Strategy for PFAS in Commercial Fire Fighting Foam and Other Uses
As a part of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the agency issued the first in a series of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) test orders to require companies to conduct and submit testing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). When EPA announced its Strategic Roadmap to confront PFAS contamination nationwide, the agency also released the National PFAS Testing Strategy to help identify PFAS data needs and require testing to fill those gaps.
The Chemours Company, DuPont De Nemours Inc., National Foam Inc., and Johnson Controls Inc. are the recipients of this first test order.
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EPA Pollution Prevention Comments Due July 14
The Draft FY 2023-2024 National Program Guidances (NPGs) are now available for comment through July 14, 2022. The Pollution Prevention program guidance can be found on pages 23-26 and explains EPA's proposed strategy for promoting pollution prevention.
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New Publications
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Facilitating a Circular Economy for Textiles Workshop Report
In September 2021, The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held a three-day workshop entitled “Facilitating a Circular Economy for Textiles” aimed at identifying specific challenges and needs to overcome those barriers. Nearly 150 stakeholders participated in the event including brands/manufacturers, recyclers, non-profit organizations, industry associations, and researchers who discussed the current state, bottlenecks, and opportunities for circularity. This report discusses challenges, opportunities, and next steps identified by the workshop participants. |
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SPHERE: The Packaging Sustainability Framework
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recently launched SPHERE: The Packaging Sustainability Framework. SPHERE defines sustainability in packaging as maximum circularity and minimum environmental footprint, while avoiding the presence of harmful substances. The framework can be used as a benchmarking tool to identify potential hotspots across a range of packaging at the company level or to evaluate different packaging options for a specific product.
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Food Contact Chemicals Database (FCCDB)
Food contact materials (FCMs) are used to make food contact articles (FCAs) that come into contact with food and beverages during, for example, processing, storing, packaging, or consumption. The chemicals within these FCMs and FCAs are known as food contact chemicals (FCCs), and they can contaminate food if they migrate from the materials into the food. Some FCCs are known to be hazardous. However, the universe of FCCs that are used to produce many different types of FCMs/FCAs is complex and largely not well mapped because information on chemical structures, use patterns, and migration potentials of FCCs is often absent or scattered across multiple sources.
The Food Packaging Forum has developed the Food Contact Chemicals Database (FCCdb) to gather and publicly share available information on FCCs. The FCCdb is a deliverable within the ongoing Food Contact Chemicals and Human Health (FCCH) Project led by the Food Packaging Forum. |
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ENERGY STAR Releases New Building Emissions Calculator
Calculate your building’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using EPA’s new ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Building Emissions Calculator. With this powerful tool, you can estimate your building’s GHG emissions, support GHG emissions inventories, evaluate emissions under local building performance standards, and forecast the impact of changes in building efficiency and energy procurement.
The calculator:
- Estimates past, current, and future emissions
- Leverages Portfolio Manager data
- Allows entry of multiple emissions factors
- Complies with industry-standard GHG accounting protocols
- Estimates emissions for a single building or entire portfolios in the US
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Local Clean Energy Self-Scoring Tool, Version 6.0
This updated version of the Local Clean Energy Self-Scoring Tool from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) lets you score your community’s efforts to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions using the metrics from ACEEE’s 2021 City Clean Energy Scorecard. Through the scoring process, you can compare your community’s clean energy efforts with median scores from the 2021 City Clean Energy Scorecard. By identifying both strengths and areas for improvement, the Self-Scoring Tool can help you create a clean energy roadmap that is designed to serve all members of your community.
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Low Carbon Technology Strategies Toolkit
DOE developed the Low Carbon Technology Strategies guidance documents to support organizations in their journey to reduce carbon emissions in buildings. The primary purpose is to aid owners and operators of existing buildings in planning retrofit and operational strategies to achieve deep carbon reductions. These strategy documents supplement existing energy design guides where new construction is the focus. Low carbon technology strategies are currently available for 10 building types, with a supplement for commercial kitchen equipment. Recommendations are grouped by technology, with recommended actions categorized as either simple, intermediate, or advanced.
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Green Revolving Fund Toolkit
A Green Revolving Fund (GRF) is an internal capital pool that is dedicated to funding energy efficiency, renewable energy, and/or sustainability projects that generate cost savings. A portion of those savings are then used to replenish the fund (i.e. revolved) allowing for reinvestment in future projects of similar value.
The GRF model has gained increasing traction within the higher education sector. Other sectors including healthcare, municipalities, and retail all see the benefits of this innovative funding model and are seeking similar outcomes. This toolkit from DOE's Better Buildings Program provides cross-sector guidance on establishing this customizable solution to overcome the common barrier of dedicated funding. |
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Closing the Green Gap: Corporate Sustainability Goes from Commitment to Impact
This report by Oxford Economics and SAP SE describes significant barriers to corporate sustainability initiatives. The problems include a lack of communication and engagement by executives, ineffective use of data, siloed technologies that don’t share processes or information, and a lack of cross-company and industry collaboration and partnership.
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