The Green Movement Consumer Specialty Products Association International Affairs Conference September 16, 2008

Transcription

1 The Green Movement Consumer Specialty Products Association International Affairs Conference September 16, 2008 Yve Torrie Lowell Center for Sustainable Production University of Massachusetts Lowell

2

3 What is the green movement? The Green movement is: An increase in environmental awareness that has led to changes in production, marketing and consumption The support of environmentally friendly products as opposed to those that pollute or harm the environment A collective term for the individuals and organizations involved in efforts to protect the environment Rooted in: The movement from the 1970's, now world wide, based on ideas and goals that include ecological wisdom, social justice, participatory democracy, nonviolence, sustainability, and respect for diversity

4 Current Key Issues of the Green Movement Toxics Climate Change Resource Depletion Green Movement Food & Water Energy

5 Toxics

6 History By the 1960 s society began to recognize the environmental impacts of manufacturing Rachel Carson s Silent Spring EPA formed 1970 and signed: Clean Air Act 1970 Clean Water Act 1977 RCRA 1976

7 Our knowledge advances Through the 1980 s and 1990 s society begins to recognize environmental impacts of large manufacturing which is focused on end of pipe or after product use from air, water, land e.g. waste emissions from factories, discharges into rivers: Discharges Emissions Wastes

8 Impacts of life cycle chemical exposures Hundreds of chemicals in each of our bodies and in the womb ( chemical soup ) Chemical exposures in the workplace can harm workers and offspring Cumulative effects of multiple exposures Rising rates of chronic disease Rising rates of asthma, cancers, and learning and behavioral disorders Reproductive disorders on the rise

9

10

11 New innovative focus Design for the Environment More proactive approach than reactive Focus on preventing long term issues Address global issues verses domestic Accountability is at all levels of an organization instead of just EH&S

12 Drivers of innovation and production of safer products Legislation Legislation Company Companyleadership leadership 3. 3.Economics Market Marketpressure pressure &&opportunities opportunities New New approaches approachesto toalternatives alternatives

13 Innovation in Chemicals / Materials Use: Drivers Of Change INCREASING COSTS OF COMPLIANCE and clean up Innovators who set new standards and demonstrate the business case LEGISLATION REACH, WEEE, RoHS, China RoHS INNOVATIVE COMPANY LEADERSHIP leads to brand enhancement, increased sales, cost savings, market share growth, new markets Innovation in the market SCIENCE New knowledge about chemicals & human health and ecological stability MARKET PRESSURE FROM CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTS NEW APPROACHES Green Chemistry, Green Engineering, Industrial Ecology applications MARKET PRESSURE FROM INVESTORS & SUPPLIERS stockholder petitions Purchaser demands

14 Drivers of innovation and production of safer products Legislation

15 Legislation International REACH RoHS and WEEE Directives GHS Canada s DSL categorization National Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Kids Safe Chemical Act TSCA reform? US state level policy initiatives MI, CA, WA, ME, CT (broad chemicals reform) Chemical restrictions on mercury, PBDE s, PBT s etc.

16 Legislation International It IS a global economy!

17 REACH Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization, of Chemicals (REACH) In Effect June 1, 2007 Replaced 40 existing laws European Chemical Agency created

18 Impacts of REACH No data = No market Responsibility on companies to develop safety data, define safe uses of chemicals, and communicate with supply chain Responsibility on manufacturers/importers to ask for permission (authorization) to use chemicals of very high concern Greater sharing of information Forced cooperation on testing

19 RoHS Regulations RoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances On July 1, 2006 EU RoHS became effective On March 1, 2007 China RoHS became effective China RoHS modeled after EU RoHS, but has major differences

20 What Does RoHS Restrict? Heavy Metals Lead (Pb) Mercury (Hg) Hexavalent Chromium (Cr+6) Cadmium (Cd) Flame Retardants: Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

21 WEEE Directive Objective: Divert WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) from landfills and incinerators to environmentally sound re use and recycling

22 Relationship Between WEEE and RoHS WEEE encourages the design of electronic products with environmentally safe recycling and recovery in mind RoHS dovetails with WEEE by reducing the amount of hazardous chemicals used in electronic manufacturing, thereby reducing the hazards associated with recycling and recovering WEEE

23 Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) A single approach to classification and labeling that can be used world wide: Standardizes: the ways in which chemical hazards are categorized the words and symbols used to communicate about those hazards on chemical product labels guidance for the creation of MSDS Applies to chemicals and chemical products; not articles Covers both physical hazards and toxicity

24

25 Legislation National Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

26

27 TSCA Reform? "Congress Will Address TSCA Reform in Spring 2009, Rep. DeGette Predicts" (by BNA Reporter Pat Rizzuto) (176 DEN A 2, 9/11/08) In the spring of 2009, Congress will hold hearings to help decide whether the Toxic Substances Control Act needs to be reformed, and, if so, how, the vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said Sept. 10.

28 Legislation State

29

30 WA Children s Safe Products Act (HB 2647) April 1, 2008

31 An Act to Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products

32 Connecticut Child Product Safety Act (HB 5650) June 2, 2008 The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may, within available appropriations, participate in an interstate clearinghouse

33 Source: Center for International Environmental Law, May 2005

34

35 Drivers of innovation and production of safer products Company leadership

36 Company leadership CEO leadership e.g. Ray Anderson at Interface Carpet Industry leaders driving competition through change e.g. Walmart Good PR and brand enhancement opportunities for companies Opens up new markets

37

38

39

40 Drivers of innovation and production of safer products Economics

41 Economics Costs of brown: Compliance costs Hazardous waste disposal costs Clean up costs Savings: New markets Production savings

42 Drivers of innovation and production of safer products Market pressure & opportunities

43 Market pressure & opportunities Supply chain pressure Consumer pressure with increasing awareness of health concerns and product safety issues Pressure from NGOs Media pressure Government (and institutional) purchasing Environmentally Preferable purchasing

44 Drivers of innovation and production of safer products New approaches to to alternatives

45 New approaches to alternatives Innovative government and professional initiatives: Environmental Management Systems Product Stewardship Green Chemistry Green Engineering Design for Environment Industrial Ecology Alternatives Assessment/Chemical Substitution

46

47

48

49 Obstacles of innovation and production of safer products Lack Lack of ofchemicals chemicalsdata data Distinguishing Distinguishing green green Legislation Legislation//lack lackof ofincentives incentives Short Shortterm term view view Other Other

50 Obstacles of innovation and production of safer products Lack of of chemicals data

51 Lack of chemicals data Lack of good communication on chemicals up and down the supply chain Lack of information on EHS impacts and risks from different exposure routes Lack of data and tools to gather data on toxicology and unintended consequences Lack of tools and support to move towards safer materials (toxicity data, materials tracking, design, etc.)

52 Obstacles of innovation and production of safer products Distinguishing green

53 Distinguishing green No definition of green so it s difficult for companies to distinguish themselves in the marketplace from greenwashing No federal 3 rd party certification Consumers, purchasers, and manufacturers are often not informed about safer options

54 Obstacles of innovation and production of safer products Legislation // lack of of incentives

55 Legislation / lack of incentives Legislation Lack of or limited government support for companies that want to innovate e.g Government programs supporting DfE and green chemistry are inadequately resourced Lack of legislation means businesses are pushed to voluntarily replace legal materials with potential, but uncertain risks Lack of Incentives: Products can t be sold on greenness alone The middle of the supply chain is hard to influence

56 Obstacles of innovation and production of safer products Short term view

57 Short term view The short term horizon of American business sustainability issues become more germane with a long term view. It s difficult to make management pay attention to FUTURE problems

58 Obstacles of innovation and production of safer products Other

59 Other Obstacles General inertia in companies Reduced number of suppliers Potential reduced product performance and higher costs Often alternatives just don t exist or are difficult to implement

60 The Future Change is occurring in the market: Consumers Retailers Designers Suppliers Manufacturers Producers Change is occurring in government policies: International National State

61