Introduction to the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council

Transcription

1 Introduction to the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council New York Pollution Prevention Institute Webinar March 28, 2013 Joel Tickner, ScD, UMASS Lowell

2 Drivers in the marketplace for safer chemicals More scientific information available on chemicals of concern Increased public and advocacy attention and concern Increased policy and regulation (REACH, states). Increased demands for safer chemicals in supply chain (not just the green companies) New sector-focused collaborations New tools for assessing chemicals and products

3 What are the consistent challenges facing GC3 companies? Many, including the lack of: Toxicity data on many chemicals Systems, in most sectors, to track chemicals and toxicity information on chemicals/products in supply chains Information on safer alternatives: safety, technical performance and cost Clear, widely-accepted criteria for defining and recognizing safer products Incentives to invest in safer chemistries and products Ways to motivate and bridge the gap between what brands and chemical users want and what the chemical industry provides

4 A cross sectoral, B-2-B network of more than 75 companies and other organizations formed in 2005 with a mission to promote green chemistry and design for environment (DfE), nationally and internationally Share best practices and push the frontier of business practices that promote green chemistry Work collaboratively on projects to develop new business strategies, technologies, tools and information 4

5 GC3 Mission Statement Purpose To protect public health and the environment by harnessing the power of innovation for promoting research and the practical application of green chemistry, green engineering, and design for environment, and making their use standard practice in product design, manufacturing, and procurement. Core Strategic Approach Increase demand for and supply of chemicals that are designed and manufactured based on the principles of green chemistry, green engineering, and design for environment. Develop and promote practical approaches, tools, initiatives, policies and collaborations that advance safer chemicals and products throughout supply chains. Foster collaboration and learning among business, government, nongovernmental organizations, and academic researchers that are working on green chemistry solutions.

6 How does the GC3 Work? Advisory Board Membership dues Project groups that meet by teleconference to work on projects that further the mission of the GC3 Annual Meeting

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8 Chemical/Specialty Chemicals Alpha Chemical Service, Inc. BASF Corporation Bayer MaterialScience LLC The Dow Chemical Company Kluber Lubrication The HallStar Company Hubbard Hall ACS Green Chemistry Institute Diversey DuPont ecosolv Technologies, Inc. Rivertop Renewables Apparel & Footwear Anvil Knitwear Nike, Inc. VF/Timberland New Balance GC3 Members Outdoor Industry REI Consumer Products Avon Products, Inc. Johnson & Johnson Henkel/Dial Method Products, Inc. Seventh Generation, Inc Colgate-Palmolive Company Office Furniture Steelcase Herman Miller Designtex Building Products Construction Specialties Aerospace Lockheed Martin Electronics Bose Corporation HP Intel Dell EMC Corporation Pharmaceutical BWC Pharma Consulting Retail Walmart Staples Target Green Depot

9 Software Actio Software The Wercs Product Standards & Certification Bureau Veritas Green Seal EPEAT, Inc. NSF International Consulting Inside Matters Pure Strategies ToxServices, LLC Environmental and Public Health Consulting Daley International Sustainable Research Group GC3 Members Government Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Environmental Protection Agency German Federal Environment Agency Mass. Toxics Use Reduction Institute Washington State Department of Ecology Non Governmental Organizations Investor Environmental Health Network Center for Environmental Health Clean Production Action Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute GreenBlue Environmental Health Fund Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center

10 Current Projects 1. Facilitating chemical data flow along supply chains 2. Retailer engagement to advance safer chemicals and products 3. Business and academic partnerships for safer chemicals: The Plasticizer Project 4. Green chemistry higher education

11 GC3 Summary of Accomplishments Education and research Publication of reports, case studies and a guidance document on best practices, challenges and opportunities for green chemistry in industry. Engaging industry and universities in research and application of alternatives to materials of concern. Hosting of regular webinars on cutting-edge green chemistry and design for environment topics. Networking and dialogue Hosting an annual Innovators Roundtable, now with more than 100 business and other stakeholders, to share challenges and best practices. Convening project groups dedicated to conducting collaborative projects aimed at advancing the state of the art of green chemistry in business.

12 GC3 Summary of Accomplishments (cont.) Policy Development of a policy report for advancing green chemistry and design for environment with the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Development of model green chemistry research and development policy language and direct advocacy for federal GC R&D Act and passage of America COMPETES Act. Support for green chemistry and design for environment research, development, and education funding and programs in government and universities. Outreach Regular presentations to business, government and other stakeholder audiences on the GC3 and its activities. Publication of articles designed to promote green chemistry in industry and academia. GC3 website including Retailer Portal, list of chemicals of concern, reports, conference presentations, etc. Media outreach on major GC3 projects and reports.

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14 GC3 Signature Projects Topic: Retail Retailer Portal: Tools to Evaluate Chemical Ingredients in Products Topic: Policy Growing the Green Economy: A State's Guide to Creating Opportunities for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment Topic: Chemical data Meeting Customers Needs for Chemical Data: A guidance document for suppliers Topic: Chemical data Case studies of Nike, SC Johnson & HP

15 GC3 Signature Projects Topic: Business/University Partnerships Collaborative evaluation of alternative plasticizers for wire and cable Topic: Higher Education Policy Statement on Green Chemistry in Higher Education Topic: Chemical Data Topic: Industry Education Green Chemistry and Safer Alternatives Boot Camp Models to address confidential business information (CBI) in B-2-B chemical data transactions Forthcoming in 2013 Forthcoming in 2013

16 GC3 Signature Events 2010 GC3 Retailer Summit GC3 Webinars Forthcoming in 2013: Second National Summit Education Research Policy Collaboration Networking

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19 What is the unique niche of the GC3? Business-to-business Members are from: o Many sectors o Multiple points in the value chain: chemical producers, brands, retailers Collaborative projects to advance green chemistry and design for environment in industry Chemicals not broader sustainability focus Networking Education Based at a university research center

20 What might the future hold? More state, federal, international regulations likely to affect supply chains and products Information requirements Restrictions on substances of concern Requirements for alternatives assessment & substitution Greater public scrutiny and knowledge; advocacy pressure particularly on business leaders Greater demands for information on green products, accountability, safer alternatives Greater focus on products but also impacts along the supply chain

21 Collaborative Plasticizer Evaluation Project Project Objective: To conduct a collaborative project to support informed decisionmaking on selecting alternatives to di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) plasticizers for electronic wire & cable applications Project Audience: Electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Plastic compounders Retailers Plasticizer manufacturers Others: purchasing organizations, governments, advocates, green certification programs

22 Why focus on wire & cable for electronics? Of interest to many GC3 companies Leverages Univ. of Mass. Lowell s expertise in plastics engineering

23 Plasticizer Evaluation Project Partners Government & NGOs Washington State Clean Production Action Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center University Partners Lowell Center for Sustainable Production Faculty of Univ. of Mass Lowell OEMs/Retail Dell EMC HP Staples Suppliers BASF Dow Chemical Hallstar Teknor Apex 23

24 Plasticizer Candidate Screening Process 1. Inventory of plasticizer alt s from lit./web research 100 Plasticizers 19 Plasticizers 10 Plasticizers 9 Plasticizers 8 Plasticizers 2. Pared list from industry knowledge availability, performance 3. GreenScreen List Translator 4. QCAT (EHS) 5. GreenScreen (EHS) 6. Performance testing 7. Final candidates 24

25 GreenScreen Assessment Process - Draft reports were posted on a webpage, workgroup members were invited to comment, and comments were posted. - Profiler reviewed assessments and comments, and revised assessments where scientifically valid and consistent with GreenScreen guidelines. - The work group is currently finishing validation of results.

26 Validated Results (as of Jan 2012) Plasticizer Hexamoll DINCH (BASF) GreenScreen Benchmark BM 2 Notes: Moderate endocrine activity DOZ U Data gaps for cancer and endocrine activity DPHP U Data gaps for cancer and endocrine activity TEHTM U Data gaps for cancer and endocrine activity DEHT (Eastman 168) BM 3 DG Data gaps for neurotoxicity and respiratory sensitization DINP BM 1 High endocrine activity, developmental and reproductive toxicity Dow Ecolibrium (Redacted) Not validated HallStar Dioplex and Paraplex (Redacted) Not validated 26

27 Lessons Learned 1. Lessons on making informed decisions Plasticizer manufacturers found value in an independent assessment for internal communication and marketing Compounders found value in an independent assessment, to avoid regrettable substitutions Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) also found value in an independent assessment to avoid regrettable substitutions and getting a single score to support decision-making GreenScreen offered a robust system/program for comparative hazard assessment for all parties

28 Lessons Learned (cont d) 2. Value of collaborative process Pooling knowledge, funds and data to evaluate alternatives is valuable - lowers the cost to individual companies - creates more robust results

29 Lessons Learned (cont d) 3. Challenges Lack of transparency in formulations - Some GreenScreens done under NDA with a profiler - GreenScreen results reported but not the identify of chemicals used

30 Lessons Learned (cont d) 3. Challenges 30 Obtaining complete data sets - Chemical product manufacturers need up-front guidance on data requirements in order to facilitate timely collection of all available data - Be prepared to tackle data gaps, particularly when evaluating newer chemical products and products from smaller manufacturers.

31 GC3 Chemical Data Working Group History 2007 Tools for chemical assessment 2008 Report on Restricted Substances Lists (RSL) 2009 In-depth case studies of Nike, HP and SC Johnson on: Gathering chemical data from supply chains Use of chemical data to develop safer products Documents available at:

32 2010: Meeting Customers Needs for Chemical Data: A guidance document for suppliers

33 2011/2012 GC3 Chemical Data Standardization Project

34 The Problem: Lack of Standardization* Data resides In many formats Supplier (Sender) Customer (Requestor) Data can resides In many formats Current methods for data requests: *Adapted from Mark Frimann, TI There are almost as many different types of forms as there are customers needing data Works against efforts to communicate chemical data in supply chains

35 Data can still reside in ANY format Supplier (Sender) Solution: Standardization* Standardized Format** Data can still reside Customer in ANY (Requestor) format *Adapted from Mark Frimann, TI ** Using a standardized, XML based format allows 2 ways to exchange data Pull = Customer sends the XML data request with criteria and Supplier sends XML data Push = Supplier publishes XML data for download by customers Automation possible by using it as a data transfer standard with any required translators feeds from the Supplier database and to the Customer database The electronic s sector s IPC175X Standard provides a framework for standardization in electronics and other sectors

36 Potential benefits of standardization Increased data availability Reduced cost of data gathering/communication Improved quality of data

37 GC3 Project objective: To evaluate the feasibility & benefits of standardizing chemical data types & formats in supply chains

38 Project Approach: Engage in dialogue with companies in an actual supply chain Chose the Electronics Sector Why? We could learn a lot from their experience!! Significant need for, and experience with, collecting/reporting chemical data to respond to RoHS, WEEE, REACH, etc. Existing standard/data exchange protocol IPC 1752 (U.S.) New, improved, international standard/data exchange protocol: Standardized protocol for companies in electronics supply chain to track, exchange and declare information about the chemical and material composition of their products Provides software developers, specifications on the data format for the exchange of material declaration data (in XML)

39 Electronics Supply Chain Pilot Suppliers Pilot Team Members Mark Frimann, Texas Instruments Brian Martin & Bill Haas, Seagate Lyndsey Ridgeway, HP Roger McFadden, Staples

40 Chemical data superset = Universe of Data that Will Satisfy the Needs of the Companies in Our Supply Chain 1. Requestor (Customer) Information** Company Unique ID (DUNS or equivalent) Company Name Company Address Contact Name Contact Title Contact Contact Phone Number Division Name Business Unit 4. Component Compliance Declarations Component/ Device Status - REACH Component / Device REACH Availabilty Date Component / Product Status - RoHS EU RoHS Exemption (if applies) Component / Product RoHS Availability Date 2. Supplier (Sender) Information Company Unique ID (DUNS or equivalent) Company Name Company Address Contact Name Contact Title Contact Contact Phone Number Division Name Business Unit 5. Chemical Substance Information CAS Number or Other Unique Chemical ID No. Substance Name Amount in Component (mg, grams or kg) Substance Concentration in component ppm and/or % [calculated from Component Mass and Amount in Component above] Description of Chemical Use Function of Chemical 3. General Component Information Request Date Need Date Requestor Component Name Response Date Supplier Component Name Component Build Site Component Mass Unit of Measure (mg, gram) Unit Type (each) 6. Substance & Material Group Information* EU RoHS Substance Category From IPC 1752 Class B (when updated from IEC 62474) Material Class ID (Number) Material Class (Name) IPC 1752 Class C JIG 101 threshold for substance [taken from JIG] Below threshold? REACH Substance on ECHA Substance List? (released and proposed Candidate List) JAMP** Material Name Material Group ID Material Group Use Category Staples is seeking additional information

41 Some lessons learned 1. Companies in our electronics supply chain see strong benefit of standardizing and automating chemical data flow; 2. TI & Seagate are leading efforts to develop the new, global IEC Material Declaration Standard; 3. This standard is a first step, but need the software to enable automated data exchange - key for large companies with thousands of complex products; 4. Third party software providers are jumping in to develop software; 5. Despite the standard and software, still not easy for large companies to change over their IT systems to accommodate a new approach time, cost, and organizational inertia.

42 Some lessons of what we learned 6. There can be a core set of common data, but must expect that companies may want some additional data to support their internal programs. Need to accommodate this with open text fields, etc. 7. Gap: Lack of robust unique chemical identifiers (i.e., numbers) for chemicals and materials (a key enabler of data standardization); 8. Useful for companies in a supply chain to meet on calls to learn about each companies data needs, why they do things the way they do, obstacles to change;

43 Phase 3- Addressing CBI in supply chains Starting point: How to facilitate business to business flow of confidential data through supply chains Steps: Webinar/conversation on business to business confidential business information transactions. Identification of types of confidential information that need protection and for what purpose guiding questions Evaluation of various approaches to addressing CBI including webinar discussions Matrix of tools for CBI protections

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45 Possible Next Frontier: Explore Tools for Data Exchange to Support Nike Zero Discharge Initiative/ Joint Roadmap

46 Conclusions Power of market place actors to create upstream and downstream pressures for safer chemistry Need for enhanced information and transparency in supply chains Need enhanced collaborations to address common problems and cross-sectoral solutions Intra and inter-supply chain collaborations Engagement of full supply chain, including chemical suppliers/manufacturers Develop new partnership models

47 Need for Enhanced Collaborations to Address Common Problems and Cross- Sectoral Solutions Intra and inter-supply chain collaboration needs Engagement of full supply chain, including chemical suppliers/manufacturers is critical to solutions Models for collaboration within industry and between government, industry, and academia Successes of partnership models e.g., DfE