Pathways to Sustainability

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Pathways to Sustainability
NSF International Nonfood Compounds Registration
Program Steering Committee Meeting Ann Arbor,
MI October 21, 2003
Lauren Heine, Ph.D. GreenBlue Charlottesville, VA
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(No Transcript)
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Outline

• Trends in sustainable business development
• Mental models for sustainability
• Approaches
• Stakeholder engagement (Unified Green Cleaning
  Alliance)
• Cradle-to-cradle design
• Green chemistry
• Product and process certification
• Potential opportunities relevant to NSF Intl

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Responsible Organization Trend Sustainability is
a Journey (and a Destination)
Compliance
Environment (ISO 14001)
Sustainability
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Emerging Paradigm Focus on Sustainability
"Sustainable development is development that
meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs. The Brundtland Commission
Report, The United Nations, 1987.

• Environmentally Sustainable
• Economically Sustainable
• Socially Sustainable

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Mental Model for Material and Energy Flows
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Metabolisms
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Approaches
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Engaging Stakeholders Unified Green Cleaning
Alliance
Equity Promote Human Health Safety
Environment Promote Environmental Health
People
Planet
UGCA Proposed Cleaning Products Criteria Focus On
3 Es
Planet
Profit
Economics Encourage Innovation Product
Differentiation
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Unified Green Cleaning Alliance

• Manufacturer initiated
• Funded by U.S. EPA Design for the Environment
  Formulator Initiative
• Collaborative process, broad stakeholder group
  from the Pacific NW
• Defined multiple attributes for Sustainable
  Cleaning Products and Practices
• Next Steps Determine how to implement the
  findings

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UGCA Recommendations

• Develop a certification process that incorporates
  the use of a point system and/or levels to
  encourage and measure sustainable product
  development and continual improvement (EPP-EMS?)
• Support ingredient disclosure for informed
  decision-making - Support changes in MSDS format
  (ANSI) and full ingredient disclosure for
  purchasing.
• Build a database of human and environmental
  health profiles of chemicals used in cleaning
  products to support purchasing, formulation and
  eco-labeling programs.
• Promote partnerships between manufacturers,
  formulators, EPAs DfE Formulator Initiative, and
  others to obtain and/or model data needed to
  support innovation with green alternatives.
  Identify criteria for green/ or preferred
  chemicals.

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Goals of Cradle to Cradle Design

• Design safe, healthy products by
• Analyzing and fully understanding chemical
  composition of materials used
• Selecting materials for safety to humans and
  ecological systems
• Recovering and reusing all nutrients (waste
  equals food)
• Use current solar income

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(No Transcript)
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Green Chemistry

• Green Chemistry is the design of chemical
  products and processes that reduce or eliminate
  the use and/or generation of hazardous substances.

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Risk Hazard x Exposure
Exposure Controls CAN/WILL FAIL
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Pathways to Green ChemistryChemical Manufacturers

• Create new ways to make known materials
  different feedstocks, different pathways
• Identify desired performance characteristics and
  create new materials, new products

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Traditional Synthesis of Ibuprofen
O
O CHCO2C2H5
ClCH2CO2C 2H5
(CH3CO)2O
NaOC2H5
AlCl3
IBu
IBu
CH NOH
CHO
H2NOH
H
H20
IBu
IBu
CO2H
60 Waste
C
N
Ibuprofen
IBu
(BASF and Celanese Corporation)
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Green Chemistry Alternative Synthesis of
Ibuprofen PGCC Winner 1997
(CH3CO)2O
CH3COOH
HF
CO2H
OH
CO, Pd
1 Waste
Ibuprofen
(BASF and Celanese Corporation)
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How can I use Green Chemistry????
Cool!.... But I don't make Ibuprofen....
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Pathways to Sustainability Chemistry

• Identify materials that are unsustainable and
  phase them out
• Identify benign materials that already exist and
  select them
• Work with vendors, manufacturers, purchasers,
  users, government resources, NGOs and others to
  identify and develop new environmentally
  appropriate ingredients and products.
• Innovate and gain competitive edge!

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Pathways to Sustainability Chemistry

• Identify materials that are unsustainable and
  phase them out
• Elimination of chemical hazards through
  environmental management systems and homeland
  security initiatives.
• Restricted substances lists (Nike, Ford,Chrysler,
  etc)
• Drives need for
• Hazard identification
• Supplier auditing

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Pathways to Sustainability Chemistry

• Identify benign materials that already exist and
  select them
• City, state, and federal environmentally
  preferable purchasing initiatives expanding.
• Certification of environmentally preferable
  products (Scientific Certification Systems, EU
  Ecolabel, Greenguard, Green Seal, Canadas
  Environmental Choice)

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U.S. Green Building Council

• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
  (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a
  voluntary, consensus-based national standard for
  developing high-performance, sustainable
  buildings. Members representing all segments of
  the building industry developed LEED and continue
  to contribute to its evolution. LEED standards
  are currently available for
• New construction and major renovation projects
  (LEED-NC)
• Existing building operations (LEED-EB, pilot
  version)
• Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI, pilot
  version)

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LEED Is Driving Product Development and
Certification

• Points for low emitting materials, paints,
  adhesives, sealants, etc. that support indoor air
  quality
• Points for environmentally preferable textiles,
  carpet, flooring and other building materials
• Points for green housekeeping products and
  practices for LEED EB.

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Pathways to Sustainability Chemistry

• Work with vendors, manufacturers, purchasers,
  users, government resources, NGOs and others to
  identify and develop environmentally appropriate
  ingredients and products. Innovate!
• SC Johnsons Green list
• UGCA proposed database based on functionality

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Potential Opportunities

• Chemical assessment of materials in support of
  green building initiatives (testing,
  toxicological review)
• Chemical assessment of materials in support of
  national and international eco-labeling standards
  
• Development of new EPP standards and associated
  testing methods
• Supply chain auditing for companies with
  restricted substances lists
• Integration of EPP-EMS standard with a chemical
  profiles database (Link to UGCA efforts)
• Registration of preferred ingredients
• Certification of products formulated with
  preferred ingredients (EPP-EMS?)

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END
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The Natural Step Funnel Concept Recognizing
Coming Constraints
Availability
Environmental Degradation Natural Resource
Shortages Raw Material Costs Energy
Costs New Regulations
Declining Fisheries Disposal
Costs
Business Choices
Sustainable
Restoration
?
Energy Demand Economic Growth
Population Growth Affluence
Demand
TIME