Clean Production in Action: Assessing Alternatives for Materials and Products Pam Eliason Toxics Use Reduction Institute ;

What is Clean Production? “Clean production is a way of designing products and manufacturing processes in harmony with natural ecological cycles. It aims to eliminate toxic wastes and inputs and ultimately promotes the judicious use of renewable energy and materials.” Clean Production Action website:

Traditional Approach Treatment/ Disposal Recycling/ Reuse Prevention/Reduction Design/Development of Green Products and Materials

Methods for Clean Production Design for the Environment Green Chemistry Green Engineering Alternatives Assessment

Design for the Environment Designing a product that meets requirements for quality, cost, manufacturability and consumer appeal, while at the same time minimizing environmental impacts.

Green Chemistry … Is a science-based approach for achieving strong and healthy economies that are respectful of environmental qualities. Involves a set of principals for reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture or application of chemical products. Seeks to focus on the earliest stages of materials and industrial process design so that conventional waste and pollution treatment technologies can be avoided.

12 Principals of Green Chemistry 1.Prevention 2.Atom Economy 3.Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses 4.Design Safer Chemicals 5.Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries 6.Design for Energy Efficiency 7.Use Renewable Feedstocks 8.Reduce Derivatives 9.Catalysis 10.Design for Degradation 11.Real-Time Analysis for Pollution Prevention 12.Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention Anastas, P.T. & Warner, J.C. (1998): Green Chemistry Theory and Practice

Green Engineering Green Engineering is the design, commercialization and use of processes and products that are feasible and economical while minimizing: –Generation of pollution at the source –Risk to human health and the environment USEPA definition:

How do we know … If we’ve designed for the environment? If that chemistry is really green? If that engineering process is green? Alternatives Assessment

Performance – does it work as well as the traditional method? Economics – can it be implemented in a cost-effective way? Environmental, Health and Safety – Does it improve our overall impact on the environment and worker exposure ?

Alternatives Assessment Methods Life Cycle Analysis Cradle to Cradle Toxics Use Reduction Planning P2OASys Green Screen States Methodologies

Life Cycle Analysis LCA looks across the entire life cycle of a product to assess the impacts it has on the environment at each stage of its life.

Life-Cycle Impact Categories Resource consumption (renewable & non- renewable) Energy use Water use Landfill space use Global warming Ozone depletion Photochemical smog Acidification Local air quality (PM10) Water eutrophication Local water quality (BOD, TSS) Chronic human health toxicity (occupational & public) Aesthetics (odor) Ecotoxicity (aquatic & terrestrial) Radioactivity

Cradle to Cradle Design Protocol The four categories are: – Green - little or no risk. – Yellow - low to moderate risk. – Orange - There is no indication that this is a high risk chemical for the desired application, but a complete assessment is not possible due to lack of information. – Red - High risk. 'Red' chemicals include all known or suspected carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, mutagens, reproductive toxins, and teratogens. McDonough &Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC

Toxics Use Reduction Planning Original goal - 50% reduction in the generation of toxic by-products through TUR Establish TUR as the preferred means of regulatory compliance Sustain and promote the competitive position of Massachusetts industry Promote reduction in the production of toxic and hazardous substances Enhance and coordinate state agency enforcement of environmental laws

Trends Indexed for Changes in Manufacturing Activity: Production Adjusted Numbers From 1990 to 2005 TURA Filers achieved a 40% reduction in chemical use, and 71% reduction in toxic chemical byproducts.* *Core Group Quantities, , Production Adjusted Milliions of Pounds Trends in Toxic Chemical Use Trends in Toxic By Product Generation

Planning Requirements – Options Identification  Identify the universe of TUR options ID all techniques for potentially achieving toxics use reduction METHODS: Brainstorming techniques, vendor info, trade associations

Planning Requirements – Options Evaluation  Screen the universe Determine and eliminate options that are clearly technically or economically infeasible  Detailed evaluation Technical evaluation Economic evaluation  Develop implementation schedule Determine timeline for implementation Project toxics use reduction 2 and 5 years into the future

Pollution Prevention Options Analysis System (P2OASys)

P2OASys Spreadsheet

Green Screen Developed by Clean Production Action Free and publicly accessible screening tool to promote the design, manufacture and use of safer chemicals Provides a roadmap to green chemistry Is being used by major companies and governments

Benchmarks Towards Green Increasingly Preferred

How TURI is Promoting Safer Alternatives Investing research funding in green chemistry and occupational health studies of nanotechnologies Creating common framework and resource portal for states TURI conducted an alternatives assessment on five high priority toxic chemicals (2006)

TURI Five Chemicals Study Legislative mandate to study alternatives to five high priority chemicals –Lead –Perchloroethylene –Formaldehyde –Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate –Hexavalent chromium

Example of Assessment Table 25

States Alternatives Assessment Forum Many states are using alternatives assessments to develop chemicals policies, protect their people, and help their companies stay competitive Examples: –Washington PBDE Chemical Action Plan –Maine Safe Children's Products Bill –California Green Chemistry Initiative

General Protocol for AA I.Identify Chemicals of Concern II.Identify Alternatives III.Pre-Screen Alternatives IV.Assess Alternatives V.Analyze VI.Implement

There is a Wealth of Resources Federal government is providing guidance to companies in safer design State governments are using tools to help establish stricter chemicals use policies Companies can and often are taking advantage of these resources

Current Activities in Massachusetts 2006 Amendments to TURA –Raises fees and lowers thresholds for higher hazard chemicals (1000 lbs/yr) –Lowers fees for low hazard chemicals –Encourages resource conservation planning and EMSs for TUR leaders –Requires establishment of priority user segments (including smallest firms) for targeted services and performance standards 29

High Hazard Substances Evaluated by Science Advisory Board Criteria include carcinogenicity, PBT, other health effects Subject to lower reporting threshold Anticipate influx of smaller companies needing assistance and training TCE, Cadmium, Cadmium Compounds and Perchloroethylene are classified as HHS First reports due July 2009 for 2008 data 30

New Directions for Massachusetts Proposed “Safer Alternatives Bill” –TURI prepares Safer Alternative Assessment Reports (SAAR) on each priority toxic substance –Based on the SAAR, State prepares a Chemical Action Plan (CAP) – possibility for mandatory phase outs –Firms must prepare and implement Substitution Plans (SP) to meet CAP requirements –Establish a tiered categorization list for all chemicals — 4 tiers –State provides business and employee assistance

Web Resources –Industry –Community –Policy –Training –Data –Laboratory –Library –TURA Program Portal 32

Contact Us! Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute University Avenue, Lowell, MA Pam Eliason: 33