Benefits and Risks of Environmental Benefits and Risks of Environmental NanotechnologiesNanotechnologies

Dialogue OpportunitiesDialogue Opportunities

Ineke Malsch, Malsch TechnoValuation, Ineke Malsch, Malsch TechnoValuation, www.malsch.demon.nlwww.malsch.demon.nl

CEFIC Stakeholder Dialogue, 24 June 2008CEFIC Stakeholder Dialogue, 24 June 2008

MalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuation

Environmental NanoEnvironmental Nano

Table of contents:Table of contents:1.1. IntroductionIntroduction2.2. ObservatoryNano project opportunitiesObservatoryNano project opportunities3.3. Current debate on environmental Current debate on environmental

nanotechnologiesnanotechnologies4.4. Precaution versus proactionPrecaution versus proaction5.5. Information requirements civil societyInformation requirements civil society6.6. Possibilities of exchange between the Possibilities of exchange between the

societal groups to meet these societal groups to meet these information requirementsinformation requirements

MalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuation

Environmental NanoEnvironmental Nano

Malsch TechnoValuation’s Malsch TechnoValuation’s activities include:activities include:

Current EU projects:Current EU projects: ObservatoryNano, ObservatoryNano,

Ethicschool (nanoethics)Ethicschool (nanoethics) IPCNanoNet, IPCNanoNet,

NanoforumEULA (R&D NanoforumEULA (R&D cooperation with Latin cooperation with Latin America)America)

Finished EU projects:Finished EU projects: Nanoforum, EuroIndiaNet Nanoforum, EuroIndiaNet

and and NanoroadSME. NanoroadSME.

MalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuation

Business centre Vondelparc II, Vondellaan 90, 3521 GH Utrecht, The Netherlands www.malsch.demon.nl

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuation•This talk presents civil society perspective This talk presents civil society perspective

about issues surrounding environmental about issues surrounding environmental technologiestechnologies

•I don’t represent any NGO I don’t represent any NGO

•I am in favor of responsible technology I am in favor of responsible technology developmentdevelopment

•I present information on societal I present information on societal acceptance of environmental acceptance of environmental nanotechnology by different stakeholders & nanotechnology by different stakeholders & in different parts of the worldin different parts of the world

•And make suggestions on improving the And make suggestions on improving the stakeholder dialoguestakeholder dialogue

To create a European Observatory on Nanotechnologies to present reliable, complete and responsible science-based and economic expert analysis, across technology sectors, establish dialogue with decision makers and others regarding the benefits and opportunities, balanced against barriers and risks, and allow them to take action to ensure that scientific and technological developments are realized as socio-economic benefits.

• 16 partners from 10 European States

• €4M over 4 years

• Started 1st April 2008

• Will bring together leading EU policy and decision-makers: EC, government, industry, leading institutes, NGOs with the purpose of helping shape future strategies.

Mission

WP9 Project Management

WP7 Establishment of Observatory

Intranet

Database

Website

WP1 observatoryNANO

WP2Science and Technology Assessment

WP6Regulation

WP5EHS

WP4Ethics

WP3Economic Impacts

USERS

WP8Communication

EC

Regular project outputs:

• Annual reports on scientific and technical developments

• Annual reports on economic developments

• Annual reports on ethical and societal issues

• Annual reports on environment, health and safety issues

• Annual reports on standards and regulations

Also:

Ethical toolkit

Institute of Nanotechnology IoN UK

VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH VDI-TZ DE

Commissariat à l'énergie atomique CEA FR

Institute of Occupational Medicine IOM UK

Malsch TechnoValuation MTV NL

triple innova triple innova DE

Spinverse Spinverse FI

Bax & Willems Consulting Venturing B&W ES

Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

RIVM NL

Technical University of Darmstadt TUD DE

AIRI/Nanotec IT AIRI IT

Nano and Micro Technology Consulting NMTC DE

Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs und Forschungsanstalt EMPA CH

Nanoethics Centre, Aarhus AU DK

MERIT, Universiteit Maastricht MERIT NL

Technology Centre AS TCASCR CZ

For further information please visit www.observatory-nano.eu

Or contact the coordinator, Dr Mark Morrison, mark.morrison@nano.org.uk

Partners:

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationCurrent debate on environmental Current debate on environmental

nanotechnologies:nanotechnologies:

-Opportunities of nanotechnologies in:Opportunities of nanotechnologies in:

-Environmental remediation;Environmental remediation;

-Environmental monitoring;Environmental monitoring;

-Resource efficiency.Resource efficiency.

-Risks of free engineered nanomaterials in Risks of free engineered nanomaterials in the environment.the environment.

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationResponsible nanotech R&D: Precaution vs ProactionResponsible nanotech R&D: Precaution vs Proaction

Precautionary Precautionary approach is mainly risk averse – approach is mainly risk averse – the status quo is good – prepare for worst case in the status quo is good – prepare for worst case in future impactsfuture impacts

Example: Example: EC Code of Conduct, 2008EC Code of Conduct, 2008

Solution is Risk AssessmentSolution is Risk Assessment

Proactionary Proactionary approach balances risks & benefits – approach balances risks & benefits – the status quo is not perfect – try to improve it in a the status quo is not perfect – try to improve it in a responsible way for sustainable development:responsible way for sustainable development:-R&D cooperation natural and social scientists R&D cooperation natural and social scientists - Engage earlier in R&D process in stakeholder Engage earlier in R&D process in stakeholder dialogue to co-decide on the priorities (upstream dialogue to co-decide on the priorities (upstream engagement)engagement)

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationInformation requirements:Information requirements:

- Trade Unions: Trade Unions: - Are nanomaterials present at work? Are nanomaterials present at work? - How to protect oneself against potential How to protect oneself against potential

risks?risks?- Environmental Organisations:Environmental Organisations:

- What are potential exposure scenarios What are potential exposure scenarios of the environment, plants and animals of the environment, plants and animals to nanomaterials during the whole life to nanomaterials during the whole life cycle?cycle?

- What is the realistic potential of What is the realistic potential of nanotechnology for contributing to nanotechnology for contributing to sustainable development (remediation, sustainable development (remediation, monitoring, resource efficiency)? monitoring, resource efficiency)?

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationInformation requirements:Information requirements:

Consumers: Consumers: - Labelling products with nano-inside (freedom of Labelling products with nano-inside (freedom of

choice).choice).- Are adequate safety measures taken?Are adequate safety measures taken?- Is the product more attractive/better/cheaper Is the product more attractive/better/cheaper

than alternatives? What is the advantage to me?than alternatives? What is the advantage to me?Parliaments:Parliaments:

- Are there common standards and terminology - Are there common standards and terminology for nanotechnology? for nanotechnology?

- What gaps in knowledge exist and what must be - What gaps in knowledge exist and what must be done to fill them? Who will pay for the done to fill them? Who will pay for the research?research?

- Are competent authorities equipped to control - Are competent authorities equipped to control nanosafety?nanosafety?

- Are existing regulations relevant for - Are existing regulations relevant for nanotechnology?nanotechnology?

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationInformation requirements developing Information requirements developing

countries and emerging economies:countries and emerging economies:- Protection of workers and consumers in less Protection of workers and consumers in less

developed countries to risks of nanomaterials - developed countries to risks of nanomaterials - access to industrial and western government access to industrial and western government expertise in offshoring and export of Western expertise in offshoring and export of Western products?products?

- Adequate maintenance and support in the Adequate maintenance and support in the developing country?developing country?

- Potential contributions of environmental Potential contributions of environmental nanotechnology to sustainable development? nanotechnology to sustainable development?

- Implications for commodities markets of Implications for commodities markets of nanotech improved resource efficiency? nanotech improved resource efficiency? (Meridian Institute, USA)(Meridian Institute, USA)

- Will western industry invest in R&D and Will western industry invest in R&D and innovation in developing countries? innovation in developing countries?

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationPossibilities of exchange between the Possibilities of exchange between the

societal groups to meet these information societal groups to meet these information requirements:requirements:

- In public debate in the media;In public debate in the media;- In public events organised by neutral In public events organised by neutral

organisations;organisations;- By responding promptly and openly to By responding promptly and openly to

questions from societal groups and questions from societal groups and governments (e.g. DEFRA voluntary governments (e.g. DEFRA voluntary submission scheme);submission scheme);

- By cooperating with ObservatoryNano By cooperating with ObservatoryNano project.project.

Environmental NanoEnvironmental NanoMalschMalsch TechnoTechno ValuationValuationConclusions:Conclusions:

The Current debate on environmental The Current debate on environmental nanotechnologies covers opportunities as nanotechnologies covers opportunities as well as risks;well as risks;

There are precautionary as well as There are precautionary as well as proactionary approaches to managing proactionary approaches to managing these opportunities and risks;these opportunities and risks;

Different groups in civil society have Different groups in civil society have different information requirements;different information requirements;

Exchange can take place in public dialogue Exchange can take place in public dialogue as well as projects including as well as projects including ObservatoryNano.ObservatoryNano.