Clean Production in Action: Assessing Alternatives for Materials and Products Pam Eliason Toxics Use Reduction Institute 978-934-3142; pam@turi.org

www.turi.org

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: http://www.cleanproduction.org

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: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenengineering/

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

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

1990 - 2005 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, 1990-2005, Production Adjusted

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

700.0

800.0

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Mill

iions

of P

ound

s

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

Pre-Plan

ProcessCharacterization

Identify TUROptions

ImplementPlan

MeasureSuccess

Certify Plan

Develop orUpdate Plan

Screen & Evaluate TUR

Options

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

Pre-Plan

ProcessCharacterization

Identify TUROptions

ImplementPlan

MeasureSuccess

Certify Plan

Develop orUpdate Plan

Screen & Evaluate TUR

Options

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

Incr

easin

gly

Pref

erre

d

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

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

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

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 • www.turi.org

– Industry – Community – Policy – Training – Data – Laboratory – Library – TURA Program Portal

Contact Us! Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute

www.turi.org, 978-934-3275 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854

Pam Eliason: pam@turi.org, 978-934-3142