edf: market sustainability: retailer initiatives
DESCRIPTION
Presented by Cal Baier-Anderson at the GlobalChem conference. More information at http://blogs.edf.org/innovation/2009/04/29/into-the-lions-den-an-enviro-at-globalchem/TRANSCRIPT
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Market Sustainability: Market Sustainability: Retailer InitiativesRetailer Initiatives
Cal Baier-Anderson, PhD
Senior Health Scientist
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Opportunities for Opportunities for Engagement to Enhance Engagement to Enhance
SustainabilitySustainabilityConsumerDemand
Retail
Product Formulation
Chemical Production & Management
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Chemical Production & Chemical Production & Management Management
• Regulatory Mechanisms– Toxic Substances Control Act
– Kid Safe Chemicals Act
• Voluntary Mechanisms– High Production Volume Challenge Program
– Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program
– ChAMP
• Challenges to both approaches
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Formulator InitiativesFormulator Initiatives
• Self Certification
• Third Party Certification
• EPA’s Design for the Environment
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Consumer FocusConsumer Focus
• Avoidance lists
• Web-based shopping guides
• New trends
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Avoidance ListsAvoidance Lists
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Shopping GuidesShopping Guides
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
EDF Supports Retailer EDF Supports Retailer Initiatives Initiatives
• Provide products made with less hazardous chemicals
• Reduce waste handling costs
• Address consumer concerns
• Downstream benefits for both environmental and human health
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Multi-stakeholder ProcessMulti-stakeholder Process
• Retailer
• Suppliers
• Formulators
• Trade groups
• Consumer groups
• Environmental groups
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Third Party ReviewThird Party Review
• Protects everyone
– Trade secrets and CBI
– Retailer confidence
– Consumer confidence
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Defining Safer ChemicalsDefining Safer Chemicals
• Compare like products
• Identify known “bad actor” chemicals
• Identify chemicals of emerging concern
• Promote use of safer alternatives based on data comparison
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
ChallengesChallenges
• Finding common ground regarding criteria
• Availability of publically accessible tox data
• Virtually no exposure information
• Simplifying complex information
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
How Much Science is How Much Science is Sufficient?Sufficient?
No No InformationInformation
Complete Complete InformationInformation
Precautionary Precautionary DecisionsDecisions
Evidence-Based Evidence-Based DecisionsDecisions
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
TransparencyTransparency
• Increases confidence
• Builds relationships
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Opportunities for Opportunities for CollaborationCollaboration
• Business NGO Work Group: http://www.busngoworkgroup.org/about.php
• GC3: http://greenchemistryandcommerce.org/home.php
• TURI: http://www.turi.org/