green chemistry and product initiatives - leonard robinson
DESCRIPTION
Join Leonard Robinson as he guides us through the most recent details of the CA Chemical Green Chemistry Initiative. Among many other suggestions, this presentation focuses on how strategic public policy encouraging green capital investment, could increase California's share of the green chemical market by hundreds of billions of dollars!TRANSCRIPT
“Everything you wanted to
know about Green Chemistry,
but were afraid to ask…”
Leonard E. Robinson- EPA Dept of Toxic Substances Control
Everything You Wanted To Know About Green ChemistryBut Were Afraid To Ask
Leonard E. RobinsonCalifornia Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Toxic Substances Control
California Green Chemistry Init iat ive
California is a leader in innovation, use, and manufacture of safer, ever more environmentally benign chemicals and products.
Green Chemistry: Two New Laws AB 1879 (Feuer): Framework to
respond to chemicals of concern and to assess alternatives
SB 509 (Simitian): Increase information about toxicity for chemicals via an online portal
What is Green Chemistry?Cradle to Cradle
New approach to environmental protection
Benign by DesignMaking products & processes safe from the design stage
Opportunity
Shape global debate on chemicals and products
Restore California’s leadership in innovation and economic growth
Grow share of multi-trillion dollar global chemical and consumer products market
Opportunity to Increase CA Shareof $635 bil l ion US Chemicals Market
LAO (2006): California Exports
CA Chemicals =Only $7.2 billion
Global Chemical Production
- Doubling Every 25 Years
University of California, Berkeley
Green Venture Capital Investment
HOW PUBLIC POLICY HAS STIMULATED PRIVATE INVESTMENT
James Stack, Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley John Balbach, Cleantech Venture Network Bob Epstein, and Teryn Hanggi. May 2006.
Toxics in consumer products
Information lacking for businesses and consumers
Existing cradle-to-grave framework is inadequate
Little control to influence design of products made overseas
The ChallengesThe Challenges
Childhood Toxics Exposure from Products
Public Health Impacts
GROWING UP TOXIC Chemical Exposures and Increases in Developmental Disease
Travis Madsen, Yana Kucher and Teri OlleENVIRONMENT CALIFORNIA RESEARCH AND POLICY CENTER June 2004
Autism
Prostate Cancer
Cryptorchidism
Breast Cancer
Sperm Density
Reduce Long-Term Waste Management Cost by Taxpayer
13
$$ Collected$
$$ Needed$
$157 million $1.2 billion
Two million plastic beverage bottles discarded every five seconds in U.S. Only 3% of plastic is recycled.
60,000 plastic bags used every 5 seconds in U.S.
426,000 cell phones discarded each day in U.S.
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Chemical-by-Chemical Bans – A piecemeal approach
Ban on lead in jewelry Ban on toxics in packaging Ban on mercury in certain devices RoHS ban on covered electronics
Approach is not comprehensive and authority not specif ic
Three Strategies
Build Capacity
Increase Infrastructure
Create Tools for Better Decisions
Six Policy Recommendations
1. Expand Pollution Prevention
2. Develop Green Chemistry Workforce, Education, Research and Tech Transfer
3. Create an Online Product Ingredient Network
4. Create an Online Toxics Clearinghouse
5. Accelerate the Quest for Safer Products
6. Move Toward a Cradle-to-Cradle Economy
Sample Environmental Footprint
Know Your Product’s Footprint
Environmental Footprint for a Timberland Shoe
!Stay In Touch
Leonard E. RobinsonCal/EPA – Department of Toxic Substances Control1001 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814(916) [email protected]
EnviroBro
Cal/EPA Department of Toxic Substances
Control
