drivers and strategies for green chemistry &...

Drivers and Strategies for Green Chemistry &

Engineering

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Policies and Tools for States to Promote Green Chemistry

Green Chemistry in Maine

Safer Chemicals

• STRATEGY: Reform

public policy

Sustainable Bioplastics

• STRATEGY: Invest in technology R&D

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public policy

• AIM: Drive red chemicals out

• Health-driven

technology R&D

• AIM: Bring green products to market

• Business-driven

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Task Force Concludes:

• Inadequate federal regulation

• Significant health costs

• Business needs better info.

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• Business needs better info.

• State should lead by example

• Economic opportunity exists

Maine passes comprehensive safer chemicals policy in 2008

1. List Chemicals of High

Concern per inherent hazard

2. Select Priority Chemicals that

expose fetus or child

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expose fetus or child

3. Manufacturers must disclose

Priority Chemicals in products

4. State may require safer

alternatives when available

Chemicals of High Concern

• Carcinogen

• Reproductive or developmental toxicant

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• Endocrine disruptor

• Persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic

• Very persistent / bioaccumulative

Priority Chemicals• Found in people (biomonitoring)

• Found in indoor air, water, home

• Found in fish, wildlife, envirnmt

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• Present in consumer products

• High production volume chem.

• Banned in another state

Manufacturer Disclosure

� Report use of priority chemicals

� Identify product and chemical

� Report number of units sold or

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� Report number of units sold or distributed (state or national)

� Report amount used & intended purpose

Alternatives Assessment

�State may request info from mfgr:

� Likelihood of chemical release across product life cycle

� Presence in humans or environment

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� Presence in humans or environment

� Assessment of alternatives to use of priority chemical

� Reason for continued use of chemical in lieu of available alternatives

Safer Alternatives• May prohibit sale of product with priority chemical if State shows:

–Distribution of product directly or indirectly exposes children &

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indirectly exposes children & vulnerable populations

–One or more safer alternatives are available at comparable cost

Toward a Sustainable Economy: Bioplastics from Maine Potatoes

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Polylactic acid (PLA)

� Non - Toxic

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� Non - Toxic

� Petroleum - Free

� Bio - Compostable

AIM: Produce bioplastics from potatoes, ag waste, other biomass

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PLA ChemistryO

OHHO

H

Lactic Acid

CH3

H2O O

O

H CH3

n

Oligomeric PLA

O

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Lactide

O

O

H CH3

n

High MW PLA

H3CO

O

CH3

O

O

Sustainable Bioplastics Council of Maine

• True Textiles

• Tom’s of Maine

• Rynel

Sagoma

• Environmental Health Strategy Center

• University of Maine

• Maine Potato Board

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• Sagoma Technologies

• Green Harvest Technologies

• Maine Potato Board

• Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association

• Correct Building Products

$ 2 million for R&D so far

Funding Sources: Government,

Foundation, and Business

• Technology Development

Economic Feasibility

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• Economic Feasibility

• Freedom to Practice

• Sustainability Standards

• Cluster Development

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