Design for the Environment

A voluntary partnership-based

program that works directly with

companies to integrate health and

environmental considerations in

business decisions.

Design for the Environment

• Changing general business practices to incorporate environmental concerns.

• Working with specific industries to evaluate the risks, performance, and costs of alternative chemicals, processes and technologies.

• Helping individual businesses undertake environmental design efforts through the application of specific tools and methods.

DfE partners include:

• Industry

• Professional institutions

• Academia

• Environmental and Public Interest Groups

• Other Government Agencies

DfE Approach

• Encourages front-end innovations through redesign rather than relying on end-of-pipe controls to reducing potential risks to human health and the environment.

• Uses Cleaner Technologies Substitutes Assessments (CTSAs) and life cycle tools to evaluate the performance, costs and environmental and human health impacts of competing technologies.

DfE Programs

• Printing projects

• Electronics projects

• Garment and textile care

• Laundry partnership

• Auto refinishing projects

• Supplier Initiative

• Wall Paints

• Adhesives in the Foam Furniture and Sleep Products Industries

• DfE-PETE Education

• DfE Approaches to Developing EMS

Govt regulations affecting printing

industry• VOC’s affecting air, water and health regulations-

CERCLA, RCRA, CAA, SARA

• main chemicals

– acetone

– methanol

– ethyl acetate

– toluene

– xylene

Design for the Environment Printing Projects

• Lithography project

• Flexography project

• Screen Printing project

Design for the Environment

Lithography Project

• > 50% of industry - books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

• offset printing process-transfers image from a plate to a blanket then to substrate

• primary concern is solvent-based blanket washes

Design for the Environment Flexography Project

• 17% of industry - packaging, plastic bags, labels, etc.

• printing from a raised image on a printing plate to substrate using quick-drying inks

• primary concern is solvent-based inks

• 3 % of industry - t-shirts, textiles, fine art, printing on electronic equipment

• Rubber squeegee presses ink through stencil (image) on porous screen to substrate

• main concern are solvents used in removing inks and emulsions (stencils) to reclaim screens

Design for the Environment

Screen Printing Project

Design for the Environment

Screen Printing Project

• Technical Studies

• Implementation Efforts

• Outreach Activities

(methodology applicable for each industry)

Technical Studies• Cleaner Substitutes Assessment (CTSA)• Factors Include:

– Chemical composition– Performance– Cost– Occupational Risk and Exposure– Regulatory Concerns

• Did NOT– rank a product as better or worse than

another– recommend “green” products

Implementation Efforts

• Training Video

• Cost Assessment Software

Outreach Activities

• Informational materials

• Industry Conferences/workshops

• Case Studies

Case Study: Action Graphics

• Eliminated need for ink remover by

– reclaiming screens immediately after a print run

– using a high-water pressure system

– switching emulsion and haze removers

• Reduced amount of solvent used by finding more efficient products and reusing rags.

Comparison of Yearly Operating Costs*

Old system New system

Ink Remover $13,100 $0

Emulsion Remover $5,000 $2,600

Haze Remover $7,800 $10,900

Filter Media $0 $3,000

Total $25,900 $16,500

Yearly Operating Cost Savings: $9,400

* Data not available for change in labor costs