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


public policy

• AIM: Drive red chemicals out

• Health-driven

technology R&D

• AIM: Bring green products to market

• Business-driven

Task Force Concludes:

• Inadequate federal regulation

• Significant health costs

• Business needs better info.


• 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


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


• 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


• 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


� 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


� 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 &


indirectly exposes children & vulnerable populations

–One or more safer alternatives are available at comparable cost

Toward a Sustainable Economy: Bioplastics from Maine Potatoes


Polylactic acid (PLA)

� Non - Toxic


� Non - Toxic

� Petroleum - Free

� Bio - Compostable

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


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


• 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


• Economic Feasibility

• Freedom to Practice

• Sustainability Standards

• Cluster Development

drivers and strategies for green chemistry &...

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