CPA Bulletins

It’s now the law in: Maryland: HB 229 bans children’s products containing the flame retardants TDCPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate) and TCEP (tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate). New York: AB 4741 / SB 3703 bans children’s… …

Coming soon: California: SB 270 would make the State the first to enact a statewide ban on plastic bags. The bill passed the Assembly & Senate (on the Governor’s desk for action by September 30th). Note: each county in Hawaii bans plastic… …

According to the latest Greenpeace report, brands are making progress in reducing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in products. Apple is leading the pack in completely eliminating these chemicals in personal… …

Brominated and other flame retardants are losing the health care market. Four health care providers -- Advocate Health Care, Beaumont Health System, Hackensack University Medical Center, and University Hospitals -- announced they will stop buying… …

Some novel innovations aimed at reducing waste have been garnering attention this summer, including one pioneered by the company WikiFoods, Inc. The company describes its new material, WikiPearl, as “a protective electrostatic gel formed by… …

While the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) banned new production and most uses of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), it allowed some historical uses to continue and set allowable limits for PCBs that occur as manufacturing by-products in other… …

Apple placed restrictions on benzene, beryllium, n-hexane, trichloroethylene (TCE), and other chlorinated solvents in manufacturing operations as part of its new Regulated Substances Specification.  Apple also says “All suppliers subject… …

Businesses praise bill to avoid chemicals of high concern to human health and the environment Business leaders today urged the U.S. Senate to pass the Protecting America’s Families from Toxic Chemicals Act of 2014. The bill just introduced by… …

Why companies need to do hazard assessments of alternatives … Testing for flame retardants in general consumer and children’s products by the state’s Department of Ecology found many “regrettable substitutions.” … …

Since 1976, when Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) the EPA released its second final risk assessment for trichloroethylene (the first risk assessment covered asbestos). It focuses on the health risks from TCE exposure through… …

Who thought it was a good idea to put small, plastic beads that last forever in products that go down the drain? Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the nation’s first bill banning the manufacture and sale synthetic plastic microbeads in… …

Europeans continue to expect government leadership on toxic chemicals. France has told the EU:  It’s time to act. There is ample scientific evidence that endocrine disrupting chemicals are harming human health. Disagreements and delays on… …

On the path to halogen-free products … Sportswear manufacturer Adidas announced that its products will be 90% perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemical (PFC) free by June 15, 2014, 99% PFC-free by 2017 and 100% PFC-free by 2020 – and… …

Companies participating in the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Program (ZDHC) have commited to limiting discharges of about 150 hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing. The companies have already agreed to eliminate nonylphenols, halogenated… …

Are flame retardants necessary for furniture? Acting in response to the association of flame retardants with cancer, reproductive, developmental and other adverse health effects, Kaiser Permanente announced it will no longer buy furniture containing… …

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) is calling for reduced exposure – particularly for pregnant women and in the workplace – to three widely used chemicals recognized as reproductive… …

Lowell Center for Sustainable Production examines the “precarious promise” of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNTs) Despite uncertainty about their environmental and health effects, technologies relying on CNTs have developed at warp speed,… …

While the antibacterial ingredient known as triclosan continues to be used widely in soaps, toothpaste and other personal care products, Minnesota has passed a law making it the first state to ban the chemical from such items. Scientific studies have… …

Vermont is poised to join California, Maine, and Washington State with more comprehensive chemicals policy legislation. The Vermont legislature passed a bill giving the state Health Department authority to require disclosure of… …

Sprint has announced it will soon begin selling iPhone cases made from a methane-based plastic known as AirCarbon™. Manufactured by Newlight Technologies, the plastic is made with methane captured from dairy farms and touted… …

Welcome to the April 2014 edition of the GreenScreen Newsletter, and happy Spring to you!  Even in Alaska, the signs are here. Clean Production Action is pleased to announce the first individuals to successfully become GreenScreen Certified… …

Congratulations to the first GreenScreen Certified Practitioners!  Clean Production Action is thrilled to announce that Cory Robertson, Curtis Wray, Jonathan Ostrowski and Truus Tiemersma are the first to successfully meet all requirements of… …

Welcome to the first issue of our periodic community newsletter. It is our goal to provide you with updates on the GreenScreen method, case studies, opportunities to improve your GreenScreen assessment skills and upcoming events and trainings. We… …

Registration for the GreenScreen® Certified Practitioner Program is now open.  The Certified Practitioner Program provides advanced GreenScreen training and a professionally coached practicum beyond the introductory course.  Successful… …

Clean Production Action is pleased to announce the publication of the final version of the GreenScreen v1.2 Chemical Hazard Assessment Procedure (Guidance). The Guidance is full of helpful information to facilitate clear and effective use of the… …

The Business and Academic Partnership Project Group of the GC3 developed and piloted a new type of collaboration between companies and universities to evaluate safer alternatives to toxic chemicals using GreenScreen. The goal was to generate robust… …

The State of Maine, USA unanimously adopted proposed regulations in February 2010 to protect the health of children by ensuring that chemicals of high concern in consumer products are replaced with safer alternatives.  GreenScreen™ is… …

Introducing UNEP’s Global Chemicals Outlook UNEP, in close collaboration with OECD, WHO and other organisations of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), is developing a Global Chemicals Outlook to frame… …

The Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) and participating states announced the release of the IC2 Alternatives Assessment Guide in January 2014. …

Read the California Safer Consumer Product regulations. …

OECD Resources …

Clean Production Action is proud to announce that GreenScreen is featured in a new book, Chemical Alternatives Assessments, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. …

The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council has released (June 2013) their report Chemical Hazard Assessments of Alternative Plasticizers for Wire & Cable Applications which includes a combination of Draft and Verified GreenScreen assessments of… …

Clean Production Action (CPA) is pleased to announce that SciVera LLC is now qualified as a Licensed GreenScreen Profiler. Along with ToxServices LLC and NSF International, SciVera is the now the third licensed GreenScreen Profiler in North America.… …

As part of Nike sustainability initiatives, the GreenScreen® is used to assess the hazards of chemicals used in products. …

In 2003, the European Union passed into law the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, which eliminates the use of certain toxic chemicals in electronics, including deca-BDE (bromodiphenyl ether), beginning in July 2006. Under the… …

The Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals A Platform for Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment through Innovation Fundamental reform to current chemical laws is necessary to protect children, workers, communities, and the environment. We must… …