2008 CMI Annual and Can Shipments Report - Can Central

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Government Relations Committees Legislative Committee In 2008, Congress failed to pass legislation to regulate carbon emissions despite concerns about climate change. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairperson of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a substitute amendment to the 2007 Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, but the Senate did not reach the sixty votes required to advance legislation. The new Administration and the 111th Congress promise climate change action in 2009, and the delivery of a cap-and-trade system is being debated among policymakers, NGOs, regulators and industry stakeholders. President Obama has proposed a cap-and-trade system under which 100% of allowances would be auctioned, generating at least $650 billion in cumulative government revenue by 2019. Of that revenue, $65 billion would provide tax cuts for middle-income Americans to deal with the projected price increases on energy and energy-intensive goods and services under a cap-and-trade system. Barbara Boxer expects to bring a committee-approved cap-and-trade concept global warming bill to the December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) wants his committee, which has jurisdiction over climate change issues, to approve a bill before Memorial Day 2009. In the meantime, California and several other states and state groups have moved ahead with their own climate regulatory programs. State Deposit Activities In 2008, packaging bills including deposits, taxes and recycling measures were introduced in state legislatures and expansion activities among the eleven states with beverage container deposit systems were among top concerns. Rhode Island, Virginia and Maryland all passed deposit/recycling study bills. Vermont passed commingling recycling legislation and Maine, a beverage excise tax bill. The Maine measure was applicable to all beverages except unflavored water and fruit/vegetable beverages containing at least 10% juice. Even beer and wine were subject to taxes, yet the beverage industry successfully repealed the new tax via a “People’s Veto” initiative on the November 2008 ballot. CMI expects stricter packaging laws in 2009. Connecticut has already passed an expansion on its beverage deposit law to include water and establish an escheats system. Other states are looking to link deposits and recycling activity to climate change bills. Regulatory Committee Environmental CMI continues to work with the American Chemistry Council (ACC) to remove EGBE from remaining environmental reporting requirements, particularly TRI reporting. TRI reports are often used in ways to suggest that can plants are major toxic emitters even though the bulk of their emissions is EGBE, which is considered safe. 10 Can Manufacturers Institute // 2008 Annual Report & Can Shipments Report Over the last year, CMI has overseen the collection of member company environmental data. CMI expects Wal-Mart to require more inputs on finished cans as its sustainability efforts transcend raw material data analyses to look at whole products when assessing the lifecycle impacts of packaging.
In December 2009, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen to renew global climate change policies beyond 2012 when the Kyoto Protocol expires. Discussions about the revised treaty have focused on the necessity of participation by developed nations and the need to help developing nations move away from fossil fuel-based energy systems. The outcome of the Copenhagen conference may depend on whether the U.S. can commit to climate change action; and whether the U.S. can agree to binding limits may depend on whether or not the country passes its own climate change legislation before December 2009. While climate change discussions have focused mainly on carbon emissions from electric power plants and vehicles, other industries are likely to be covered by carbon controls. Metal suppliers indicate that cap-and-trade legislation, if passed, would have a profound economic impact on U.S. business. Health and Safety CMI collects and publishes an annual industry injury and illness survey. These statistics allow participating companies to compare their injury and illness statistics to the membership and overall injury/illness data collected by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The current survey results reflect a continuing injury/illness downward trend, with a 5.1% decrease in reported cases between 2007 and 2008. In particular, beverage end facilities showed significant declines. Bisphenol A Developments The potential health effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) have sparked scientific controversy for years, but in 2008 that controversy grabbed the attention of regulators, legislators, litigators, non-governmental organizations, news media and the general public as never before. In January 2008, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, chaired by Representative John Dingell (D-MI), and its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI), opened an investigation into the use of BPA in products intended for use by infants and children. FDA responded by emphasizing the safety of exposure to food contact materials made with BPA. In April 2008, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and co-sponsors introduced the “BPA-Free Kids Act of 2008” to ban BPA in children’s products. Similarly in June 2008, Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced a House bill called the “Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2008,” which would ban BPA in food-contact materials. No further action was taken on either bill. California led the way in efforts to ban BPA on a state level. The Senate’s “Toxin-Free Toddlers and Babies Act” was written to prohibit the sale, manufacture or distribution of food containers for children containing BPA. After the first State Assembly vote turned the bill down, it was amended to exclude any liquid, food, or beverage in a can or jar containing BPA. The bill was ultimately defeated. The 111th Congress is likely to continue its pressure on FDA with regard to BPA. Representative Markey and Senator Schumer have suggested that they will each reintroduce BPA ban bills. While Representative Dingell will no longer chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, his successor, Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), has also expressed concerns about BPA. Representative Waxman co-sponsored the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act of 2008. The Obama Administration has been approached about BPA as well. In November 2008, a coalition of 29 nongovernmental organizations sent environmental transition recommendations which, among other things, called for FDA to revoke all approvals of BPA in food packaging and urged the Administration to support a Congressional ban on the use of BPA in food packaging. CMI will continue its efforts to help defeat or exempt cans from BPA ban bills at state and national levels. Can Manufacturers Institute // 2008 Annual Report & Can Shipments Report 11
Page 1 and 2: 2008 Can Manufacturers Institute An
Page 3 and 4: Can Manufacturers Institute // 2008
Page 5 and 6: 2 3 4 6 7 8 10 11 12 14 15 16 Can M
Page 7 and 8: Letter from the President Our count
Page 9: InterBev provided the Aluminum Can
Page 13 and 14: Public Policy In 2008, the CFA advo
Page 15 and 16: nationally, CVP provides local prog
Page 17 and 18: Can Manufacturers Institute // 2008
Page 19 and 20: Definitions General Definitions A m
Page 21 and 22: Food Can Shipments: 2003 - 2008 (Mi
Page 23 and 24: CMI Executive Committee 2008 Ball C

2008 CMI Annual and Can Shipments Report - Can Central

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?