Healthy Business Strategies - Clean Production Action

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– For recycled products, design them to be “closed loop recycled”— recycled back into the same product. – For compostable products, use renewable materials that are sustainably grown and harvested. • Use renewable energy in manufacturing and design products for very high energy efficiency. Partnerships • engage supply chain. The use of only green chemicals and healthy materials in products requires on-going collaborations (as well as compliance evaluations) with suppliers. • Work collaboratively with environmental advocates and other non-profit organizations. Advocates keep up to date with chemical toxicity science and corporate green chemistry practices and they can be insightful collaborators on the journey towards green chemistry. • Be socially responsible. Operate and contract from facilities that meet basic human rights for workers, including: livable wages, health care and dental insurance, right to form unions, safe and healthy workplaces, environmentally responsible production, no forced labor, no worker harassment, no discrimination and no child labor. Much has been learned about benign and safe chemistry over recent decades and these six profitable and well known companies are proof that safer chemicals use in products is a goal whose time has come. As our case studies show, different tools and approaches can be used. But as with all journeys fraught with difficulties and set backs there must be commitment that the effort will be worth the price. Companies can no longer neglect the opportunity they have to stop the ongoing assault of hazardous chemicals into our common environment. Consumers are waking up to corporate responsibility. Market share will increasingly go to those companies who show leadership and commitment to safe chemical use in their products. In 10 years time, we hope to look back on the many companies that saw and met the challenges of chemical hazards, and celebrate the successful transition to a healthy materials economy. healthy business strategies for transforming the toxic chemical economy
S E v E N References Anastas & Warner 1998. Anastas, P and J Warner. Green chemistry: theory and practice. New york: Oxford university Press. 1998. CCOHS 1997. Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Basic information on carbon black (www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/ chem_profiles/carbonbl/basic_cb.html). 1997. CDC 2005. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Third national report on human exposure to environmental chemicals. July 2005. CSTEE 1999. European union Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment. Opinion on risk of cancer caused by textiles and leather goods coloured with azo-dyes expressed at the 7th CSTEE plenary meeting. January 1999. Davis 2005. Davis, I. The biggest contract. The Economist. May 26, 2005. Environmental Defence 2006. Environmental Defence. Toxic nation: body burden (http:// www.environmentaldefence.ca/toxicnation/ press/inthenews/060421_body_burden.pdf). 2006. EPA 1998. united States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Chemical hazard data availability study: what do we really know about the safety of high production volume chemicals? Washington, D.C.: uS EPA. 1998. EWG 2003. Environmental Working Group. Body burden: the pollution in people. January 2003. EWG 2005. Environmental Working Group. Body burden: the pollution in newborns. July 2005. EWG 2006. Environmental Working Group. Across generations: mothers and daughters. May 2006. H&M 2005. H&M Quality Department. Information and implementation resources for H&M chemical restrictions for textile, leather, plastic and metal products. 2005. Knoll 1975. Knoll F. A modern consciousness: D.J. De Pree. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institute Press. 1975 (as quoted in Hattwick, RE, et al. D.J. De Pree: Herman Miller Company. American National <strong>Business</strong> Hall of Fame. 1990). healthy business strategies for transforming the toxic chemical economy
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