Page 58 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

External Drivers: The Voice of Society 37

to develop goals and guide the work of the partnership. Partnership
projects evaluate the human health and environmental consider-
ations of traditional and alternative technologies, materials, and
processes. The DFE program encourages safer products through
“informed substitution,” a science-based transition from a chemical
of particular concern to a safer chemical or nonchemical alternative.
Since its establishment in 1994, the program has reached more than
200,000 business facilities and approximately 2 million workers. In
2007, DFE partnerships prevented the use of 114 million pounds of
chemicals of environmental and human health concern. Examples of
program accomplishments include assistance in phase-out of lead
solder (see Chapter 11), identifying alternative flame retardants for
furniture foam, and training auto refinishing personnel to reduce
toxic exposures.
Green Suppliers Network is a collaborative venture among
industry, the U.S. EPA, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing
Extension Partnership. The program works with large manufacturers
to engage their small- and medium-sized suppliers in low-cost tech -
nical reviews that focus on process improvement and waste mini -
mization. Teaching suppliers about “Lean and Clean” manufacturing
techniques has helped them to increase energy efficiency, identify
cost-saving opportunities, and optimize resources to eliminate waste.
Green Chemistry. Since the early 1990s, EPA has promoted sus-
tainable chemical products and practices, primarily through its Green
Chemistry Program. The Program promotes technologies that reduce
or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances during
the design, manufacture, and use of chemical products and pro-
cesses. It supports fundamental research in environmentally benign
chemistry as well as a variety of educational activities, conferences,
and tool development through voluntary partnerships with aca-
demia, industry, government agencies, and other organizations. The
annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are prized
by industry leaders such as Dow Chemical (see Chapter 13).
Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government partnership
that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change
strategies. Partner companies receive EPA recognition by completing
a corporate-wide greenhouse gas inventory, setting aggressive re -
duction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA. As of
2008, there were over 200 partners including General Electric, IBM,
and Bank of America.
SmartWay Transport is a voluntary alliance between various
freight industry sectors and EPA, with the goal of reducing green-
house gases and other air emissions as well as operating costs. By
using EPA’s freight logistics analysis tool and adopting fuel-efficient
technologies, carriers can achieve performance improvements and
be certified to display the SmartWay mark.