Past awardees were recognized for work to advance principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture or use, or promotion activities that support or implement those technologies.

The awards are open to individuals, groups and organizations in Michigan, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia, educators, nonprofit advocacy groups and industry.

To learn more about Michigan’s green chemistry program or obtain a nomination packet for the Governor’s award, go to www.michigan.gov/greenchemistry.

Entries must be sent by Aug. 5. Awards are presented during the 2011 Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. This year’s conference: “Advancing Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” is scheduled Oct. 27 at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.

For more information, call the DEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 800‑662-9278.

Just 16 years ago, Jay Hair, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) asked me to stand up before the plenary session of the annual meeting of NWF because I was holding my baby daughter, Katie—then a tender two months old. He pointed out to the audience that the reason why we were there—the reason why we should be working so hard on behalf of the environment—was for the future of our children.

Hair was wrapping up a session during which acclaimed scientist, Dr. Theo Colborn  (professor at University of Florida, Gainesville, and author of the book Our Stolen Future), was speaking about chemicals that acted as endocrine disruptors. Her news was alarming: malformed frogs—the product of chemical spills. World-wide sperm counts declining—caused by the advent of chemicals that mimic hormones in our environment.  If I hadn’t been wrapped in the warm cocoon of new motherhood with my amazing son Kevin, then three, and now this beautiful little gift in my arms, thinking that anything was possible, I might have broken down and cried–the way I did later when I saw the documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

We filed out of the plenary session and into the restaurant for lunch.  I wanted to meet Theo and so we were introduced.  She greeted me warmly and congratulated me on my new baby. I asked her, “Dr. Colborn, how do you feel about breastfeeding?” She said, “I wouldn’t do it. If I did, I would get in and get out, just for bonding.”

“What about all the toxins in our environment? Don’t they impact dairy cows? Isn’t cow’s milk worse?” I asked.

Oh, no, she told me. Cows don’t have anywhere near the chemical burden that humans have.

I was devastated. As she walked away, that’s when the tears started to flow. How could that be? How could feeding my own child in the way that God intended be harmful to her?

Here we are now almost two decades later still talking about harmful chemicals, our human burden, endocrine disruptors, health impacts, etc.  Meanwhile chemicals are becoming even more ubiquitous. We may be reaching the “tipping point,” however, which is good news for future generations. The chemicals that seem to be pushing us toward that tipping point of tolerance have been polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) used as flame retardants and now BPA (bisphenol-A ), an organic compound that has been suspected of being hazardous since the 1930s.

“Bisphenol-A is now deeply imbedded in the products of modern consumer society, not just as the building block for polycarbonate plastic (from which it then leaches as the plastic ages) but also in the manufacture of epoxy resins and other plastics, including polysulfone, alkylphenolic, polyalylate, polyester-styrene, and certain polyester resins,” quotes the Dr. Colborn and co-authors Dianne Dumanoski  and Dr. John Peterson Myers  in Our Stolen Future. BPA is also an inert ingredient in pesticides as well. Human exposure to BPA comes from a myriad of sources such as: dental sealants, coatings in metal cans, food containers, refrigerator shelving, water bottles, microwave ware, eating utensils, films, sheets, laminations, reinforced pipes, adhesives, nail polish, and baby bottles.

In over 200 studies, BPA has been linked to a number of health concerns, such as cancer, developmental, and reproductive issues, according to the Washington Post. As a result, several states and cities have taken steps to ban BPA to protect its citizens, particularly children from harmful effects by banning BPA from products such as baby bottles, sippy cups and children’s dishware, along with sports bottles. Washington State, Maryland, and Wisconsin passed bans this year and Minnesota and Connecticut passed bans in 2009. Several other states, including California, Vermont, New York, and Illinois have similar bans pending. However, attempts in other states have been unsuccessful.

Overall, it’s just too costly and it takes too long to seek chemicals reform one chemical at a time. The country needs the Toxic Substances Control Act to be modernized and enhanced during its reauthorization.  Clear safety standards based on science should be adopted against which the safety of chemicals can be weighed. New chemicals should be assessed for their safety. Priority chemicals should be established. Green chemistry should be promoted. This cannot be another unfunded mandate by Congress.  It’s time to take action so that another generation doesn’t have to wonder if the everyday products in their lives will place their baby daughters in jeopardy.

Presentations available include:

• Go Green and Save Money: Fiscally Sound Green Business Practices by Laura Barnes, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
• Institutional Green: Not an Ugly Wall Color by Marcus Rivas, U.S. EPA
• EPA’s Pollution Prevention Plan by Tanya Mottley, U.S. EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
• Where Indianapolis is Headed.. by Karen Haley, Director, Office of Sustainability, City of Indianapolis
• Greening Your Business: A Look at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. by Denise Coogan, Manager, Safety & Environmental Compliance at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.
• Region 5 Sustainability Network by Tony Nesky, Home Engineering Services, U.S. Army Office of Regional Environmental and Government Affairs
• EPA Regional Pollution Prevention Results by Phil Kaplan, Regional Pollution Prevention Coordinator, U.S. EPA
• Using Web 2.0 to Improve Information Discovery and Collaboration by Rick Yoder, Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center
• Green Suppliers Network – E3: Columbus (Energy, Economy, Environment) by Greg Hume, Program Manager, TechSolve
• The Use of Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) for Green Science at Eli Lilly and Company by Dr. Michael E. Kopach, Chemical Product Research & Development, Eli Lilly and Company
• Technical Assistance Approaches for Energy Efficiency by Cam Metcalf, Executive Director, Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center (University of Louisville)

To save any of these presentations to your computer, visit the 2009 Conference page and  right click on the name of a presentation.  Select “Save Target As…” and choose a name and location for the file.

On September 29, the Governor also signed AB 1879 and SB 509 related to green chemistry. “AB 1879 establishes authority for the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to develop regulations that create a process for identifying and prioritizing chemicals of concern and to create methods for analyzing alternatives to existing hazardous chemicals. It also allows DTSC to take certain actions following an assessment that range from ‘no action’ to ‘restrictions or bans.’ The bill also establishes a Green Ribbon Science Panel made up of experts to provide advice on scientific matters, chemical policy recommendations and implementation strategies, as well as ensuring implementation efforts are based on a strong scientific foundation. Moreover, it expands the role of the Environmental Policy Council, made up of the heads of all California Environmental Protection Agency boards and departments, to oversee critical activities related to the implementation of the green chemistry program. SB 509 creates an online Toxics Information Clearinghouse, a web-based database, to increase consumer knowledge about the toxicity and hazards of thousands of chemicals used in California every day.” A Green Chemistry Initiative has been established to develop policy options for implementing a green chemistry program. The initiative’s goal is to evaluate the health risks of chemicals and possible alternatives in a systematic way, rather than on a case-by-case basis. Read the full press release here.

Note that applications are currently being accepted for the Save Energy Now Assessments. Only manufacturing facilities in the United States and territories are eligible for a Save Energy Now energy assessment. To be considered for an assessment, applicants must complete and submit the online application form. All assessments will be completed by December 31, 2008. Applications will be selected based on overall energy consumption.

In October 2006, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued Executive Directive No. 2007-6, “Promotion of Green Chemistry for Sustainable Economic Development and Protection of Public Health,” that established state policy encouraging the use of safer, less toxic, or non-toxic chemical alternatives to hazardous substances and the research, development, and implementation of Green Chemistry in Michigan.

The DEQ has been given primary responsibility to implement the Green Chemistry Executive Directive, including establishing a Michigan Green Chemistry Program and convening a Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable. The Roundtable, which is comprised of experts representing business, academia, environmental interest groups, and the public, had significant input into the development of the Action Plan and will be participating in the implementation of the Michigan Green Chemistry Program.

Source: Michigan DEQ, 9/15/08.

An earlier post described a similar workshop that will be held in Lansing, MI on September 27.

For more upcoming events, check the GLRPPR online calendar and Sector Resources.

For more information, see the RFP online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/37277.html. For more funding opportunities, be sure to check the GLRPPR Funding Opportunities page regularly.

This new Sector Resource is a work in progress, so subscribe to the RSS feed or check the web site frequently for updates. If you have suggestions for resources to include, please email them to Joy Scrogum.

A draft Strategy is now available for public comment at http://glrc.us/initiatives/toxics/drafthgphasedownstrategy.html, through October 27, 2007. We invite comments on the Strategy itself and on how best to move forward with implementation, as well as commitments from stakeholders to implement components of the Strategy.

A copy of the draft document was first distributed to government agency experts for technical review, then revised and distributed to a limited group of industry and environmental group stakeholders. A summary of comments that were received and incorporated can also be found at the above web link.

Please send comments electronically to Debra Jacobson at djacobso@wmrc.uiuc.edu. When sending comments by e-mail be sure to put the words “Great Lakes Mercury Strategy Comments” in the subject line.

If you have questions please contact Debra Jacobson at djacobso@wmrc.uiuc.edu or (630) 472 – 5019 (Phone).

Thanks to Deb Jacobson for submitting this information.