Blog

SUPPLY-CHAIN-WIDE PRODUCT DATA MANAGEMENT

February 5, 2010
What do good manufacturers do when bad things happen?: What do good manufacturers do when bad things happen?

Bad things -- unlucky things -- will happen in manufacturing. What can be done to recover? What can be done to prevent? What can manufacturers and Supply Chain Executives do to sleep at night, knowing that if something bad does happen, they have the knowledge, business intelligence, and power to drive a solution?

BOM tracking in 2010

To recover from a disaster, the answer sounds simple: pin-point the problem, fix it, and move on. But what it takes to do that is the right business intelligence -- solutions which not all companies have implemented yet. SAP has one (traditional). Actio has one (SaaS), see link just above. The key intelligence comes from data about the materials in the products and in the supply chain.

BOM stands for Bill of Materials. Software that tracks the parts and chemical substances in bills of materials is what today's manufacturing supply chains -- and what all good little toys -- are made of.

Recovery of course also depends on strong corporate character and resiliency -- which is a lot easier to have when you're confident in your information and business intelligence management.

Where to start: BOM simulators

A BOM simulator for Bill of Material analysis is a visual tool that provides a visual representation of what a product make-up would be like if you swapped out one substance for another, or one part for another. Say you wanted to swap lead-free solder for the traditional kind -- how would that effect ingredients in various parts and components, and threshold levels across the enterprise?

Technology like a BOM simulator gets these scenarios working in the design phase of product development.

“If you can automate the exchange of substance information through the global supply chain – as manufacturers must now do – you must first automate that data flow within an enterprise,” said Russell McCann, Actio's CEO and industry expert. “Start by linking a SaaS BOM-tracking software tool with any ERP such as SAP, Oracle, and/or Microsoft Dynamics -- often large companies have differenct instances of each of those.

"Linking to the ERP or portal provides raw material feeds that funnel data together to be analyzed in real time," he said.

Ideally, you start by using aggregated data with a BOM simulator to determine whether substituting one material for another produces a more compliant finished good. This is often called Product Stewardship if comparing data for greener products -- but Product Stewardship is about responsible product develppment, regardless of ingredients, so there is constant need-to-know.

ERP, PLM and other acronyms
"If you're backtracking at the start," Chris Nowak at Actio said, "you begin by analyzing what came from where -- and where the red flags are. Naturally this is easier if you've been tracking chemical and part-level materials all along, but you have to begin somewhere. The start point really is simple: it's just flipping on the switch to begin aggregating data.

"You start by aggregating the data you have in a PLM or ERP system, plus the supplier data Actio products automatically collect, plus the regulatory list data that a company like Actio has," Nowak said. "ERP systems can help but cannot get as granular as modern Product Stewardship wants to go."

Opportunity

In the process of recovering, the opportunity exists to demonstrate that a company has the acumen to spot a problem quickly and fix it, thus increasing perception as responsible to the community in which they conduct business, buy, sell, and live. As Supply Chain Brain recently reported, "Virtue is supposed to be its own reward, but according to an emerging line of thought, it's profitable too."

February 2, 2010
Supply chain best practices: material disclosure: Material Disclosure - should manufacturers share their secret ingredients? Product stewardship depends on material disclosure, but can it really work?

The general population wants to know: Are there toxic chemicals like lead in the paint I just bought? Is there cadmium in the electronic device I got for Christmas? Are there environmentally hazardous substances in the emissions from the local factory?

How are companies tracking this? How are they managing the information? Is it possible for manufacturers to tell everything without, well, telling everything...? How does Product Stewardship manage the data versus the regulations?

Whether driven by regulatory authorities, corporate sustainability directives, or consumers, manufacturers today must collect and provide substance-level product material disclosure information. Material Disclosure is simply the act of revealing information on what substances go into and come out of a product, a manufacturing process, and the raw materials in a supply chain.

In order to accurately provide this information, manufacturers must obtain the same detailed information from their suppliers about their products. Real-time supplier data must be broken down to the substance level, converted to a standardized measurements, then cataloged relative to all current materials, then substance volume tracking must be monitored against threshold amounts, and kept balanced against up-to-date environmental regulatory data.

Actio Corporation is a green-thinking NH-based company that has been making software to manage parts, component, chemical and substance information since 1999. The experts at Actio recently analyzed a range of case studies on this topic from top global companies, including a packaging giant, an electronics manufacturer, a cleaning products company, an aerospace company, and a multi-billion dollar automotive supply enterprise. All of these companies set out to make greener products from a greener supply chain.

Here's what Actio found to be the challenges, the fixes, and the overall lessons learned:

• getting ingredient lists from suppliers remains a challenge

• interfacing with ERP (SAP, etc) system, also PLM, and Procurement software is critical

• clear and constant communication with suppliers on desired green material attributes yields results

• working in partnership with suppliers helps to accelerate the development of greener materials

• product greening more likely to happen if it's a core product design objective and easily gauged by product developers

“If you can automate the exchange of substance information through the global supply chain – as manufacturers must now do – you must first automate that data flow within an enterprise,” said Russell McCann, Actio’s President and CEO, speaking from Actio Headquarters north of Boston. “Linking Material Disclosure with SAP, Oracle, and the Microsoft ERP provides raw material feeds that can be analyzed in real time to determine whether substituting one material for another produces a more compliant finished good,” he said. “Material Disclosure is the Chief of Supply Chain, COO, and Product Stewardship's dream.”

“Global compliance – including REACH, RoHS, WEEE and many other directives – remains a challenge for manufacturing companies,” said McCann. “Actio created the Material Disclosure module to automate and centralize substance information exchange between manufacturers and their supply chain.

For this article, Actio shared further lessons learned along the way to material disclosure:

• visibility is essential for measuring and communicating corporate-wide progress toward greening of products

• employee goals help create internal commitment to product greening

• benefits found in pursuing and supporting government green & safety efforts

• obtaining chemical information from suppliers remains a challenge

• providing easy-to-use web-based portal for chemical data entry has facilitated data collection

• training suppliers helps clarify requirements for data collection

• collect data on chemicals-of-emerging-concern (not just the obvious ones)

• Product Development suffers from a patchwork of global chemical regulatory systems

• finding hazard data on chemicals is challenging

• it's not always enough to get certification of compliance from supplier, verification is critical

• collecting supplier data can inform future supplier and material selection, as long as that data is tracked and stored in a sensible way

• restricting chemicals used in manufacturing can have unintended consequences, like "pushing" the undesirable chemical deep back into the supply chain where it can be hidden from the manufacturer and pop up later in a public way with disastrous consequences

• it is important to share best practices with peers, especially as this aspect of the industry is so new

• constant, updated visibility into as many details as possible is essential

• communicating with customers (downstream) is becoming more of an issue than originally thought

The solution to this dynamic set of challenges is, and must be, database-based software, simply because there is no other way to keep track of so much data and keep it up to date. Only a relational database platform with Regulatory and workflow modules can address the material disclosure challenge in the modern global supply chain.

(pictured: Kal Kawar, Professional Engineer and Co-Founder of Actio)

The solution must be a robust, database-driven supply chain communication tool designed to securely collect, warehouse and distribute regulatory and compositional information about materials in manufacturing and supply chain processes. This secure platform must have multiple levels of access permissions and provide an audit trail and alert system of who accessed, viewed or changed what information and when.

The Material Disclosure solution must be able to gather relevant data not just directly from suppliers but also from in-house platforms and services such as a ERP system, PLM, and Procurement software (such as SAP, Oracle, Agile, Ariba, MS Dynamics). A secure SaaS platform can link into many disparate systems and platforms, such as the ones listed. SaaS can be the best choice, as many manufacturers don't want to have their valuable chemical data forever tethered to an expensive ERP system with all its budget, maintenance, versioning and upgrade demands. While the data in an ERP or PLM system can turbo-charge a supply chain materials data management solution, most companies would prefer a standalone software that can interface with that data but not rely on it forever after.

We were advised to direct any specific questions on material disclosure to: Chris Nowak, whose email address is first initial followed by last name (no space) at actio dot net. If that is too confusing, try the Contact form at the web site for material disclosure.

January 29, 2010
EHS Compliance: How did you get into the field?: How did you get into the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Compliance field? Was there an A-ha moment - "I want to do that!" or was decision more organic? We recently put that very question to a group of professionals in a dedicated LinkedIn Group called the Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance Network. This is what professionals told us:

"...Was a pre-med undergraduate student and didn't get accepted into med school. Started thinking it might be better to focus on prevention rather than treatment. The Chair of the university's industrial hygiene & safety department told me a graduate degree in IH may be something to think about. It didn't hurt that graduates from that program had the highest starting salary of all degree programs at that time (mid-80's)! Loved it and never thought about med school again!"

Lance Erickson
Principal Risk Control Administrator

How did you get into the Environmental, Health and Safety field? Was there an A-ha moment - "I want to do that!" or was decision more organic?

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I got my start in safety when I was given the job as Lab Safety Officer after our hospital clinical lab had a fire. Someone knocked over the xylene that was too close to the bunsen burner (how dangerous was that!). I was fresh out of college and was beginning my internship as a Medical Laboratory Technician. The Lab Director gave me the Fire code, EPA rules, and the OSHA regulations and told me to "make our lab safe".

The first thing I did was a chemical inventory where I discovered a teenie jar of picric acid that had crystalized! After the entire first floor was evacuated, the bomb squad was called and they removed the teenie jar in full bomb squad gear! I was able to accompany them to their firing range where they used the jar as target practice and it made a hole 10 feet by 10 feet. I had my picture taken in the hole and a safety professional was born!

Debbie Emmerson
CHSP, Environmental, Health & Safety Professional

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Back-doored it. Nothing to do with my degree but evolved first as working in Security/EmergencyResponse, became an EMT Instructor, then instructor at Police Academy, then HazMats, then state regulatory agency, then corporate director, then consultant. I just kept applying for jobs based on what I knew and previously did while attempting to get my undergrad and graduate degrees. After that, I had been in safety long enough that it was what I knew and what I did. Of course, it helped that I found the subject and the profession challenging and fascinating, but it was clearly NOT my initial direction in life. Now 30 years later, I guess I did OK.

Randy DeVaul
Founder, Brickhouse of NY, Inc, Global Performance Safety

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Started in R&D as a chemist and was back-up for the MSDS author and Lab Safety guy. When an EHS department was created and the gentleman retired, I was the logical choice. Unfortunately, I do a lot more than just the MSDS and with GHS coming along and REACh, I am swamped. Thankfully, I bleong to a great group call Society for Chemical Hazards Communications that helps keep me up to date on a lot of stuff.

Monica Mathers
Product Compliance Coordinator at American Refining Group

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I would have to say my path was a bit more deliberate: upon joining the U.S. Navy where I started out as a sheet metal mechanic, I had set my sights on moving into the Quality Assurance side of the house in the later years. I never made it to the QA house, because an opportunity opened up to get into Six Sigma and lean processes. I jumped on it and started to look hard at safety through those eyes. When it was time to move on I was asked where do I want to go -- I went to the safety department of an aircraft carrier, having some knowledge on safety I was able to jump right in and move on up.

I retired from the Navy and applied my efforts here to the outside and have made great strides in this field.

Currently finishing up a degree with Columbia Southern University and then on to the ASP and then CSP and work on a master degree. Things are looking up. The old adage applies: “If I knew then what I know now, I would've really worked on the education while I was still in the service.”

Bret Humphrey
Safety Rep at BAE Systems, Sealy TX

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Moved from plant chemist to environmental manager 'in training' (compliance supervisor). At that point in my career, I could either wait for a corporate chemist position, or switch to another career track with further upside potential. There is a very high level of trust needed to fill the environmental position, and the manager felt that I would keep him safe, even while I learned on-the-job. The previous environmental manager was promoted and maintained an office on-site to train me.

The environmental compliance field in New Jersey is a very stressful position. Anyone saying "I want to do that!" should seriously consider what they are doing. The job is mostly sitting in front of a computer, trying to keep up with all the changes in regulations, and rushing to hit all your required submission dates.

Rolf Dinsmore
Compliance Supervisor (New Jersey)

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I made a career change which required more education. I went back to college at RIT, majoring in their Environmental Management program. I was very fortunate to get an internship at The Eastman Kodak Co. performing waste reduction audits. I was hired upon graduation to work for a recycling company as their Human Resource Health & Safety Manager. Now I work for another recycling company as a Health, Safety and Risk Manager. Although there was no organic moment for me, I found a love for the recycling and solid waste industry as a safety manager.

Susan Shay
Manager of Health, Safety & Risk Management at Metro Waste Paper Recovery
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I first started right out of High School as an Electricians Helper working in the Offshore Production field moving up to lead foreman. I enjoyed the career because it took me all over the world. But after about 7 1/2 years of this I was desperately trying to get out of, always being away from my family. So resumes went up and one day while on the job, I got the call from a Safety Training company that wanted to speak with me about my offshore experience and using my field experience in training.

I started working for them 2 weeks later as a Safety Trainer and spent 7 years with them as a Compliance Specialist training people in all kinds of industries. During my 7 years with that company I moved from just a Trainer to Region Manager, then Vice President of Operations.

Today I now own my own Safety Training company "Omega Safety Training, Inc.” and could not be any better off, since I love nothing more than helping companies improve their safety and the wellbeing of their employees.

I have built this business to accommodate companies by traveling to them to provide the training they need. This has been a big hit with many companies.

Chad Keller
Owner, Omega Safety Training, Inc.

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I started in safety nearly 27 years ago and come from a family of HSE professionals, so you could say it was in the genes. My late father was in the HSE field for over 30 years and I suppose myself and 2 brothers caught the bug as kids listening to all the stories about international safety when we used to sit around the table. Overall we have all been involved on the international scene with a combined total of over 100 years of safety experience in one family, and still counting. Who knows - maybe a third generation will take up the mantle?

Wayne Harris
HSE Director - Qatar, Board Director - World Safety Organization, CEO Int Safety Quality Environment Management Assoc

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I was in the initial wave of environmental engineering graduates (straight out of undergraduate school) responding to the new NPDES permitting programs under the CWA. In fact, that law included funds to pay for graduate education in the environmental field (thank you, EPA). In the past 35 years, I've watched the regulatory environment expand along with the technologies associated with them (a far cry from the bucket chemistry - literally - that I learned).

Sam Waldo
Director, EHS Support Services at Amphenol Corporation

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Started career in pesticide enforcement and transitioned to emergency response and spills response. HSE was a vital part of all actions along the way and became a real focus when taking a General Operations Manager position for an environmental clean up contracting firm. Its just mushroomed ever since. Its kind of like having a tiger by the tail, you can't let go!

Dean Kelley
Owner, Northern Horizons of WI LLC and Environmental Compliance Consultant

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I had initially wanted to study atmospheric sciences which was a graduate level program in my state. In preparation for doing that I was advised to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Sciences with a concentration in atmospheric science. I few years after I graduated I volunteered to serve a church mission working with spanish speaking people along the border of Mexico in Texas. For a few months I lived directly across the street from a large refinery. After completing my missionary assignment I came home and began working in the field of air pollution control and have been doing that now for nearly 30 years.

Barry Andrews, P.E.
Principal/Manager of Air Quality Services at LT Environmental, Inc.

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My story is a little different. I had completed my BS degree at Purdue University in Agricultural Mechanization. I became interested in agricultural safety from an 8 week course offered at Purdue. I had numerous years of experience working on a farm and the safety class opened my eyes to what I wanted to do and prevent injuries and illnesses on the farm.

An opportunity came to pursue a graduate degree with a research assistantship in the safety area and working for the top Extension Safety Specialist in the nation at Purdue. Of course I jumped at the opportunity. In addition to my degree and research work, it gave me the opportunity to serve residents in Indiana in farm safety education and information.

I completed my MS and PhD at Purdue in Ag Mechanization with an emphasis in agricultural safety. I went on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and West Virginia University as an Extension Safety Specialist.

Today, I am the Director of Member/Region Affairs at the American Society of Safety Engineers (www.asse.org) assisting safety professionals across the globe to advance their safety career and the safety profession. We can assit you in your career wherever you are in your A-ha moment.

Terry Wilkinson, PhD, CSP, CAE
Director, Member/Region Affairs at American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).

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There were so many great responses that we asked permission to quote some of them. We believe this discussion can benefit people interested in EHS and Compliance issues – from students to industry analysts to colleagues.

A giant Thank You to everyone who participated. For those who kindly contributed but were not quoted here: stand by, there may be Part Two!

Thanks to EHSers everywhere, for keeping our facilities, environment, work-spaces, and products safe, up to code, and in compliance.

January 28, 2010

Apply for training grants for green jobs - what the fuss is about

Have you wondered what the fuss is about in terms of the $millions in grants for green jobs? Check out the details here.

We're showing you the money....

Apply for training grants - or just review the programs - here.

About Green Jobs from the U.S. Dept of Labor:

January 26, 2010

The New Green Economy: how product stewardship makes green from green

From speech by Lisa Jackson, Head of EPA
January 21, 2010

Who are the stakeholders in the New Green Economy?

Everyone wants greener products. Product stewardship especially gets excited about Green Initiatives: Greener products mean greener manufacturing, greener supply chains, a greener planet for the generations to come. If we at all consider ourselves stewards of the environment - the air, the fire, the earth, the water - we must become inspired and enthused about green product stewardship. On this note, one News Corp. paper recently called the next phase in Economic development "the Green Manufacturing Revolution." And there's promise of another kind of green: revenue.

What the New Green Economy is:
The New Green Economy is based on a knowledge of Ecological economics that aims at addressing the interdependence of human economies and natural ecosystem. The Green Economy is a fast growing new economic development model in contrast to the existing 'black' economic model based on fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. (For more, Wikipedia has sufficient overview if interested.)

Why the New Green Economy:

because clean energy is the global growth industry of the 21st century
because a green economy is a strong economy
because once the environment has been rehabilitated, it becomes a place where people want to live, work and play; making it a stronger, more prosperous community.
because the moment compels us
because the urgent economic and environmental challenges compel us to find simultaneous solutions
because clean energy is the global growth industry of this century and America should lead the way
because no other investment we can make has such broad reaching benefits – for our economy, for our health, for our environment, for our wallets, and for our security

How we'll achieve the New Green Ecomony:
The President of the United States has called for America to get in the race. Methods include:

catch and surpass the solar leadership Germany now holds
catch and surpass Japan in manufacturing hybrid cars
catch and surpass China in the production of wind power

"Of all the potential paths forward for our economy," says Jackson, "the Green Economy presents the most numerous and significant opportunities for positive externalities. A New Green Economy is the only one that offers not only new jobs, but cost savings, health benefits, and stronger national security."

ROI as cited by the EPA: "A McKinsey study estimates that $520 billion invested in energy efficiency today would net $1.2 trillion dollars in energy cost savings through 2020. $2 in savings for every dollar invested – a very positive externality."

Lisa Jackson's speech in its entirety is here, but our breakdown is pretty good, must say. Green starts with managing data about our ingredients, our processes and emissions and waste, and the details behind our harmful or hazardous material communications and transparency in chemical formulas.

Useful links:

Green Recovery - http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/09/green_recovery.html
Supply Chain Materials Data Management http://supply-chain-data-mgmt.blogspot.com/
The International Journal of Green Economics, http://www.inderscience.com/ijge
Eco-Economy Indicators: http://www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/index.htm
EarthTrends World Resources Institute - http://earthtrends.wri.org/index.php
The Inspired Economist.
Ecological Economics Encyclopedia - http://www.ecoeco.org/education_encyclopedia.php
The academic journal, Ecological Economics - http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolecon
The US Society of Ecological Economics - http://www.ussee.org/
The Beijer International Institute for Ecological Economics - http://www.beijer.kva.se/
Gaian Economics website - http://www.gaianeconomics.org/
Sustainable Prosperity - http://sustainableprosperity.ca/
World Resources Forum - http://www.worldresourcesforum.org
The Gund Institute of Ecological Economics - http://www.uvm.edu/giee
Ecological Economics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - http://www.economics.rpi.edu/ecological.html
An ecological economics article about reconciling economics and its supporting ecosystem - http://www.fs.fed.us/eco/s21pre.htm
"Economics in a Full World", by Herman E. Daly - http://sef.umd.edu/files/ScientificAmerican_Daly_05.pdf
Steve Charnovitz, "Living in an Ecolonomy: Environmental Cooperation and the GATT," Kennedy School of Government, April 1994.
The ROI of a Globally Harmonized System of chemical classification and labeling http://www.industryweek.com/articles/how_to_convert_to_the_globally_harmonized_system_of_chemical_classification_20565.aspx?Page=1&SectionID=3
NOAA Economics of Ecosystems Data & Products – http://www.economics.noaa.gov/?goal=ecosystems

January 22, 2010
EPA Increases Transparency on Chemical Risk Information: Jan 21, 2010: The new policy will increase the public's access to chemical information.

"Starting today," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, "EPA has announced its intention to reject a certain type of confidentiality claim, known as Confidential Business Information (CBI), on the identity of chemicals.

"The chemicals that will be affected by this action," Owens said, "are those that are submitted to EPA with studies that show a substantial risk to people's health and the environment and have been previously disclosed on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Inventory. This action represents another step to use the agency’s authority under the existing TSCA to the fullest extent possible, recognizing EPA’s strong belief that the 1976 law is both outdated and in need of reform. in our products, our environment and our bodies."

"Assuring the safety of chemicals is one of Administrator Jackson's top priorities for EPA's future," said Owens. "The American people are entitled to transparent, accessible information on chemicals that may pose a risk to their health or the environment. We will continue taking steps that increase transparency and assure the safety of chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies."

So: it's all about chemicals and substance-level compliance in materials management and product lifecycle management in 2010.

Companies with firm reputations and a client base using software to manage compliance at the chemical level and the substance level in a bill-of-materials -- and comparing ingredients against such regulations as REACH regulation, RoHS, and WEEE -- are well positioned in the market this year.

In the coming months, EPA intends to announce additional steps to further increase transparency of chemical information. This announcement came suddenly on January 21, 2010. (For background, see previous posts on the subject of material disclosure.)

Here's to Compliance in 2010... already compliance mandates are accelerating, should be a piqued year. We'll keep you posted, stay tuned, and feel free to leave us a comment.

- Some info on the new policy
- More information on EPA’s principles for comprehensive TSCA reform

January 19, 2010
Green Engineering: Green Chemistry's uncle: We enjoyed reading this post about Green Engineering from Sean McGinnis. "Green Engineering is broadly defined as minimizing environmental impacts across all life cycle phases in the design and engineering of products, processes, and systems," he says.

The article states that, of course, software helps with Green Engineering. What's needed: software for materials information management down to the chemical and substance level. A recent Wall Street Journal-owned paper mentioned the same phenomenon in a feature story on a software company innovating Green Engineering and eco-PLM with a SaaS platform.

With a sufficiently detailed level of product data management and mastery, supply chains are “greened,” children’s toys are non-toxic, product life-cycles from cradle-to-grave are managed, and of course: product design processes are streamlined and thus made more profitable. This applies to any product, from small bracelet charms to colossal military aircraft and everything in between -- even items we don't normally think about what's inside, like delicate facial tissues, or even something on the blatantly noxious side, like cigarettes. (What's in those, anyway?)

The EPA website has a page dedicated to Green Engineering. Some schools have admirably set up academic focuses for Green Engineering: Virginia Tech, for instance (details here).

Green Engineering is the same concept as "Green Chemistry," as in California Green Chemistry, the Green Chemistry Council (GC3) out of Lowell, MA, and other associations. See CA Green Chemistry site for the lurid details... http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/GreenChemistryInitiative/index.cfm

Meanwhile, let this blog serve as a bookmark for all the references and related (lurid) details you may need. Stay tuned for more green news, information, and key links.

January 15, 2010
REACH news: List of "substances of very high concern" doubled: Fourteen (14) additional "substances of very high concern" are now added to list of scrutinized chemicals under REACH regulation.

This brings the total number of substances on the list to twenty-nine (29). Almost 300 substances were expected to make the list initially.

The initial or priority list of "substances of very high concern" is likely to grow to around 150 substances by the end of 2010. Source: EurActiv.com report.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is a regulation governing the use of chemicals in manufacturing and in manufactured goods. The stringent new rules around chemicals were adopted in Dec. 2006. The rules aim to ensure that importers and producers of chemicals carry out health and safety testing for their products.

REACH affects all companies manufacturing in, or selling products into, the EU, from paint manufacturers to makers of children's toys to chemical manufacturers like Dow, BASF, and others.

In short, REACH effects almost any sizable company selling or manufacturing finished-goods -- because most larger companies either sell into the EU or hope to. Compliance with REACH demands that a company go through a taut process of registering ingredients and formulas in a product. Non-compliance risks include high fines, products being banned from sale in the EU, and perhaps the biggest risk: the public relations and "brand damage" nightmare of your company being associated with producing unsafe products.

How many chemicals have to be registered with REACH authorities? On January 13th, 2010 Nature.com reported: "A study by Hartung suggests... at least 68,000 chemicals will have to be registered (T. Hartung and C. Rovida Nature 460, 1080–1081; 2009)." The story noted that ECHA - the European Chemicals Agency - estimates about half that, or 30,000 substances, will have to be logged.

Let's play conservative: 30,000 is still a lot of substances. All those substances will have to be logged and tracked, with continued analysis and updating. The project to organize all the data -- including communicating with suppliers and even customers about the details -- is enormous for any company with any measurable chemical inventory or products that contain them.

An innovative, multi-tenant SaaS solution for REACH is REACHtracker software from Actio Corp. It manages REACH-related tasks - using new-paradigm collaboration technology to go out to your supply network (up- and down-stream) to collect data and bring it into a central database. This model is the way of the future: not just SaaS, but database-driven collaboration combined with document-plus-data-management software.

(Other software solutions, competitors of Actio REACHtracker such as SAP of course, are listed in this article on REACH compliance solutions in Manufacturing Business Technology magazine. Actio is unique because it is multi-tenant SaaS and has the advantage of being less costly to implement and maintain than adding more ERP modules and services (and upgrades and maintenance fees)... especially as Actio was built from the ground-up as SaaS and for the purpose of environmental compliance. But to be fair: Actio is not the only solution on the market. See link above for more.)

Dates to watch: 20-21 May 2010: Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010, focus on chemistry and climate change. Keep an eye on this blog for updates.

January 12, 2010
AP finds toxic cadmium where lead used to be, EPA pushes toward chemical reform: First thing that happened in the New Year: the Associated Press blew the whistle on known toxic substances still being used in product manufacture. Lead is dead, cadmium is king. An investigation by the Associated Press published on January 10th tested 103 pieces of kids' jewelry. They found that 14 of them, mainly from Chinese manufacturers, contained cadmium. 12 of those contained at least 10% cadmium. One item was 91% cadmium by weight. 91%!

Lead is not really dead: two outfits that analyze more than a thousand children's products each year checked their data at AP's request. Both said their findings of cadmium above 300 parts per million in an item — the current federal limit for lead — increased from about 0.5 percent of tests in 2007 to about 2.2 percent of tests in 2009. Source: Justin Pritchard for AP News

"It wasn't me - it was my supplier!"
Global manufacturers today are pressured to provide customers detailed, substance-level product material disclosure information. In order to accurately provide this information, they should obtain the same detailed information from their suppliers about their products.

The bottom line: We, the Industry, need to centralize supply chain materials information management of product materials, down to the substance level. Period.

And the EPA knows it.

Designated drivers: EPA, Chem Industry, and the market
The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) announced (on Dec. 30th) stringent new measures to regulate the use of four chemical groups (including phthalates).

The EPA lists the Chemicals Industry as one of three sectors that will face more demanding environmental clean-up regulations, something Stanley Works is addressing in a preventative way, also Behr Process Corp (ComputerWorld article on "Managing Data on Chemicals" with Behr). This is the EPA's first action in a broad push to revise and strengthen environmental measures around chemical use. This reform could (and is expected to) lead to reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The EPA is also developing action plans for Benzidine dyes and pigments, and bisphenol A (BPA).

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson – who has a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Princeton – is constantly addressing the urgency of visibility into what she calls the "80,000 chemicals in the known universe."

Hot phrases from Jackson’s recent speeches:
- revitalizing protections from toxic chemicals
- updating our country’s regulations and laws on chemicals and toxics
- understanding the risks posed by chemicals
- toxic emissions
These bullets are key for the EPA.

On Dec. 30, 2009, the following news broke: “EPA Announces Actions to Address Chemicals of Concern, Including Phthalates: Agency continues efforts to work for comprehensive reform of toxic substance laws” http://bit.ly/8fxnLw (link to EPA newsroom) Release date: 12/30/2009

Lisa Jackson’s background is in Chemical Engineering – so she is keenly on top of Green Chemistry and associated solutions (like software) to the problem of toxic chemicals and toxic so-called “chemical cocktails.” Product management starts here. EPA regulations will focus strongly on chemical management.

The Chemical Industry itself is keen for regulations, Jackson says. (We also find this to be the case.) "Chemical producers are worried not only about facing an inconsistent patchwork of state laws," notes Jackson, "but believe that their industry can thrive only if the public is confident that their products meet rigorous safety standards. And they want the US to lead the world in chemical risk management, not fall further behind. ... Assuring chemical safety in a rapidly changing world, and restoring public confidence that EPA is protecting the American people is a top priority for me, my leadership team, and this Administration."
Source: Jackson speech, 9/29/09, available on EPA.gov website.

Also: Jackson today (1/12/10) issued a memorandum to all employees, invigorating the "7 key themes to focus the work of our agency."

Material disclosure will be the hot-button this year.

January 7, 2010
Fabric Lifecycle: from plan to man to can: Subtitle: Sustainability in textiles.
The AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) published a feature story in December called, "Fabric Lifecycle: Coming full circle." Story is about sustainability in textiles.

Sustainability in textiles. What does it mean? How do we achieve green on our fabrics, materials and processes?

Russ McCann, president of Actio, a supply chain material tracking software firm, maintains that product and production transparency and material disclosure are key to sustainability in the textile industry. He points out that the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) vision for Industry is that "disclosure on economic, environmental, and social performance become as commonplace and comparable as financial reporting, and as important to organizational success."

The GRI's mission to promote transparency is a vital "framework for sustainable products," said Russ McCann in the AATCC article on textile sustainability.

Organics make sense in clothing; here's why, from OregonLive.com (blog):
Will this textile bring on major diseases or birth defects? is a lot to keep in mind when shopping for clothes ... There are some questions you should not have to ask yourself when selecting a sweater.

"[Organic compounds] can't cause cancer... can't cause birth defects or neurotoxicity or harm to the environment," says the blogger, so stay safe for Pete's sake (paraphrased) and stick to organic, natural fabrics, materials and dyes.

However, this gentleman from the WalMart Sustainability Consortium presents a caveat regarding organic clothing. "A lot of people think about sustainability as a 'check the box and it's done' exercise," says Scott Case, executive director for the EcoLogo program TerraChoice and member of the WalMart Sustainability Consortium, as quoted in the AATCC article. "An entire product is not sustainable just because it contains organic cotton."

Excellent point.

Russ McCann says in the article that the bulk of a textile's carbon footprint during production is based on energy consumption. Optimizing production so that the minimum in terms of energy and water are used is one way to increase production sustainability. "The more clean energy you use, the more sustainable products you can produce," he points out.

This article was comprehensive at the textile production level, but did not venture far into the supply chain aspect of textile manufacturing. For further writings on textiles and a sustainable supply chain, please see our October blog post called:
Textiles. What's in your pocket?

Feel free to share your thoughts on sustainable textiles with us. We'd love to know what you think.

January 4, 2010

What does the public think of the Chemical Industry? 12,000+ survey says...

We came across an interesting survey regarding public perception of the Chemical Industry. It was done by Cefic, the European Chemical Industry council. It's a survey of over 12,000 Europeans.

Survey says..
It seems people's views of all industries darkened just as the recession hit. (Not surprising, really.)

That said, this survey is interesting from a Chemical market-perspective. Over 12,000 Europeans from eleven countries (countries that account for 90% of the total revenue of the EU Chemical sector) were interviewed, in the first quarter of 2008. This survey, Cefic says, measures public opinion as opposed to measuring the image of the industry as it appears in the media which Cefic claims is often more negative and significantly influences policy-makers.

The main findings of the 2008 survey are as follows:

•   The overall public image of the Chemical Industry has remained unchanged since 2006
•   Huge country-by-country differences exist in attitudes to the Chemical Industry
•    Chemical Industry is now viewed more positively in relation to other benchmark industries than in 2006, but this is essentially due to a decrease in the popularity of the other industries
•   Age, sex and class play a difference in the public’s perception of our industry
•   The public seems to have a ‘love-hate’ relationship with the Chemical Industry
•   There is NOT a ’European public opinion’ but a Europe of public opinions

• There are no concrete communication initiatives to decrease the public claim to place tougher controls on the chemical industry.

Three interesting sub-points:

The middle-aged are the most skeptical with this particular group being particularly volatile towards the chemical industry in recent years
As far as gender is concerned, women appear to be far more negative towards the chemical industry than men
The highly educated are the most pessimistic of the social classes about the Chemical Industry’s efforts on CSR and Safety Health & Environment

Some important messages can also help to improve the perception of the industry:
1.)    The economic importance of the Chemical Industry
2.)    The added value of the Chemical Industry to meet the needs of future generations
3.)    The need of the Chemical Industry and its products in maintaining our standard of living without shying away from the need to carefully manage the impact of our products on health and environment and to be open.

One summarizing finding was:

• The Chemical Industry was viewed more positively in 2008 in relation to other benchmark industries than in 2006, but this is essentially due to a decrease in the popularity of the other industries.

What?! (Are other industries less popular? What a statement!) Turns out this survey was taken right around the time those reports came out saying no young people wanted to get into manufacturing, that young people felt the manufacturing industry not dynamic enough as a career path. Which, by the way, is understandable on a superficial level but when you get down to it: what could be more interesting than the science and business of making things? Humans make things. We call it manufacturing. It's as dynamic as it gets, career-wise: from mankind's first stone tools and arrowheads through to today's incredible high-tech solar panels that may save the world... manufacturing is what moves civilization forward. Or can, if smart people are driving it.

Notably, as if to add some dimension to chemical industry public perception, the ACC recently announced Chemicals on Tour: "From polyethylene to Prozac: significant chemical combinations" at an exhibit hall near you. Skidmore College currently welcomes the show, called Molecules that Matter.

Keep an eye on this blog for more on Chemical Industry notes...

December 30, 2009

Which companies are aligning with Green Initiatives? Listed here

In the run up to the Copenhagen, a petition called the Copenhagen Communique secured the signatures of almost 1000 companies, from every continent. These signatures indicate which global entities are aligning themselves with Green Initiatives and Environmental Regulatory Concerns. The petition was for climate resolution and was developed with Sun, Philips, Vodafone and more.

This list of signatories is particularly interesting if you're wondering which global businesses are serious about Green strategy and sustainable industry. It's certainly worth a browse, maybe good for reference in the New Year as well.

See list below. Most of the A's have logos; for remaining logos, please go to official site (link at bottom):

For the rest of the logos, please see web site. :) All you really need is the company name - hope this helps with your R&D:
* B&Q China
* B&S Link
* BAA
* Baigal
* Bajaj Electricals Ltd.
* Bakkavor
* Balfour Beaaty
* Bancaja Habitat
* Banco Galicia
* Banco Popular Español
* Banco Santander
* Banco Triangulo
* Bank of America Merrill Lynch
* Bank of Beijing
* Bank of East Asia
* Barclays
* Barilla
* Barker White
* Barlinek
* BASF SE
* BASMOOARC
* Bayer AG
* BBLB Architects
* BBVA
* Be Bold Do Good
* Beachcroft LLP
* Beijing Khan Wind Technology
* BEKAERT
* Belgacom
* Bellwether Services
* Beluga Shipping
* Be Natural N.V
* Bergfald & Co as
* Best Books Ltd
* Best Coast Editorial
* BG-Group
* BioEarth inc. / BioEarth Bangladesh LTD
* Bioenergia Cogeradora S/A
* Bio Group Limited
* BioRegional Development Group
* Bluenext
* BMO Financial Group
* BMW AG
* Bombardier
* Bond Bryan Architects
* Born Branded Ltd
* BP
* Brandix Lanka Limited
* Braskem
* BRF Brasil Foods
* Bristol-Myers Squibb
* British Airways
* British American Tobacco
* British Recycled Products
* Bromotion Consultancy
* BSkyB
* BSRIA
* BT
* Bullfrog Power
* Buro Happold
* Business Council for Sustainable Energy
* Business in the Community Ireland
* Business Environment Council
* Business Leadership South Africa
* C Change Investments, LLC
* C Restored
* Cable & Wireless
* CalSTRS
* Calvert Investments
* Camco International Ltd
* Canadian Baha'i Business Forum
* Canadian Business for Social Responsibility
* Canmore Partnership
* Cape Media Corporation
* Capgemini
* capitalC
* CarbonCounted
* Carbonetworks, Inc.
* Carbon Creative UK
* Carbon Foresight
* CarbonLow Group
* Carbon Retirement
* Carlsberg Group
* Carpe Diem Growth Capital
* Carpet & Rug Institute
* Carrefour Group
* Cascades
* Catalytic Technology Management Limited
* Cathay Pacific
* Catholic Super
* Catlin Group
* Cedarvue Partners
* Cementos Portland
* Cemex
* Centrica
* Centroflora Group
* Change
* Change2
* Channel Island Ceramics
* Chartered Insurance Institute
* Chartis
* Chase Environmental Services
* Chevron
* Chime Communications
* Choco Deux
* CIMA
* Circadian Solar
* Cisco
* Cision UK Ltd
* Cittaideale
* City of Bergen
* CIWEM
* Clarity International
* Clean Energy Council (Australia)
* ClearlySo
* CLIMACT
* Climate Change Capital
* ClimateCHECK
* Climate Friendly
* Climate Neutral Group
* ClimatePartner Deutschland GmbH
* Climate Wedge
* CloudApps
* Clouston Energy Research LLP
* Clownfish Marketing
* CLP Holdings
* Clyde Agriculture
* Coca-Cola Company
* Coca-Cola Enterprises
* Coca-Cola Hellenic
* Coca-Cola Icecek
* Coethica
* Coloplast A/S
* Comette Consulting
* Compania De Minas Beunventura
* Compass Group PLC
* CONCORDIA Versicherungsgruppe
* CONDOR
* Connection Research
* Connective Worldgroup Southeastern Europe
* Connexxion
* Conseil des Enterprises de Services
* Conseil des Enterprises de Services Environnementaux
* Copagaz Distribuidora de Gás Ltda
* CorporateLeaders
* Corporate Responsibility Interface Centre
* Coteba
* Council for Environmental Protection of Slovenia
* Counterpoint
* CPFL Energia
* Craftsman Group of Companies
* Credicorp
* Credit360
* Creditos Ambientais
* Crown Energy
* Crown Oil
* Crystal Martin International Ltd
* CSC
* CSL Group
* CSO Technik
* CSR Asia
* CSR Bangladesh
* CTG Advisory Services India Pvt. Ltd.
* Dairy Crest
* Dalehead Foods
* Danisco
* Danone
* Danske Bank Group
* Danze, Inc. / Gerber Plumbing Fixtures, LLC
* Darnton EGS
* Dartmouth Wave Energy
* Davis Langdon LLP
* De Beers
* Deloitte
* Delta Aerospace
* Delta-Eco
* Delta Lloyd Groep
* Delta Trade and Consultancy
* Delyte Holding AG
* Design Advantage
* Deutsche Bank AG
* Deutsche Post DHL
* Deutsche Telekom
* Devgiri Exports
* Dewey & LeBoeuf (Pty) Ltd
* Dexia Asset Management
* DHV Group
* Diageo
* Digital Dots Limited
* DLA Piper
* Domtar Corporation
* DONG Energy
* Dongguan Wonderful Ceramic Company
* Doosan Babcock
* Douglas-fir Association of NZ
* DP World
* Dragonair
* DSM
* DTZ Holdings plc.
* Duchy Originals
* Dynamic50 Ltd
* EADS Astrium
* EADS
* Earth Capital Partners
* Earth Systems Consulting
* Earthcare Products
* easyJet plc
* eBay Inc.
* E&A Ingenieros
* EC Group
* Eco 3
* Eco Conservation Initiatives
* ECODESIGN, Inc.
* Ecofin
* Eco-Frontier
* Ecosecurities
* Ecosoft
* EcoSTEPS
* Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of River Keepers
* Ecovadis
* Ecoverde
* Eczacibasi Group
* Eden Ventures
* EDF Energy
* Edinburgh International Conference Centre
* Edison
* Edit Optimisation
* EDP - Energias do Brasil
* eFiling Cabinet For Dummies-Org-Matters Software Inc.
* Eight Wild Geese LLP
* Elcogas
* ELIA
* Embercombe
* Emiliana Vineyard
* ENABLON
* Enagri Limited
* EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG
* Endesa
* Enel Spa
* Energetics
* Energy Resources Management
* Enval Limited
* Environment Business Australia
* Environmental Academy Ltd
* Environmental Capital Group
* Environmental Investments & Partners
* Environmental Population
* Enviros Consulting
* EnviroSense CC
* Envirotech
* E.ON UK plc
* EPIA
* equiiva Pty Ltd
* Ericsson
* ERM
* Ernst & Young Global
* Estrategias Nacionais
* Etex Group
* Eureka Fund Management
* EuroCharity
* Euro Link Hardware Ltd
* e5 - European Business Council for Sustainable Energy
* Eurostar
* Everflourish Electrical Co Ltd
* ewo GmbH
* Exponentia
* F&C Asset Management
* F.Hoffman-La Roche Ltd
* Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
* Fairware Promotional Products
* Famossul Movies S/A
* Fargo Group
* Ferrovial
* FESCO
* Fill Your Own Inc
* Firmenich
* First Carbon
* FirstGroup plc
* Five Winds International
* Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas
* Forest Products Association of Canada
* Forest Stewardship Council Canada
* ForestWorld LLC
* Fortis Bank Nederland
* Foster Health Inc
* Fotile
* Four Corners Group
* Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
* France Telecom
* Freetel Capital
* Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
* Fresnillo
* Friends Provident Group plc
* Friesland Bank NV
* Fuji Xerox Singapore Pte Ltd
* Fujitsu
* Fulcrum Asia
* Futurescape Netcom Pvt. Ltd.
* Fujitsu Australia Limited
* Garenne Group
* Gavel & Gown Software Inc
* GCSE.com
* G2 Events
* Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica. S.A.
* Gap Inc
* GD Midea Environment Appliance Manufacturer
* GFA Consulting Group
* General Electric
* Gender & Energy Research and Training
* General Group - GD Group Ltd
* Generation Investment Managment LLP
* Genesis Facility
* Genomatica
* Gentoo Gorup
* Geseco Group Ltd
* Giagni
* Glen Dimplex Home Appliances
* Global Carbon BV
* Global Image Management
* Global Pet Food Stores Inc.
* Global Solutions Initiative
* Globescan Incorporated
* GlobLinc LLC
* Golder Associates Corporation
* GoodEarth
* Good Vision
* GOPA Consultants
* Gordon Muray Design Limited
* Gotham Metro Studios, Inc.
* Grace News Inc
* Graham A Brown & Associates
* Grassroots Inc
* Greater Toronto Airports Authority
* Green Add+
* Green Books Ltd
* GreenCitizens.net
* GreenCollar Group
* Green Enterprise Toronto
* Greenfleet
* Greengold Ltd
* Green Lead Hosting
* Greenloop
* Green Light Trust
* Green Living
* Green Power Action Inc.
* Green Shake Inc.
* Greenware Ltd
* Grontmij | Carl Bro A/S
* Groupe Aeroplan
* Groupe Daoust/Forget Inc.
* Group Five Limited
* Grundfos
* Grupo Orsa
* Grupo SOS
* Guardian Media Group
* Guernsey Chamber of Commerce
* Guernsey Glass & Window Co Ltd
* Gull Group
* GVA Grimley
* H&M
* Halcrow Group Limited
* Hang Lung Properties
* Hang Seng Bank
* Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co., Ltd.
* Hara
* Harbourfont Centre
* Hariera Inc.
* Harrison Salmon Associates
* Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
* HelioSphera SA
* Hellenic Network for CSR
* Hemlock Printers Ltd.
* Henderson Global Investors
* Hermes Investment Group
* HESTA Super Fund
* Hewlett Packard
* HFL Sport Science
* Hiscox
* Hoare Lea
* Hollard
* Holmen AB
* Holmes Partnership
* Horizon Capital Holdings
* Horizon Recycling
* Howden
* HSBC Holdings plc
* HTSPE Ltd
* Humboldt International Co., Ltd.
* Hyder Consulting
* Hydro Asphalt Technologies
* Iberdrola
* ICA AB
* ICQ Holdings
* Idealab
* If P&C
* IFCfeed Limited
* IG Partners
* IHS
* IKEA Group
* impactChoice
* Impres
* IMR
* IMS Consulting
* Incisive Media
* Indesit
* Index-IBL
* Indian Merchants' Chamber
* Indigo Books & Music Inc.
* Industrial Investors Group
* Infosys Technologies Ltd
* Infrastrutture SpA
* ING Belgium
* ING Group
* Inheritance India Land Conservation Co P Ltd
* Innocent Drinks
* Insight Investment Management
* Institute for Sustainable Communication (ISC)
* Insurance Australia Group
* Integration City (International) Co., Ltd.
* Intellectual Capital Sweden
* Interactive Africa
* Interamerican Hellenic Life Insurance Company S.A.
* Interchange Solutions
* Interface, Inc.
* International Asset Monitor
* International Crops Research Institute
* International Sponsor Council
* Interstar Pigment Admixture & Fibers
* Invensys
* Investor Group on Climate Change
* IOI Corporation Berhad
* ionic.ch
* Island Coachways Limited
* ITC Limited
* ITEC Central Johannesburg Pty Ltd
* J Sainsburys
* Jagged Horizons Ltd
* James Finlay Limited
* Jardim Botanico Investimentos
* Jebsen & Co
* JM AB
* John Lewis Partnership
* John Ploughman Associates Limited
* John Swire & Sons Pty Ltd
* Johnson & Johnson
* Johnson Controls
* Johnson Matthey
* Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated
* John Stebbing Architect Ltd
* Junxion Strategy
* Jupiter
* Kalari
* Kalpana International
* KBC Group
* Kemp Strang
* Kendrick Rose
* Kevin L. Erwin Consulting Ecologist, Inc.
* Kingfisher Group
* K J Textiles International
* Klabin S. A.
* Klimaktiv gGmbH
* KLM
* Kodak
* Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA)
* Kone Elevators
* Koninklijke Ahold NV
* KPMG International
* Kraft Foods Global, Inc.
* Kutadgu Communication Consulting Ltd
* Landsbankinn
* lastminute.com
* Lazam MDS Insurance Brokers
* Lee Ah Sheng Enterprise Co., Ltd.
* Legal & General Group
* Legrand Group
* Lemnis Lighting
* Lend Lease Corporation Ltd
* Levi Strauss & Co.
* LF Europe
* Lifestyle 3.0 Consulting
* Limelight Event Marketing
* Limousine Environmental Action Partners, LLC
* Linfox
* Lloyd's
* Lloyds Banking Group
* Logica
* London Stock Exchnage
* L.Opt BR Sustainable Supply Chain Consultants
* L'OREAL
* LoyaltyOne Inc.
* LPR - Logistic Packaging Return
* Lucita
* LUKOIL
* LVMH
* M&S
* Macquarie Group Limited
* Mägi Kraavi & Partnerid
* Magliano S/A CCVM
* Makita (UK) Ltd
* Malaga Corp.
* Manchester Airports Group
* Manidis Roberts
* Manasc Isaac
* MAR Assessoria Ambiental e Internacional
* Marketing Incentives Ltd
* Marks and Spencer
* Martin & Co (Wrexham)
* Martineau
* Martins Comércio e Serviços de Distribuição S/A
* Masisa
* McLaughlin & Harvey
* MCM Architecture Ltd
* Mediterranean Center for Sustainable Development Programs
* MEETI
* Melco International Development Limited
* MEP
* METIS Global Awareness Network
* Metro de Madrid
* Metro Group
* Metrogas
* Mibanco
* Microgeneration Ltd
* Ministry of the Environment (Czech Republic)
* Mirvac
* mixcoach networks
* Moava
* Mobilink
* MOL
* Momentum Services
* Mongabay.com
* Morgan Sindall
* Motor Oil (Hellas)
* Mouchel
* Mountain Equipment Coop
* MPCEE Operating Group
* MRC McLean Hazel
* MTN (Mobile Telephone Networks) Ltd
* Multiform fasteners
* Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company in Warsaw
* My Generation - Green Energy
* mySmart Pty Ltd
* National Australia Bank Limited
* National Commission for Human Development
* National Express
* National Grid
* Nationwide Fuels
* NATS
* Natura Cosmeticos
* NCVO
* NedBank Ltd
* Neste Oil Corporation
* Nestle
* Net Balance
* Network Rail
* NeVo Consulting
* New Forests
* NGIS
* NHS Sustainable Development Unit
* Nice & Serious
* Nike
* NIPPONKOA Insurance Company
* Norbord Europe
* Nordic Sugar A/S
* Norsk Hydro ASA
* Northumbrian Water
* Novartia PLC
* Novartis
* Novo Nordisk A/S
* Novozymes A/S
* NPM Capital NV
* NSG Group
* OBEKK
* Object Consulting
* O'Boticário
* Ocean Electric Power
* Oeco Capital Lebenversicherung
* O'Kane Poultry
* Old Mutual
* Open Cast IT
* Opportunity Links
* Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E
* Organise This
* Oriental Software Private Limited
* Otto Group
* Oxsensis
* Ozone
* P&O Ferrymasters Ltd
* Pacific GPS
* Pacific Risk Advisors
* Palmasola SA - Madeiras e Agricultura
* Pamoja Capital
* Papier Union GmBH
* Parhelion Underwriting Ltd
* ParticipACTION
* Pearson
* Pell Frischmann
* PEMEX
* PepsiCo
* Perstorp Group
* Philips Lighting
* Pick Everard
* Pick n Pay
* Pinpoint Earth
* Pirelli Tyre & Parts
* Pitchup.com
* pitt&sherry
* PJH Gorup
* Plantstone
* Positive Impact
* powerPerfector
* PR Society of Indonesia
* Prashant Enterprises
* Precious Woods Amazon
* Pre-think
* PricewaterhouseCoopers
* PrintCity GmbH & Co KG
* Pro Adventure Ltd
* Procter & Gamble
* Produce World
* PROKON Software Consultants
* PRTM
* Pryor Consulting Services Chile S.A.
* PSA Peugeot Citroën
* PsykologByrån Kalmar
* PT Green Planet Indonesia
* Q Solar Pty Ltd
* Quarmby Construction Company Ltd
* Quebec Business Council for the Environment
* Rabbit Films Ltd.
* Rabobank Nederland
* Ramboll
* Ramco International
* Randstad Belgium&Luxemburg
* Reckitt Benckiser Group
* Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U.
* Redd Forests Pty Ltd
* Reed Elsevier
* Reegen
* Regen SW
* Remeka AB
* Renewable & Appropriate Energy Lab
* RenSMART Limited
* Report Comunicação
* Repsol YPF S.A.
* RESCo Energy Inc.
* Research In Motion Limited
* RESEAU environnement
* ResponseAbility Alliance
* Reverse Vending Corporation
* Reynaers Aluminium
* Rezayat Group
* RGE
* RHODIA
* Richard Davies Investor Relations
* Richmond Cavendish
* Ricoh Company Ltd
* RICS
* Ridgeons Ltd
* Rio Tinto
* Risk Management Solutions
* RM
* R.M. Associates
* Robeco
* Robert Bosch GmbH
* Robert W Le Page Architects & Chartered Surveyors
* Rolls-Royce
* Ronseal Limited
* Rosy Blue NV
* Rouse
* Royal Bank of Canada
* Royal Bank of Scotland Group
* Royal Dutch Shell plc
* Royal McGoun
* RSA
* RS Law & Society Consulting BV
* RUSAL
* RWE npower
* Ryobi Technologies (UK) Ltd (TTI UK)
* Sabanci Holding
* Saint-Gobain (UK, Ireland, and South Africa)
* Sancon Resources Recovery
* Sanlam
* Santam
* Santo Antonio Energia
* SAP
* Sappi
* SaVita Solar
* SC Johnson & Son, Inc.
* SCA
* Schiphol Group
* Schneider-Electric
* Schroders
* Schüco International
* SCMO
* Scotiabank
* Scottish & Southern Energy
* ScottishPower
* Scurr & Partners Limited
* SD Worx
* SEB
* Seventh Generation
* SGS
* Shanghai ACE R&E
* Shanghai CIMIC Tile Co.,Ltd
* Shanghai Electric Windpower Equipment CO.,Ltd.
* Sharda Exports
* Shirlaws
* Siemens
* Sigma Global
* Silvapar S.A.
* Sinyih Ceramic (China)
* Siyenza Management
* Six Degree People
* SJEC Corporation
* SKAI
* Skanska
* SKM (Sinclair Knight Merz)
* Smartly Green
* Smith of Derby Ltd
* SNS Asset Management
* Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands
* Sofsync Limited
* Sogreah
* Solar Communications
* Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts
* SolAbility
* Solarcentury
* SolarGren Media
* Solid Waste Technologies SA (Pty) Ltd
* Solstice Sustainability Works Inc.
* Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
* Sophos Plc
* Southern Copper - Southern Peru
* Southgate Green
* SPADEL S.A.
* Spier
* Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC
* Sputnik International Movers Ltd
* Stagecoach Group plc
* Standard Chartered
* Standard Life
* Starbucks Coffee Company
* Statoil
* Steamships Trading Company Limited
* Stehlik Cosmetics Ltd
* Steria
* Stonyfield Farm
* Stormberg AS
* Suchen
* Sun Microsystems
* Sunglow Finance
* SunGard
* Sunley Holdings
* Suntech Power
* SustainAbility Ltd.
* Sustainability Learning Institute Australia
* Sustainable Opportunities Ltd
* SustainAsia Ltd.
* Sustainable Aviation
* Sustainable Development Capital
* Sustainable Finance
* Sustainable Resources Group
* SUSTRACO
* Swift sc
* Swire Cold Storage
* Swire Industrial Services
* Swire Pacific
* Swiss Re
* Sylphen GmbH & Co. KG
* Symantec
* SynTao
* Tamkeen International
* Tate Consulting
* Taylor Young
* TDC
* Technilink IT Limited
* TechnoCarbonTechnologies GbR
* Technorm Inc.
* Tech-Tool Sourcing Co. Ltd
* Telecom Italia
* Telefonica O2 UK
* Telefonica SA
* Telenor Group
* Telstra Corporation Limited
* Tendris Holding
* Tescos
* Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
* The Ad Agency
* The Body Shop
* The Children's Investment Fund Management (UK) LLP
* The Co-operative Group
* The Co-operators Group Ltd.
* The Duha Group
* The FA Group
* The Future Makers Pty Ltd
* The Havebury Housing Partnership
* The Kroger Co.
* The Mundy Group Ltd
* The National Trust
* The Natural Step Canada
* The Olive Consultancy
* The Royal Academy of Engineering
* The Ryzex Group
* The Sustainability Advantage
* Thomson Reuters
* Timberland
* Timbmet
* TNEI Services
* Tomra Systems
* TORLYS Inc.
* Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
* TPIZ Resources Ltd.
* traffic marketing + design inc.
* TrygVesta
* Turner Broadcasting Systems Europe Limited
* Turner & Townsend
* TYF Group
* UCB
* Uhai Media (Pty) Ltd
* Umicore
* Unilever
* United Technologies Corporation
* United Utilities
* Unternehmensberatung Dipl. Ing
* Upgrade Productions Ltd.
* USST Holdings, Inc.
* UTES-UK&Turkey Environment Society
* Vale
* Valentin Software, Inc.
* Vancity
* Vattenfall
* Ventus Development Services Inc.
* Verteego
* Vertis Environmental Finance Ltd
* Vineyard/Townhouse/Ouwe Werf Group
* Virgin Group
* Visão Sustentável
* VITO
* Vodafone Group
* V.Ships
* Warner Bros. Entertainment UK
* Wasteman Group
* Waste Plan
* Water Pik Inc.
* Watters Environmental Group
* Waugh Thistleton Architect
* Webmantra Creations Pvt. Ltd.
* Westpac Group
* Westport Innovations
* Whitmar Publications Ltd
* Whole Space Industries
* Wildfire Pro
* Wildlife Works
* William Pollard & Co. Ltd
* Willmott Dixon Ltd.
* WI Windinvest GmbH
* Woodco
* Woolworths Limited
* Woolworths South Africa
* Woongjin Group
* World Green Building Council
* WPP
* WSP Environment & Energy
* X2 Connect Limited
* Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd
* Yahoo! Inc.
* Ybios SA
* YTL Corporation Berhad
* Zephyr Investment Management
* Zero Carbon Inc.
* Zerofootprint
* Zero One Engineering
* Zero Waste Solutions
* Zisman Bowyer & Partners LLP

Why they signed it: Read testimonials on why these industry leaders supported the Copenhagen Communique:
http://www.copenhagencommunique.com/testimonials

Overview of the Copenhagen Communique, links to a press release from a signatory.

The official site is www.copenhagencommunique.com but info on the measure is not very clearly presented, must say. Which is perhaps why the number of signatories stuck at 950 and didn't quite break 1000. Just an opinion. Overall, great effort on the petition. Kudos.

December 28, 2009

MSDS materials data management: miracle or module?

What should (M)SDS data management look like these days? Is outsourcing materials information like the data in (M)SDSs a good idea?

Here we'll look at ROI numbers (via case study) on outsourcing MSDS management, and we'll itemize what a Company, Department, or Cost Center can and should expect from MSDS management software solutions - should we expect miracles or... is that hype?

But first, where's the money?

Is there ROI in outsourcing MSDS management?
Let's consider a real-life case study where the solution includes:

turning on the secure, on-demand, database-driven MSDS management system
system cleans and updates all current MSDS data
system continually updates data and regulatory lists
system is available to all employees 24/7
quick look-up/report, est. to reduce time-per-MSDS by 60%
system works in over 14 languages if needed
all MSDS data now in central database, prepped for GHS

Total ROI: this system provides a 136% ROI each year. This outsourced MSDS data management system cuts MSDS costs almost in half - while adding unquantifiable value in terms of lean operations and compliance risk management.

Here's a real-life example of how Behr Paints and Coatings handles its materials safety data via an outsourcing/online agency. Compare it to your current system.

Calculations show an ROI of over 136% per year, conservatively. ROI figure does not include additional benefits of outsourcing:

risk management in avoidance of potential fines associated with outdated materials data or HazCom documents
leaner processes due to just one central data hub with no need to store paper versions
no product shipping issues around not having the MSDS or not having it in desired language
no IT cost of building / maintaining inhouse MSDS data center

In short: it's quicker, easier, safer and measurably less costly to outsource MSDS data management to a trusted materials management partner. For details on this case study, please contact cnowak@actio.net.

What should an MSDS data management solution look like?
In this day and age, given what's possible and the software systems already on the market, what should a state-of-the art MSDS solution look like, feel like, and what should it do? It's a good question. In these days of ever-changing regulations, global supply chains, tighter controls, increased visibility, and the coming GHS standards, it's time we re-grouped on what an MSDS / SDS / GHS data management system should look like.

A modern MSDS materials information management solution should feature, minimally:

up-to-date and state-of-the-art user interface to minimize learning curves and streamline adoption across the enterprise (never underestimate the value of a clean, sensible user experience)
direct integration with supply chain tools where supplier compositional data that is automatically or collaboratively collected to create a single, complete product record
automated (M)SDS revision management
materials screening against global and local Regulation lists and mandates
easy connectivity to ERPs, PLMs, and portals such as SAP, Oracle and Microsoft products and modules

Top things considered
As a starting point, consider MSDS Vault, a SaaS product that's been on the market for nearly ten years and has really exploded recently in terms of features and market traction. See latest mention in Manufacturing Business Technology, titled, "Actio updates MSDS Vault materials management system, to lower regulatory risks for manufacturers."

For credibility: there's other press testimonial - from Supply Chain Brain to eWeek to ComputerWorld to InformationWeek. Actio is part of the Microsoft Partner Network and is SAS 70 certified. The Actio customer base now tops 250, dozens of which are in the Fortune 500. Customer testimonials for Actio's MSDS Vault are also quite impressive. Testimonials provide extra dimension for preparing budgetary proposals for MSDS management systems.

Vault is a good jumping-off point in terms of What can be expected from MSDS Management?

What can be expected from an MSDS management system?
Consumers want a product than can manage Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) compliance and mitigate the risk inherent to manufacturing in today’s climate of regulatory issues, consumer interest, and the employee’s “right to know.”

Additionally, a system should help manufacturers author, centralize, analyze and report on their materials safety data libraries.

So, realistically, can we expect all that? Yes. Can and should, regardless of vendor.

(M)SDS miracle, or module?
An (M)SDS system should feature functionality that allows manufacturers to better manage changes in environmental regulations, protocols and mandates (such as the upcoming GHS standards), whether global or local. The system should also reduce handling costs by automating processes, providing enterprise-wide transparency of the chemical footprint, and letting companies/users take control of product stewardship, eco-PLM, and the reporting associated with these initiatives.

As for a list of materials management features, we've compiled a list of what should be industry-standard. Materials Management software features should minimally include:

single sign-on (SSO) for secure entry into the product (suite)
enhanced rules engine for distributing finished-product MSDSs to customers
supplier data-collection capability or link-to capability
materials and ingredient-screening against current global, local and custom Regulation lists
optimal grid and table reporting functionality
readiness for quick-conversion to GHS formats
fluency in over 14 languages for fast-tracked global-time-to-market
snap-on connectivity to ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics
snap-on connectivity to PLM technology for enhanced product lifecycle management, cradle-to-cradle
snap-on connectivity to portals such as Microsoft Sharepoint
one central database for secure storage of all collected data, with mirrored backup facility
SAS-70 certification (proof of high data management standards and corporate processes)

President and CEO of Actio Corp, Russell McCann, says, "MSDS Vault provides round-the-clock accessibility to accurate, consistent product environmental, health, and safety information – down to the substance level – across an enterprise. As a result," he says, "manufacturers are able to meet health, safety and environmental requirements in compliance with international, federal, state and local regulations."

A competent MSDS data management system can help companies toward Corporate Social Responsibility through innovative, rational chemical handling, managing supply chain substance data, and streamlining processes towards Six Sigma initiatives, mitigating risk and attaining corporate sustainability objectives.

Case study is available: How one Fortune 500 company solved the problem of managing environmental, health and safety data with a centralized, secure, 24/7-accessible materials information management system one-two punch of an authoring module and Vault. Use this form to request info or to order the case study for your review. A good case study helps you identify key issues and possible approaches to a solution. (For pricing information on (M)SDS Vault, please contact Chris Nowak: 866-522-8102 x150 or email him at cnowak@actio.net.)

Tell us your thoughts: What do you think we should be expecting these days out of our Environmental Health and Safety materials data management software?

December 22, 2009

Supply Chain Revisited: Toyota and the automotive supply chain

How and when does an Automotive company start to regroup, reconsider, and reconcile management of supplier data?

For Toyota, the answer is Now.

The Financial Times (FT) today wrote about Toyota Motor Corp pressing suppliers to slash prices. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, met with key suppliers and reporters to announce the fact that the company is reconfiguring its supply chain ops and its purchasing ops.

Toyota began today by merging three Purchasing divisions into two. Reminds us that Supply Chain Brain, the esteemed publication on supply chain, recently ran this story on tools for streamlining Purchasing. "Tool offers a process-workflow platform for requesting, screening, authorizing and purchasing materials," states the Brain. Supply Chain Brain is onto something Toyota could use to streamline Purchasing and Approval process in its leaner Purchasing center. Story says one Fortune 500 company reduced its material approval times by 75% by using the software -- which would still represent an increase in productivity for Toyota's new department, which has only shrunk by 33%.

The strongest link in the supply chain may be the software
Toyota's motion today is an excellent example of a successful company re-configuring its supply chain to meet the times. It's a key initiative for the Automotive giant.

This initiative is an opportunity for the company to reinvent its supply chain into a network where Toyota HQ can:

track and manage component data
streamline procurement operations across the enterprise and the supply chain
automate supplier communications
use collaborative (secure) online modules for supplier data collection
screen suppliers' wares and ingredients against worldwide Environmental Regulation lists
mitigate risk
manage materials down to the BOM, component, parts and substance levels

In short: it's a piqued opportunity for Toyota to jump to the front of the class by installing a sophisticated, automotive supply chain. And this can be done simply, just by taking into account, while re-configuring the supply chain, that Material Disclosure and Bill of Materials (BOM) tracking, analysis and reporting are the name of the game.

Automotive suppliers already using Material Disclosure software
Innovative chemical and substance level materials management software is currently in use by many companies, including a large (5.9 billion) global automotive supply company. The market-leader uses an on-line solution for Material Disclosure that provides:

supply chain communications
supplier ingredient and component data collection/management
environmental compliance
reporting to stakeholders

The solution they are using features multi-level Bill of Materials (BOM) management, regulatory screening (REACH, RoHS), rolling up simulation of part replacement and reporting. The details on this case study came from Chris Nowak. Nowak is an expert on Automotive supply chain component data management systems, with over fifteen years in the business of watching software increase productivity in enterprises and in supply chains. He can be reached through this blog or here.

In his note, Nowak explained that he often reports on how on-line, on-demand software can masterfully handle:

supply chain communications regarding regulations (REACH, RoHS)
data collection/management and reporting
multi-level Bill of Materials (BOM) management across borders
simulation of part replacement and reporting

"Simulations are based on feeds from SAP data, based on the actual BOM," wrote Nowak. "Users can determine where supplies are coming from, which is important because supplies from different places can mean different substance thresholds. And there can be a BIG difference between 5% and 7% of certain substances in your materials under REACH regulation, RoHS and others."

Russell McCann, Actio’s President and CEO, speaking from Actio Headquarters north of Boston, MA, said, “Actio created Material Disclosure to automate and centralize substance information exchange between manufacturers and their supply chain." Seems pretty straight-forward.

Toyota is the world's biggest car maker. In the FT article, Masatoshi Nishimoto of CSM Worldwide, a research group, said suppliers would be unlikely to meet Toyota’s demands on their own: “Toyota is going to have to do a lot of work itself," he said. It's a good point.

Sounds like a good time for Toyota to automate its supply chain component data management -- it's not now or never, but it's definitely now rather than later.

Supply Chain Revisited - sounds like the name of a novel or a period film - sounds like the name of things to come in 2010. Happy supply chain, everybody.

December 18, 2009
Water, water everywhere -- EPA breaking news on lake water and water in general: egret at Town Lake in Austin, TX
Today, December 18, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protective Association (EPA) published not one but two releases regarding fresh water: a critical baseline study on U.S. lakes and a Research Partnership strategy for more and better research going forward. This news almost slid under the radar... but ... we picked it up.

Disclosure: this subject is close to the heart, because this blogger grew up on a lake. Lake Sunapee, a pristine northern lake (which has an excellent Protective Association, check it out for pics and Lake Sunapee news bits.)

So today's EPA news has a special ring to it.

The thing about lakes is...
What goes into lakes is often what comes out of chemical use - either in manufacturing or afterwards, e.g., from rainclouds rendered acidic from pollution, or from substances used to treating roads for pavement or ice... all this rolls into our lakes and fresh water arteries.

The best way to regulate clean lake water may well be to monitor chemical processes, substances, and product ingredients well before we have to test our water. Not just for the bad news, but to track the good news as well, like where we're improving our industrial chemical footprint, where we aren't impacting the lakes at all, and all the other optimistic greening trends we're seeing these days. Track it, talk about positive trends, and have numbers standing by to support our claims (see link above for tool to do document chemicals, component, substance use).

This blog has discussed substance-tracking before. So we won't go into full analysis of products that can track, analyze and report on chemicals in a product life-cycle and before and after. For more on technology to clean the environment before toxins find the waterways, please see previous blog posts on the subject, such as this one: EPA calls for chemical information management.

More breaking news on the subject of fresh water:

EPA's Nat'l Water Program Research Strategy to Advance and Broaden Research Partnerships
On December 18, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its National Water Research Strategy. Purpose is to engage a broader range of researchers in meeting the challenges of protecting and improving U.S. water resources.
The strategy identifies and promotes the research needs of EPA’s national water program to potential partners. It outlines the water program’s four research priorities: healthy watersheds and coastal waters, safe drinking water, sustainable water infrastructure and water security.
Each priority focuses on five technical areas: aquatic life health effects, human health effects, method development, occurrence and exposure, and treatment technologies and effectiveness.
The objective of the strategy is to diversify the science the water program uses to develop its regulatory and non-regulatory water management tools and decisions. Expanding the science base will expedite the production of the needed tools and help achieve faster and better-quantified water quality outcomes. More information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/strategy

Thin ice: Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc agrees to $5 million ground water and soil cleanup San Francisco - The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. entered into a consent decree for future groundwater and soil cleanup at the Apache Powder Superfund Site, near St. David, Arizona. Apache Nitrogen Products will continue to remove nitrate and perchlorate from groundwater and perform long-term groundwater monitoring. The work will cost up to $5 million and the company has agreed to pay $1.2 million for the EPA’s past response costs as part of the agreement. The company is using renewable energy and has constructed a “green” wetlands system to treat contaminated groundwater.
“Water is a vital resource in Arizona. By using cost effective, bio-remediation to clean up groundwater, Apache Nitrogen Products has saved money and protected an essential public resource.” said Keith Takata, director of the Superfund program for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest office.

Under a Unilateral Administrative Order, Apache Nitrogen Products completed the design and construction of a clean up system in September 2008 for groundwater and soil contamination at the site. Shortly after, the company began long-term operations and maintenance including ongoing monitoring of the groundwater cleanup’s effectiveness. Apache Nitrogen Products is now agreeing to continue to perform the cleanup work under a Consent Decree.

(Apache Nitrogen Products began operations in 1922 as a manufacturer of industrial chemicals and explosives, and continues operations today. The EPA identified the Apache Powder Site as an environmental problem in the early 1980’s and placed it on the National Priorities List in 1990.)

For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/ApachePowder/
Consent Decree: http://www.epa.gov/oswercpa/docs/success_apachepowder_az.pdf
EPA's most comprehensive study of the nation’s lakes
Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its most comprehensive study of the nation’s lakes to date.
The draft study, which rated the condition of 56 percent of the lakes in the United States as good and the remainder as fair or poor, marked the first time EPA and its partners used a nationally consistent approach to survey the ecological and water quality of lakes. A total of 1,028 lakes were randomly sampled during 2007 by states, tribes and EPA.

“This survey serves as a first step in evaluating the success of efforts to protect, preserve, and restore the quality of our nation’s lakes,” said Peter Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “Future surveys will be able to track changes in lake water quality over time and advance our understanding of important regional and national patterns in lake water quality.”

The National Lakes Assessment reveals that the remaining lakes are in fair or poor condition. Degraded lakeshore habitat, rated “poor” in 36 percent of lakes, was the most significant of the problems assessed. Removal of trees and shrubs and construction of docks, marinas, homes and other structures along shorelines all contribute to degraded lakeshore habitat.

Nitrogen and phosphorous are found at high levels in 20 percent of lakes. Excess levels of these nutrients contribute to algae blooms, weed growth, reduced water clarity, and other lake problems. EPA is very concerned about the adverse impacts of nutrients on aquatic life, drinking water and recreation. The agency will continue to work with states to address water quality issues through effective nutrient management.

The survey included a comparison to a subset of lakes with wastewater impacts that were sampled in the 1970s. It finds that 75 percent show either improvements or no change in phosphorus levels. This suggests that the nation’s investments in wastewater treatment and other pollution control activities are working despite population increases across the country.

The results of this study describe the target population of the nation’s lakes as a whole and are not applicable to a particular lake.

Sampling for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment is underway, and results from this two-year study are expected to be available in 2011.

Benchmark alert: The draft study: http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey
For more on products used to treat roadways, say for snow removal, and how those substances can effect watersheds and eco-systems, please consider this: Chemical deicers such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride are often applied to frozen roadways and sidewalks in rock salt form to make shoveling and clearing them easier after a big snow. The compounds form a brine solution that melts the snow. But as the brine continues to seep downward into the ground, the runoff is introduced into the ecosystem, which can damage surrounding grass, trees, and other plants before making its way back into the water supply. For more, see a nice article here.
For more on products that not only clean but make companies and decision-makers accountable for what they make and use (not just in a bad way but also in a good way -- by tracking GOOD work via sustainable and green best practices) please see this list of environmental regulatory software tools.
Dive in, the water's fine... hopefully. Cheers to clean lakes -- like beautiful Lake Sunapee.

December 15, 2009
Study: Global companies need, but don't have, supplier collaboration: Supply Chain Management Review (SCMR) is the "Harvard Business Review" of Supply Chain publications. At least that's how it was put to us recently -- how accurate that is a subject for another blog. For our purposes, let's look at a study posted by SCMR on 12/8/09.

Global companies need supplier collaboration
"Most companies know that a global supply chain needs to be in touch with all partners involved, but very few companies out there are actually doing it," says the subhead. The rest of the article is supporting quotes and survey breakdowns -- and one stat really stuck out.

Apparently 75 percent of executives surveyed "said they have 'no ability' or 'an unsatisfactory ability' to extend and leverage their internal systems to suppliers and outsourced service providers."

It's amazing that in this day and age there is any issue at all with communication or collaboration in a supply chain. There are so many wonderful tools out there to address this. Some are even on-demand. There's no excuse anymore... and yet... supply chains push themselves wearily along as if this were 1951.

Interestingly, the article next to that one on the SCMR.com home page -- posted same day -- says that SaaS is poised to ramp up in new economy. A new study "suggests that the economic recovery will encourage more use of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology." The article has a Logistics slant, which is fair enough seeing as it's written by an Editor at Logistics Management.

Automated supply chains: bling? or ka-ching?
Great quote from the SaaS article: Warren Hausman, Professor of Operations Management in the Department of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University says, "...report demonstrates that companies can gain substantially by automating their global supply chains, probably much more than they have estimated to date," said Warren Hausman, at Stanford University.

We're hearing ka-ching from automation in a supply chain.

Automated materials management in supply chains: SaaS-y!
Recently, one global packaging supplier started automating its supply chain collaboration, using Actio’s Material Disclosure SaaS module to capture, track and analyze the chemicals and substances in their products and supply chain – for environmental and regulatory compliance. This SaaS module is collaborative software for supply chain materials management: suppliers log in and update product data (product ingredients mostly).

Guess it's really time to open our kimonos.

Also, we're aware of this article which discusses supply chain collaboration via a SaaS module used by companies like Stanley Works to manage substances in the supply chain – specific to the stringent environmental regulation in Europe called REACH. Hence the name, REACHtracker.

Lean and green
Earlier this month the esteemed Managing Automation posted about a new SaaS module for material approval with new functionality allowing manufacturers to better implement and manage Six Sigma initiatives, invigorate Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and take control of global product stewardship.

Quote: the product "has become the market leading SaaS solution for greening the enterprise and the supply chain at the materials procurement level,” said Russell McCann, President and CEO of Actio. “Manufacturers use Gatekeeper to ensure that their products and supply chains comply with global environmental regulations, as well as with customer specifications and requirements."

Automated (M)SDS data management: enterprise and supply chain
Yahoo! News recently posted about a new SaaS module for materials management at the substance level -- managing EHS and MSDS (and GHS when it happens) data. The makers claim to be experts in materials information management, from BOM component to substance-level, with a specialty in local and global environmental regulatory screening.

This sort of materials management is used by all companies, maybe a slight emphasis on power, aerospace, packaging, and electronics companies. A list of clients is here.

Here's to being SaaS-y, being lean, open kimonos, and removing bling from the supply chain.

December 10, 2009
GHS: the ACTUAL cost-to-benefit ratio of GHS conversion? 1-to-8: The cost-to-benefit breakdown of the proposed GHS standard is: more than 8 dollars of benefits for every 1 dollar of cost -- according to the latest OSHA data.

This week's article on How-To Convert to GHS in Industry Week magazine sparked further heat -- the good kind -- around GHS. The article was authored by Actio Corp's co-Founder Kal Kawar and the Director of Corp Comms, K.M. Hurley representing Actio and as an entity having significant experience around (M)SDS data and global regulation and standards such as REACH, RoHS, WEEE and over one hundred others. [For an overview and background of GHS, the Globally Harmonized System of chemical classification, please see recent articles here and here.]

Show me the money!
The question: how much will GHS cost - or will it yield? According to this table acquired from OSHA, special to this blog, the cost-to-benefit ratio of the proposed GHS standard can be expressed as: an 800% return.

More than $8 of benefits for $1 of cost. Not bad.

Here's how: Table VII–1 from the Federal Register provides a summary of the costs and benefits of the proposed revisions to the OSHA HCS, and it shows the net benefits and cost-effectiveness of the revisions to the standard. Net monetized benefits are estimated to be $754 million annually.

Please note that this table was not published in the HTML version online. It was acquired by special, specific request from OSHA. That doesn't mean it's secret, per se, but it does mean you have to know who to ask and what to ask for (!) in order to procure a copy. We see that as our job as industry experts, watchdogs and commentators.

Therefore, we're pleased to say this OSHA cost-to-benefit table and the data therein is special to this blog. Let us know if posting this type of data is helpful to you, or if you prefer material more along the lines of the Muppets and music videos. :) Happy holidays, everyone.

December 8, 2009
Obama administration takes clear stand on climate change: Lisa Jackson, Head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), spoke yesterday, on Day #1 of the Copenhagen Summit. The speech announced "reasonable, common sense steps" towards a plan to curb climate change.

The official statement allows Obama to go to Copenhagen next week backed by a clear message from the U.S.
Overall, this is exciting stuff, even if it is a slightly boring video. Some Muppets singing - maybe Muppets singing a cover of Midnight Oil's "Beds are Burning" - would've gotten the EPA video the Tube-play it deserves. In the meantime, people like us will give you the short version.

The point of the EPA's concise message and (can we say?) the EPA's initiative on emissions regulation is that we need to go to Copenhagen with a unified front, a clear message, and some power of example.

Ten times science

Jackson used forms of the word "science" ten times - as in "science," "scientist," or "scientific." Not an accident, of course. The message was that if you look at all the scientific study done on climate change, it has shown that climate change is real, and has shown that human industrial emissions have a marked effect on warming the planet's climate.

(In fairness to all sides: it's possible that "maybe not." As in "maybe not" do modern industrial processes effect the earth's ecosystem in a way that incites a warming trend. It's also true that "maybe not" E=mcsquared, "maybe not" to the Big Bang theory, and "maybe not" did Darwin's evolutionary processes occur. Maybe not! But let's assume that the best scientific evidence we have is worth something and move forward.)

"There have been and will continue to be debates about ... climate change," Jackson said yesterday. "But the overwhelming amounts of scientific study show that the threat is real – as does the evidence before our very eyes." Jackson then cited earth's receding polar caps, historic droughts, and disappearing coastlines.

Key points:

Key points of Jackson's speech are as follows:

- "We arrive at the climate talks in Copenhagen with a clear demonstration of our commitment to facing this global challenge."

- "Today, I’m proud to announce that EPA has finalized its endangerment finding on greenhouse gas pollution, and is now authorized and obligated to take reasonable efforts to reduce greenhouse pollutants under the Clean Air Act."

- "Earlier this year, EPA established this country’s first – and what I believe will be a world-leading – nationwide greenhouse gas emissions reporting system.

- "Next month, large emitters in the U.S. will begin working with EPA to monitor their emissions."

- "This is the nation's first and what I believe will be a world-leading greenhouse gas emissions reporting system."

- "Clean cars program ... contains the nation’s first ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from American vehicles."

- "These are reasonable, common-sense steps that will allow us to do what the Clean Air Act does best – reduce emissions for better health, drive technology innovation for a better economy, and protect the environment for a better future – all without placing an undue burden on the businesses that make up the better part of our economy."

- "Steps towards green jobs, reduced dependence on foreign oil, and a better future for our children."

EHS professionals on the whole do not tend to be the most engaging speakers [always exceptions], so don't expect to be riled to action upon hearing the EPA's message and watching the video. The message is delivered in the common-sense, let's-be-sensible way that has characterized the Obama-Jackson EPA thus far.

You can scan yesterday's speech in document form here: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/8d49f7ad4bbcf4ef852573590040b7f/b6b7098bb1dfaf9a85257685005483d5!OpenDocument

It was very helpful in writing this blog post.

Technological innovation in this area

Technological innovation in emissions reporting over the past ten years includes software for emissions control/tracking around industrial processes. Let's examine one of them.

Here, we'll look at Actio Regulator, the substance inventory tracking system.

This is not just a greenhouse gas emission tracking system -- although those systems can be very useful too -- but the Actio system is a little more dimensional. It's interesting because it goes deeper, tracking what happens in manufacturing processes, at the substance level, well below the surface.

Chemicals in the Actio system are broken down by individual components and consolidated for cross-referencing throughout the facility. Chemical containers are individually monitored and can be located with the click of a mouse. Inventory logs, movement records, storage locations, and reoccurring usages are all tracked by Regulator's inventory functions. For example, in pharmaceutical manufacturing, Actio customers like IDEXX Laboratories use Regulator to generate an audit trail from request to consumption in accordance with FDA requirements.

Integration with ERP Systems - Actio Regulator seamlessly links with industry standard ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics AX, integrating inbound inventory data (product name/chemical name, quantity, container, ship to location) into Regulator for component-level tracking throughout its use in production.

HazCom Labeling - Upon receipt of new materials, Actio Regulator generates the appropriate HazCom-compliant container labels and accounts for the new material and the quantity received.

Bar Coding - Actio Regulator works with all industry standard bar-coding systems allowing material containers to be easily tracked throughout the enterprise. A unique identification number is given to each container creating a detailed, material accounting, which can include date of receipt, material transfer histories, and container disposal records.

Emissions Reporting - HAPtracker, a module within Regulator, can flag and track by facility hazardous air pollutants (HAP) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for local reporting. By monitoring raw material consumption, Actio Regulator uses real-time data to calculate the total atmospheric release of hazardous emissions from the facility. Triggers can be set and individuals notified when air permit thresholds are close to being reached.

Local, State and Federal Compliance Reporting - Actio Regulator automatically generates Tier I, Tier II and Schedule R reports for compliance with federal regulations. Reports can be generated by chemical, as well as by component. Regulator also supports a variety of state and local reporting forms such as California HMIS Report (Form 2731), New Jersey Right to Know and Unidocs.

Waste Reporting – Actio Regulator is a tracking device for complete waste accounting during a material's life cycle. From the time a material enters the facility until the time it is disposed of, Actio Regulator tracks and logs the inventory movements of that material, and its components, and can generate waste stream reports for EPA requirements.

Thanks to the EPA, the Muppet billboard photographer (public domain), and the folks interviewed on the technology piece.

Cheers, everyone, to cleaner air and fewer sketchy substances in our manufacturing procceses and emissions. No one can argue with that.

December 4, 2009
CALIFORNIA GREEN CHEMISTRY: What? Why? And How do we comply with it?: >
The latest information on California's Green Chemistry Initiative was recently released in an excellent newsletter from Actio Corp.

The transmission came from Christian Nowak. In a newsletter that comes every three weeks and covers various topics.* Go ahead and email him directly if you'd like further information on this subject -- or if you'd like to subscribe to the newsletter -- at cnowak@actio.net.

Mr. Nowak was kind enough to allow reprint of select portions of the document in this blog post.

If interested in California Green Chemistry or green chemistry in general, please read on:

What is green chemistry?
Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the lifecycle, including the design, manufacture, and use of a chemical product.

As a reader of this blog, you're probably familiar with Actio and know that Actio has been leading the market in innovative green chemistry solutions since 1999. Actio has developed keen expertise regarding Green Chemistry Initiatives and has developed SaaS modules that any company can use, regardless of current IT platforms. SaaS modules can be turned on right away. For more on SaaS, see Section 3 and Section 5, below.

Testimonial from Green Mountain Coffee:

"Now that we have multiple sites across multiple states, we have to think differently about managing information. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is always striving to maintain leadership in social and environmental responsibility, and we take EHS initiatives and GRI reporting very seriously. Actio software supports and streamlines our environmental initiatives.

"We looked at different options and made a fantastic choice with Actio."

- John McNamara, Manager, Supply Chain
Green Mountain Coffee

**

1. Hot topic: why is California Green Chemistry so important? And what is it?

California environmental law tends to lead the rest of the country. A good example is the non-smoking legislation that passed in California -- banning smoking in public restaurants/bars -- in the late-1990's. The legislation was adopted by the rest of the country in blindingly fast fashion.

Linda S. Adams, CA Secretary for Environmental Protection, introduced the California Green Chemistry Initiative this way:

"I am pleased to present the California Environmental Protection Agency’s (Cal/EPA) Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI) policy recommendations for strengthening the protection of public health and our environment and moving toward a sustainable California. The GCI proposal presents a new way to look at chemicals in our society, unleashing the creativity and innovation of our scientists and engineers to design and discover the next generation of chemicals." - December 2008

The California Green Chemistry Initiative report

The "final report" on the California Green Chemistry Initiative states that green chemistry presents a major paradigm shift that focuses on environmental protection at the design stage of product and manufacturing processes. It is an innovative way to deal with chemicals before they become hazards, with the goal of making chemicals and products “benign by design.” Green chemistry is a preemptive strategy that reduces the use of toxic substances before they contaminate the environment and our bodies. It is a marked departure from the past where society managed industrial and municipal wastes by disposal or incineration. Green chemistry seeks to dramatically reduce the toxicity of chemicals in the first place, rather than merely manage their toxic waste after use and disposal.

Green Chemistry Initiatives insist that manufacturers know what's in their products and their supply chains. It inspires companies to keep careful track of all that comes in, is made, and goes out.

The six recommendations developed through the California Green Chemistry Initiative constitute a far-reaching, market-driven strategy with an ambitious aim: a new chemicals framework and a quantum shift in environmental protection.

These landmark policy options will invigorate California’s environmental leadership and hope to foster a new era in the design of a new consumer products economy that focuses on inventing, manufacturing and using toxic-free, sustainable products. At Actio, we've been calling it eco-PLM. Or a conscientious Product Lifecycle Management.

The six recommendations of the CA Green Chemistry Initiative final report are:

1. Expand Pollution Prevention and product stewardship programs to more business sectors -- to refocus additional resources on prevention rather than clean up.

2. Develop Green Chemistry Workforce Education and Training, Research and Development and Technology Transfer through new and existing educational programs and partnerships.

3. Create an Online Product Ingredient Network to disclose chemical ingredients for products sold in California, while protecting trade secrets.

4. Create an Online Toxics Clearinghouse, an online database of chemical toxicity and hazards populated with the guidance of a Green Ribbon Science Panel to help prioritize chemicals of concern and data needs.

5. Accelerate the Quest for Safer Products, creating a systematic, science-based process to evaluate chemicals of concern and alternatives to ensure product safety and reduce or eliminate the need for chemical-by-chemical bans.

6. Move Toward a Cradle-to-Cradle Economy to leverage market forces to produce products that are “benign-by-design” in part by establishing a California Green Products Registry to develop green metrics and tools (e.g., environmental footprint calculators, sustainability indices) for a range of consumer products and encourage their use by businesses.

2. Background on California chemical initiatives

In 2008, California initiated the first of its kind, state-level chemical oversight program.

The legislation gives the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) the power to set up a framework for dealing with chemicals of concern. Problem chemicals are currently dealt with on a substance-by-substance basis, ending up in sometimes-contentious legislation. Critics of the system say that legislators don't have the ability to become experts on every chemical that can be harmful to humans and the environment, and that legislation is sometimes driven by emotions and lobbying rather than research.

Assembly Bill 1879 gives the Department of Toxic Substances Control until 2011 to set up a science-based process for identifying, evaluating and regulating chemicals, taking into account manufacturing, use and disposal. A panel of scientists will advise the department. The other bill, SB 509, sets up a state-run website to act as a clearinghouse of chemical information directed at consumers.

The bills come on the heels of the state's Green Chemistry Initiative, which has put forth numerous ideas on how to advance green chemistry. The Initiative has brought together a variety of stakeholders for discussions on how to inform consumers about chemicals, alter consumer protection laws, add green chemistry to education and expand similar efforts.

Are the Feds behind California? If so, how much?

The U.S. EPA is also looking to expand chemical oversight efforts, but at the federal level. The EPA is working on a program to encourage chemical companies to provide health and safety information on inorganic chemicals in high production volume.

Inorganic chemicals are any substances that do not have carbon atoms, and include a broad list with the likes of cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel. A high production value (HPV) chemical is a chemical manufactured or imported in quantities higher than 1,000,000 pounds a year.

The EPA already has gathered information on some 2,200 organic HPV chemicals. The voluntary program for inorganic HPV chemicals would include a two-three year period of gathering data, taking advantage of similar work by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada and the European Union's REACH efforts. The EPA would then begin a prioritization assessment of chemicals.

A good resource is the reference page for the Chemical Assessment and Management Program, ChAMP -- but note the page is no longer updated as the EPA has recently taken chemical assessment to new level, making it an EPA priority, that is, front-page news. In addition, the EPA is taking a look at the Toxic Substances Control Act - including a comprehensive inventory of industrial chemicals that has more than 83,000 entries.

For more information, contact the chemical regulation watchdog personnel at Actio Corp, makers of software for materials data management, environmental regulatory compliance, and supply chain stewardship.

Note: The process of gathering information on materials - from the component to each item in the Bill of Materials (BOM) to the substance level - of all entities coming up through your supply chain can be automated.

3. Is SaaS software the future of online green chemistry solutions?

What can SaaS do? SaaS stands for "Software as a Service," meaning that the customer just uses the product with a browser and internet connection, much like an internal intranet or like a secure online data center such as we have with income taxes.

With a SaaS solution, the investment does not have to break the bank, and your data is just as secure if not more secure than it would be if housed at your plant.

A SaaS solution is plug-and-play. It involves no expensive IT compatibility tweaks or ongoing server management costs - because all that is taken care of by the host, in this case Actio.

Tip: look for a provider that has SAS-70 certification - a thorough, comprehensive third-party audit. The certification seal indicates that the service provider meets or exceeds rigorous industry testing and standards.

Look for the SAS-70 seal:

4. Best part! :) Ruminations from blogger Chris Jellen: SaaS is hot, but is it really cheaper?

SaaS is America's next top model, some say. Supermodel, even.

SaaS is where the business world is headed. SaaS is more cost effective, for starters. Cheaper and easier to turn on, and better value over time.

Jellen's post (linked above) quotes AMR Research blogger Bruce Richardson (who's quoting Giga Om): "Traditional legacy applications such as Oracle or SAP have a fully loaded cost of delivery of $1,000-$1,500 per user per month. Several years ago, Oracle On Demand [a SaaS solution] got that cost down to $50-$100, whether it was Oracle-hosted or customer-hosted. Salesforce.com [SaaS] has squeezed that cost down even more to $7-$10, though admittedly just for the much lighter-weight CRM portion of the suite."

Could SaaS really be that much cheaper? Check out the blog entry to get the complete shakedown.

5. Actio's Gatekeeper screens for green chemistry in the procurement phase - and there's more

Actio's progressive Gatekeeper online module evaluates products in the design and procurement phase. It screens materials against all regulatory data. Gatekeeper also streamlines business operations with workflow functionality for a lean approval process.

Please see the latest news release on Gatekeeper, called Actio Gatekeeper reduces manufacturer material approval times by 75% while keeping it green.

Guess it's considered Microsoft news because of the Actio-Microsoft partnership -- not really sure and anyway that's a topic for another day.

But wait - there's more!

You're invited to visit the Material Disclosure page and learn how to:
    * Break down ‘siloed’ materials information, so it can be securely shared, organized, and analyzed
    * Automate today’s supply chain (up- and down-stream) communications so suppliers enter data and answer custom questionnaires in a private, secure environment

*RE: newsletter from Mr. Nowak: each issue addresses different topics relating to chemicals, manufacturing, supply chains, eco-PLM, environmental regulation (such as REACH, RoHS, WEEE, Prop 65) and compliance.

**Actio Corp has an impressive fifteen+ client testimonials on the web site, in the Clients section.

December 2, 2009
LinkedIn group with 3000 Environment, Health and Safety professionals: LinkedIn news: Interested in green? environment? health? safety? Check this out:

An incredible 3000 professionals have joined the Environment, Health & Safety Compliance Network on LinkedIn so far. It's a hugely successful group - as well as fun and interesting. If you are reading this you may be qualified to join.

Members stay current and informed. Share news and thoughts with others. Look for jobs in the field or post a company's openings/rumors.

Go to LinkedIn, click on Groups, then Search for the Environment, Health & Safety Compliance Network, and request to join. Or click the link above.

Another way to get there is to click the LinkedIn icon on the lower left hand side of the home page at www.actio.net - it goes directly to the group. The rest is really easy. You’re on the way to LinkedIn where you can join thousands of other professionals.

Group Owner Chris Nowak says, "It's been wildly successful - beyond anyone's expectations."

November 30, 2009
FDA likely "needs more info" -- will delay ruling on BPAs: M. Kissinger of the Milwaukee Sentinal watchdog site reports that the FDA is likely to delay ruling on BPAs; that the agency will say it needs more time to analyze hundreds of new studies.

BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical used in certain food contact materials and first approved by FDA in the early 1960s. In recent years, concerns have been raised about BPA's safety. In August 2008, FDA released a draft report finding that BPA remains safe in food contact materials.

Companies and agencies who are concerned about BPA amounts and levels have recently implemented programs and initiatives to track, analyze, and report on BPA levels. Chemical and substance-tracking software modules from Actio are a good example of the types of a good solution used to address BPA and other substance thresholds.

On October 31, 2008, a subcommittee of FDA's science board raised questions about whether FDA's review had adequately considered the most recent scientific information available. Most recently, on June 3, 2009, FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Health (written testimony is available at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm164186.htm).

In response to a question about BPA, Dr. Hamburg emphasized that she takes the questions that have been raised about BPA very seriously, and she stated that the FDA's new Acting Chief Scientist, Dr. Jesse Goodman, is working with FDA scientists to take a fresh look at the science of BPA. According to their web site, the FDA intends to explain the results of this review in late summer or early fall.

However, this being late-fall, maybe the explanation will come later on...

Kissinger's article about the delay in explanation is online, posted November 30, 2009. http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/

November 25, 2009
Breaking Thanksgiving news: California posts a timely draft for a state Cap-and-trade program: Posted on November 24, 2009:
PRELIMINARY DRAFT REGULATION FOR A CALIFORNIA CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM
- FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT -

CALIFORNIA CAP ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND MARKET-BASED COMPLIANCE MECHANISMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
CA GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT of 2006 (AB 32)

Just as the world is poised to meet at Copenhagen for discussions around climate change, California posts a timely draft for a California Cap-and-trade program. The news came one day before President Obama announced his attendance at the Summit for Climate Change in Copenhagen.

Background:
The AB 32 Scoping Plan identifies a cap-and-trade program as one of the main strategies California will employ to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The cap-and-trade program will help put California on the path to meet its goal of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and ultimately achieving an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050.

Under cap-and-trade, an overall limit on GHG emissions from capped sectors will be established by the cap-and-trade program. Facilities subject to the cap will be able to trade permits (allowances) to emit GHGs.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will work with stakeholders to design a California cap-and-trade program that is enforceable and meets the requirements of AB 32, including the need to consider any potential impacts on disproportionately impacted communities. Consistent with AB 32, ARB must adopt the cap-and-trade regulation by January 1, 2011, and the program itself must begin in 2012.

California is working closely with six other western states and four Canadian provinces through the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) to design a regional cap-and-trade program that can deliver GHG emission reductions within the region at costs lower than could be realized through a California-only program. To that end, the ARB rule development schedule is being coordinated with the WCI timeline for development of a regional cap-and-trade program.

If you would like to participate during future meetings, or get future workgroup announcements, you can signup with ARB's Cap and Trade Email Listserver.

To review the draft - go to the California EPA site or here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/meetings/121409/pdr.pdf

For more on Copenhagen Summit, here is a good place to start: http://www.copenhagencommunique.com/
It's a petition by international businesses for climate change - signed/endorsed by companies such as Nike, Barclays, SAP, Sun, Actio Corp, and over 800 others.

Your company can sign the Copenhagen petition for climate change also -- if you qualify, and you probably do if you're reading this. Just go to the page for Cop15 climate change testimonials and click the huge orange square on the right that says "Sign Now." Tell them you were referred by this site so they hear good stuff back.

Cheers, and happy holidays.

November 23, 2009
RE: November 17, 2009 Congressional hearings on "Prioritizing Chemicals for Safety Determination.": Last week in chemicals news... November 17, 2009 Congressional hearings on "Prioritizing Chemicals for Safety Determination" and an interview by Lisa Jackson.

Ditz: Sr. Policy Advisor for the Center for International Environmental Law
Owens: Ass't Administrator in EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)
Jackson: Head of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Daryl Ditz is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Center for International Environmental Law in Washington, DC:
1) To expedite action, Ditz said that "Congress should authorize EPA to promptly identify and phase out non-essential uses of a set of high-priority chemicals."

2) Congress should "authorize EPA to prioritize the order in which all chemicals, new as well as existing, are assessed against a health-based standard."

3) Congress should ensure that "up-to-date, comprehensive information is available on all chemicals, to protect the health and safety of Americans and foster confidence in the market."

Finally, Mr. Ditz seconded the need for The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations to conduct bio-monitoring as "an important check on human exposures in the real world." Ditz also believes that the ongoing efforts in Europe (REACH) and Canada (Chemical Categorization Program) can be used to help inform the evaluation of chemicals in the United States.

Meanwhile, Yahoo! News released news that an improved product for chemical screening in the design phase reduces Manufacturer's Material Approval Times by 75%. The product is called Actio Gatekeeper. It's the kind of thing the EPA needs if it wants any control or visibility into the over 80,000 flying around the market today.InformationWeek wrote about Gatekeeper: "a product that helps users automatically route and track requests, approvals, and purchases of hazardous materials." That was in 2005. Gatekeeper has become the market-leading SaaS solution for environmental regulatory screening and management (design & procurement phase).

Last week (November 19, 2009) the lastest version of Actio Gatekeeper released. See Microsoft News on TMC for details. The big news is that Actio Gatekeeper is part of a market-leading suite of SaaS solutions for environmental chemical tracking, analyzing, reporting, and compliance. “Actio Gatekeeper has become the market leading SaaS solution for greening the enterprise and the supply chain at the materials procurement level,” said Russell McCann, President and CEO of Actio. “Manufacturers use Gatekeeper to ensure that their products and supply chains comply with global environmental regulations, as well as with customer specifications and requirements."

Steve Owens, Assistant Administrator in EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS), also testified to Congress last week. Owens indicated that EPA does not have sufficient authority to reevaluate existing chemicals that were grandfathered into the TSCA Inventory at the time of its creation. He explained that EPA will prioritize chemicals based on several considerations. Mr. Owens also mentioned EPA’s plan to issue “action plans” for a set of chemicals every four months, starting next month.

Also spoken last week: Lisa Jackson, head of the EPA, spoke at length with the New Orleans Times-Picayune. She said the EPA will more closely monitor the regulatory activities of Louisiana and other states that administer the federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, and may step in when states aren't adequately enforcing the law.

"Many of these state programs are 20, 30 years old," Jackson said in an interview with reporters and editors of The Times-Picayune. "And we might even need to hit the reset button and say, 'OK, we're going to hold you to a standard. If you're doing your job, great, but if you're not, we're going to be here going inside until you are."

For more on SaaS solutions to chemical information management, such as Actio Gatekeeper, see the Contact form at this link: supply chain materials information management.

November 19, 2009
Are Environmental Services skills undervalued? Yes, according to article: Nature 'services' undervalued, EU report finds.
Report Published: Friday13 November 2009.

"The cost of nature conservation is by far outweighed by societal and economic benefits, argues a new report supported by the European Commission and published on Friday (13 November)." (Linked to full article at end of this post - but meanwhile...)

"In California," she said, "the E in EHS will save a company fines from Air pollution Control District, State Water Resource Control Board, Environmental Protection Act, Hazardous Material Management. Though I feel we are under valued -- it is only because we are not selling how much money we can save them!" - Director of Health and Safety at United Staffing Agency

You're right - bottom line should be figured into everything. So often, as in this NY Times article about the smartgrid, green saves money!

N. Laster - on a LinkedIn EHS discussion - made a good point about Environmental experts may not be selling how much money the skill set can save the companies they serve or would like to serve.

Get help selling the value -- not your "personal value" but "the value of Environmental Services" that you provide -- a little more. Here's some help:

Once we needed dollar figures on the savings that would result from MSDS conversion to a global standard. We called OSHA. The OSHA site is comprehensive but it's sometimes hard to sift through so much info. Well, they got back in a few days and were so helpful! Ended up being able to document using dollars how much globally harmonized MSDS sheets would save. So a "top tip" is to contact OSHA for dollar figures on your skill set or area of expertise. They want to help - it's why they do what they do.... If anyone would like to see the full-length GHS write-up let us know.

Also, on a more EHSy note, we recently saw a presentation by Sikorsky at a SESHA summit at Axcelis Technologies just outside of Boston. Sikorsky EHS presenter detailed how to get at dollar ROI figures for justifying EHS action and investment. It was pretty clever, actually, and relevant. If anyone would like the presenter's name we'll dig it up for you - off top it was Brian Something(?). He might share his presentation or thoughts.

The only other point to make here is about passion.
It may be the case that people who work in Environmental Services are so passionate about their jobs they would do it for free... and that's something beautiful, but also something to think about.

Environmental Services article that sparked this post was here.

November 13, 2009
Is regulations management a competitive advantage for chemical manufacturers?: New survey data shows that regulations are actively redirecting product development and business strategies at most chemical companies.

The survey indicates that, over the next five years, regulatory compliance will advance from being perceived as a small cost of doing business to a major driver of competitive advantage. The survey, conducted by CSC and Chemical Week, queried senior compliance and sustainability officers at leading global chemical companies.

"With regards to REACH, 60% of respondents are confident that they will complete 2010 REACH registration requirements on time." (This means 40% are not so confident...)

"However, the ability to manage supplier communication regarding substance use registration and Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) effectiveness are major concerns." - both quotes from a Control Engineering article by David Greenfield, Editor.

Someone else emailed me a bullet from a 2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study (registration required):

When using new media to communicate corporate responsibility efforts, consumers think companies should focus on:
    * what’s in products and how they’re made (85 percent)

To round it out, in a newsletter released by Actio Corp regarding REACH environmental and chemical regulation, a survey of customers revealed the most important benefits of working with Actio:

> 53% of Actio users surveryed said the most "highly important" benefit they received with Actio is:
"Actio helps us identify and maintain compliance to regulations."
>In second and third place, also "Highly Important," is that Actio helps:
   - to increase efficiency of manufacturing operations and create best practices
   - to operate as a more green and environmentally-friendly company
[2009 Survey of Actio customers. Titles break down as follows: 49% EHS, 25% Other incl. C-level, 7% Compliance Manager/Director]

[To find out more about the survey, call Actio Public Relations at 603-433-2300 x350]

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SUPPLY-CHAIN-WIDE PRODUCT DATA MANAGEMENT

The strategy identifies and promotes the research needs of EPA’s national water program to potential partners. It outlines the water program’s four research priorities: healthy watersheds and coastal waters, safe drinking water, sustainable water infrastructure and water security.

Each priority focuses on five technical areas: aquatic life health effects, human health effects, method development, occurrence and exposure, and treatment technologies and effectiveness.

EPA's most comprehensive study of the nation’s lakes

Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its most comprehensive study of the nation’s lakes to date.

For more on products that not only clean but make companies and decision-makers accountable for what they make and use (not just in a bad way but also in a good way -- by tracking GOOD work via sustainable and green best practices) please see this list of environmental regulatory software tools.

Dive in, the water's fine... hopefully. Cheers to clean lakes -- like beautiful Lake Sunapee.