By: Deborah Johnson Wood
In response to Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Executive Directive 2006-6, Sustainable Research Group (SRG) this month launched a first-of-its-kind local network focused on identifying hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing products and the adoption of ‘green’ chemistry as the guiding principles of production.
The Green Chemistry Network of West Michigan is a collaboration between SRG, West Michigan manufacturers, the Right Place Inc., Aquinas College’s Center for Sustainability and the Michigan Manufacturers Technology Center.
The Department of Environmental Quality is implementing the directive, and while the state has not identified the Green Chemistry Network as being part of the directive, SRG Senior Scientist Clinton Boyd thinks there’s a good chance it will become part of it.
“The 12 principles of the governor’s directive address ways to get rid of chemical hazards, how to manufacture more with less waste, and spending less to buy raw materials, many of which are derived from fossil fuels,” says Boyd.
Formaldehyde, lead paint and Bisphenol A are some of the chemical hazards in the public eye, and the network will investigate these, among others: following the life cycle of the chemical, the way the chemical is used, the product, the breakdown of the product during use and how it may or may not release dangerous chemicals.
So far, five companies enrolled in the network and five more have expressed an interest.
“The realization is that green chemistry is a way out,” Boyd says. “The time is ripe now and industry is looking for a way to make this happen. What we’re achieving is getting that conversation really started around this wholesale adoption of green chemistry as the guiding principles of production.”
Source: Clinton Boyd, Sustainable Research Group
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Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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