Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. Presents On Green Chemistry Issues At Chemical Watch Global Business Summi

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Senior Chemist at Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C^®) and The Acta Group (Acta^®), made two presentations at the Chemical Watch Global Business Summit held in Brussels, Belgium from February 22-25, 2016. Dr. Engler presented during the "Green (Sustainable) Chemistry: The business and economic case for sustainable chemistry" seminar. His presentations are described below. For a full copy of either of these presentations, please contact Dr. Engler at rengler@lawbc.com.

"Latest Developments in Green Chemistry in the US and possible applications in the EU"

Dr. Engler's first presentation covered the progress made by EPA and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in defining and promoting the adoption of Green Chemistry (GC). Both EPA and OECD's definitions of GC do the following:

• Incorporate design;
   
• Concern products and processes;
   
• Concern health and environmental endpoints;
   
• Include material and energy efficiency; and
   
• Recognize incremental improvements.

The presentation explored drivers for green chemistry and barriers to adoption, as well as examples of green chemistry from the U.S. Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (PGCCA).

"California's Approach to Green Chemistry"

Dr. Engler began his second presentation with an overview of the history of GC in California. California has historically been forward-thinking in regards to sustainability, and its approach to GC is no exception. In the mid-2000's, California began debating the Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI), a program to increase the development of GC through statewide incentives. The California GCI current initiatives are:

• Reviewing the high priority products:
   
  • Spray polyurethane with unreacted methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI);
     
  • Paint strippers with dichloromethane; and
     
  • Children's foam-padded sleep products with flame retardants tris-(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (tris or TDCPP) or tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP);
     
• Developing Alternative Assessment (AA) Framework; and
   
• Participating in the Interstate Chemical Clearing House that will contain information about hazardous chemicals used in California.

Dr. Engler also discussed differences and similarities between requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and California GCI, and how other GC programs function.

For more information or a copy of either of these presentations, please contact Dr. Engler at rengler@lawbc.com.