From the
University of Michigan laboratories to Hewlett Packard, institutions and companies are increasingly utilizing green chemistry, the practice of using safer and more environmentally friendly products and processes in their operations.
The principles of green chemistry, however, don't specify how to assess hazard, according to Shari Franjevic, principal of Transform to Green LLC. As such, on May 8, a GreenScreen training session will be held at the Ann Arbor headquarters of
NSF International, a nonprofit heath and safety certifying organization. The training is now sold out.
"The GreenScreen provides pragmatic metrics for how to evaluate hazard in support of green chemistry," Franjevic says in an email.
"There is a strong business case for selecting inherently safer chemicals as well," Franjevic adds. "Replacing a material is expensive. It makes sense to get it right the first time – selecting a chemical that is inherently safer and not just unregulated. Large companies with complex supply chains may spend from $5 million - $50 million replacing a single chemical. With substance restrictions forming a major class of regulations and the number of restrictions and jurisdictions with restrictions on the rise, proactive businesses are reducing regulatory risk while saving money and avoiding unintended consequences of alternative materials."
Attendees will learn how to implement the GreenScreen process. It is aimed at helping professionals in supply chain management, materials selection, purchasing, product and process design, environmental health and safety, sustainability, and regulatory affairs to compare and choose safer chemicals for use in products and manufacturing.
While the Ann Arbor slots are full, the next available training will be held in Chicago on Nov. 15. More information is available
here.
Sources: Shari Franjevic, principal, Transform to Green LLC; Clean Production Action
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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