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Background

Toxic chemicals

Links

Healthy Legacy's 2010 state legislative agenda:

Promoting Green Chemistry (SF 2590/HF 2837): Incorporates "green chemistry," an approach to designing and manufacturing products in ways that minimize the use and generation of toxic substances, in the criteria for a "green economy" in Minnesota statutes, along with existing criteria (energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting water quality and promoting the use of biofuels). Adding green chemistry to existing criteria will give green chemistry companies access to current economic development programs. Chief authors are Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Kate Knuth. The bill was heard in key House and Senate committees and the full Senate recommended passage. We await a final vote in the Senate and a floor vote in the House. Read the Green Chemistry Legislative Factsheet.

Green Cleaning in Schools and Public Buildings (SF 2593/HF 2968): Requires the use of environmentally sensitive cleaning products in these settings by Sept. 2012, if it's determined to be cost effective. Many schools and municipalities are already using green cleaners and find them to be just as effective and also cost-effective. Use of green cleaners protects the health of students and staff, especially janitors. It also protects the environment from the introduction of toxic cleaning chemicals into wastewater, ground water and surface water. Chief authors are Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and Rep. Sandra Peterson. The bill passed in Senate Health and Environment Committees. However, because it did not meet the policy committee deadline, the bill will not pass this year. Read the Green Cleaning Legislative Factsheet.

A summary of our legislative victories from 2009.

BPA-Free Baby Products HF326/SF247

HOUSE

Passed: Healthy Policy Committee (Chair Thissen)
Passed: Labor and Consumer Protection (Chair Davnie)
Passed: Commerce and Labor (Chair Atkins)
Passed: FLOOR (126-5)

SENATE

Passed: Health Policy Committee (Chair Marty)
Passed: Environment and Natural Resources Policy (Chair Chaudhary)
Passed: Business, Industry and Jobs (Chair Metzen)
Passed: FLOOR (53-8)

Signed by Governor Pawlenty: 5/7/2009

Learn more about BPA

Toxic Free Kids Act HF250/SF225

HOUSE

Passed: Health Policy (Chair Thissen)
Passed: Environment Policy (Chair Eken)
Passed: Labor and Consumer Protection (Chair Davnie)
Passed: Commerce Committee (Chair Atkins)
Passed: Public Health and Housing Finance Committee (Chair Clark)
Passed: Environment Finance (Chair Wagenius)
Passed: Finance (Chair Carlson)
Passed: Ways and Means (Chair Solberg)
Passed: Environment Finance Conference Committee (Chair Wagenius)
Passed: FLOOR (93-35)

SENATE

Passed: Health Policy (Chair Marty)
Passed: Environment and Natural Resources Policy (Chair Chaudhary)
Passed: Judiciary (Chair Moua)
Passed: Business, Jobs and Industry (Chair Metzen)
Passed: Environment Finance (Chair Anderson)
Passed: Health Finance (Chair Berglin)
Passed: Finance (Chair Cohen)
Passed: Environment Finance Conference Committee (Chair Anderson)
Passed: FLOOR (52-15)

Signed by Governor Pawlenty: 5/7/2009

The Campaign for Federal Reform Healthy Legacy is supporting the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families platform for a reform of the out-dated Toxic Substances Control Act. Senator Frank Lautenberg, along with fifteen Senate co-sponsors (including both Minnesota Senators), has introduced the Safe Chemicals Act, a bill that would put common sense limits on toxic chemicals. Partnership, hard work, and commitment to protecting the health of American families can drive this bill forward in 2012.Learn about the Safe Chemicals Act:

You can TAKE ACTION on federal reform! Learn more about the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign

Food

Healthy food is a building block of a healthy body. Unfortunately,
today’s food can play host to a wide array of chemicals that can impair our
health. Some chemicals are put in our food intentionally, like preservatives,
additives and colorings. Others end up in our food as residues from using pesticides,
antibiotics or chemicals in packaging. Healthy food is especially important
for children because, pound for pound, children eat more food. For example,
the average infant's daily consumption of six ounces of formula or breast milk
per kilogram of body weight is equivalent to an adult male drinking 50 eight-ounce
glasses of milk a day.¹ Likewise, proportionate to its body weight,
the average one-year-old eats two to seven times more grapes, bananas, pears,
carrots and broccoli than an adult.²

¹Bearer CF. "Environmental Health Hazards:
How Children Are Different From Adults." Future of Children Summer/Fall
1995;5(2):11-26.

²National Research Council. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants
and Children. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1993.

Take action

Food and Farm Toolkit A Guide for Community Organizers
(PDF format). From Oxfam America, a tool kit to support healthy food in your community.

Food and Food Purchasing: A Role for Health Care
Health Care Without Harm

Healthy Food, Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Communities
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Healthy Hospital Food Initiative
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Resources

Eat Well Guide

GRACE
Online database for finding healthy meat, poultry and dairy
near you.

Food and Farm Connections

Land Stewardship Project
Buy food from Minnesota’s local farmers

Organics Directory

Organic Consumers Association

Potential Public Health Impacts Of The Use Of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin in Dairy Production

Consumers Union

Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce

Environmental Working Group
A wallet guide to produce based on the results of more than 100,000 tests
for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 1992 and 2001

Smart Fish Calculator

Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy
Online tool for calculating how much fish is safe
to consume based on their body weight.

Smart Fish Guide

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
PDF

Smart Meat and Dairy Guide

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
PDF

Smart Produce Guide

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
PDF

Quick tips for food

1. One of the most important things you can do for your child’s health is
provide a balanced, varied diet and lay the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy
eating habits. Regardless of possible chemical contaminants, a diet high
in fresh produce and whole grains and low in fats and sugars builds a healthy
body that is more able to fight off the ill effects of environmental toxins.

2. Buy certified organically grown food whenever possible to avoid exposure
to pesticides. If you cannot afford to buy all organic, try to at least
purchase the organic options of what your child eats most. In addition, some
conventionally grown foods typically have fewer pesticides. Use the following
table to help you find which fruits and vegetables are safer.

Highest pesticide residues

buy these organically grown

Lowest pesticide residues

safer non-organic options

Fruits

Vegetables

Fruits

Vegetables

Apples

Cherries

Grapes, imported

Nectarines

Peaches

Pears

Red Raspberries

Strawberries

Bell Peppers

Carrots

Celery

Green beans

Hot peppers

Potatoes

Spinach

Apple juice

Bananas

Kiwi Fruit

Mangoes

Orange juice
Papaya

Peaches, canned

Pineapples

Plums

Tangerines

Asparagus

Avocado

Broccoli

Cabbage
Cauliflower

Corn, sweet
Onions

Peas, sweet

3. Thoroughly wash hands, food and cooking utensils and use proper refrigeration
and heating practices to avoid bacterial food-borne illnesses.

Check out:

Basics for Handling Food Safely – US Department of Agriculture

Alternatives to Antibacterials and Disinfectants: Safer Ways to Keep Germs
at Bay – Children’s Health Environmental Coalition.

4. Eat low fat, organic and antibiotic-free meat and dairy products.
Cancer causing chemicals like dioxins and PCBs accumulate in fatty foods, so
eat lower fat dairy and meats, and cut away any fat that can be trimmed before
cooking. Purchase dairy and meat that has been raised antibiotic-free. Large
factory farms routinely use antibiotics as feed additives for livestock and
poultry, not to treat disease, but to compensate for crowded, stressful, unsanitary
conditions. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 70% of all antibiotics
in the U.S. are used as feed additives for pigs, poultry and cattle. Antibiotic
overuse in food animals worsens antibiotic resistance, and can contribute to
food contaminated with drug-resistant, disease-causing bacteria, as well as
possible air, water and soil contamination.

5. Be aware of fish consumption guidelines. Mercury, PCBs and other
contaminants are common in some fish. These toxins can damage the developing
brains of fetuses and young children. You can reduce exposure to these
toxins by eating fish lower in mercury and learning how to cut the fat away
from fish that contain PCBs and other fat-loving toxins. (Mercury is found in
the muscle.) Serve children “chunk light” tuna, which has lower mercury and
limit to a half a can per week.

6. Buy dairy products from animals raised without the use of recombinant
synthetic bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST). The health effects of rBGH
have not been widely tested for long-term health consequences. What we do know
is that milk from rBGH treated cows may contain the residues of up to 80 different
drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admits that the use of rBGH in
cows may lead to increased amounts of pus and bacteria in milk and has released
studies showing that milk from rBGH-treated cows could have more saturated fat
and less protein than regular milk. (Organic Consumer’s Association’s consumer
warning on rBGH dairy.)

7. Avoid micro-waving food in plastic. Until more research is done
on the effects of long-term exposure to chemicals that leach from plastics into
food, you may want to take general precautions and avoid plastics that have
been linked to health problems. Even the plastics industry recommends that plastic
wrap not touch food when heating it. Plastics are classified into 7 categories.
Look for the recycling symbol and use only those numbered 1, 2, 4, or 5 for
food storage.

8. Choose minimally processed and packaged foods. A typical highly processed
"food product" may contain little natural food and be high in fat,
salt, sugar, preservatives, artificial flavors and food colorings.

9. Prepare your own meals from scratch. It might take a little more
time, but you’ll likely save money and resources, because you’re not paying
someone else to prepare, package, transport and advertise your meals. Home cooking
is healthier and more nutritious because you start with fresh ingredients. Get
creative and involve the whole family in the process and you’ll also be helping
teach your children healthy eating habits for life.

Plastics

Plastics are everywhere: toys, food and beverage containers, furniture and
building materials. Plastic is convenient, lightweight, durable and relatively
inexpensive. However, there are both environmental and health risks from the
widespread use of plastics.

Take action

PVC Company Policies
Center for Health, Environment and Justice

PVC Fact Sheet and Model Policy for Governments
PDF. Guide could be used for
schools, as well.

PVC Governmental Policies
Center for Health, Environment and Justice

Resources

Bisphenol A in Polycarbonate Plastics

Our Stolen Future

Healthe House

Children’s Health Environmental Coalition
Type “plastic”
into the search box to find a list of articles related to plastics.

PVC: Recycling Killer, Public Health Menace

Grassroots Recycling Network

PVC: The Poison Plastic

Center for Health, Environment and Justice

Smart Plastics Guide: Healthier Food Uses of Plastics

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Quick Tips for Safer Plastics

Use glass in the microwave. Plastic can leach harmful chemicals when
it is heated. For the same reason you should use a paper towel or wax paper
instead of cling wrap when heating food.

Cool it down. If using plastic storage containers, make sure hot food
items have cooled before placing them in the container.

Hand wash plastics. Instead of dishwashing, hand wash with a mild soap
to reduce wear and tear that can promote the leaching of chemicals.

Use alternatives to plastic whenever possible. Buy and store food in
glass, ceramic or metal containers. Use cloth grocery bags. Purchase toys made
from natural materials. Avoid toys and teethers made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
#3 and baby bottles made of polycarbonate plastic #7. These plastics contain
particularly harmful chemicals.

Bottle your own water. Instead of buying bottled water, test your tap
water, use an appropriate water filter if necessary and bottle your own water
for on the go.

Choose safer plastics - polyethylene (#1, #2, and #4) and polypropylene
(#5) - which require the use of less toxic additives and are non-chlorinated
- are safer plastics that are pliable, milky colored plastic, and are a better
choice for baby bottle nipples.

Recycle or discard plastic toys, bottles and food storage containers that
are worn, scratched, or cannot be identified. Replace these at regular intervals
(every 6 months).

Avoid dental sealants, which may contain the hormone-disrupting chemical
bisphenol A, for children's baby teeth.

Use baby bottles and sippy cups made of glass, polyethylene or polypropylene.
Polycarbonate is the most common plastic used in bottles and sippy cups, but
it contains a hormone disrupting chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). Take precautions
to protect your child’s vulnerable, developing system by finding the safest
alternatives.

If polycarbonate is your only option, make sure you replace any scratched or
worn bottles or cups, and heat liquid in glass or a metal pan, not in the plastic.

Legislative priorities: 2012

Children’s Product Reporting Bill (SF 1766 / HF 2543) requires children’s product manufacturers to report the presence of a priority chemical in their products. This policy ensures that state agencies have adequate information on chemicals in children’s products in order to protect the public’s health and was recommended by Minnesota state agencies in their December 2010 report to the legislature, Options to Reduce and Phase-out Priority Chemicals in Children’s Products and Promote Green Chemistry. Chief authors are Rep. Kate Knuth and Sen. Chris Eaton. Read our legislative fact sheet.

Bisphenol A in Children’s Products (HF 2137 / SF 1757) prohibits the use of BPA in food or beverage containers intended for children under age 12. This policy will ensure that children are protected from the use of this harmful chemical in these products. BPA is designated as a priority chemical by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) because of its toxicity and potential to expose children. The bill prohibits a manufacturer from replacing BPA with a chemical determined by the EPA to increase the risk of cancer, birth defects or developmental or reproductive harm. The bill builds on the current Minnesota law that bans BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. Chief authors are Rep. Joe Atkins and Sen. Mary Jo McGuire. Read our legislative fact sheet.

Formaldehyde in Children's Products (HF 2782 / SF 2397) ensure that children are protected from the unnecessary use of this harmful chemical in products designed for children under age 12. Formaldehyde is designated as a Priority Chemical by the Minnesota Department of Health because of its toxicity and potential to expose children. The bill phases out the use of formaldehyde in children’s products and prohibits a manufacturer from replacing formaldehyde in a children’s product with another Priority Chemical. Chief authors are Rep. John Persell and Sen. Ann Rest. Read our legislative fact sheet and scientific references for the fact sheet.

The Formaldehyde in Children's Products bill was offered as an amendment to the Environment Omnibus bill (HF 2164) in the House of Representatives, and approved by a vote of 74-51, with bipartisan support.

City Policies and Initiatives

Minneapolis City Council Resolution supporting the Phase-out of BPA and phthalates in products for children under 3 years of age at the state level.

Northfield City Council Resolution supporting the Phase-out of BPA and phthalates in products for children under 3 years of age at the state level.

Sustainable Building Policy - City of Seattle

Case studies on indoor air quality and associated productivity improvements
for schools and commercial buildings.

Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers available
at Greenbiz.com

U.S. EPA Office of Air and Radiation

This extensive, 228-page document equips building managers to prevent, identify,
and correct problems with indoor air. Written in 1991, this guide lacks recent
IAQ discoveries and approaches, but it offers a good introduction and systematic
procedure for evaluating buildings.

The Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator
quantifies the projected environmental benefits of purchasing and using "green"
janitorial services and products. It is designed to forecast the environmental
benefits of reducing chemical use by doing some or all pollution prevention
measures typically involved in the routine interior cleaning of an office building.
This tool also enables users to identify which green cleaning measures will
have the greatest impact in reducing their use of hazardous chemicals and in
preventing pollution.

Model City-Wide IPM Policy

PVC Fact Sheet and Model Policy for Governments (pdf) – (Could be used for
schools, as well)

San Francisco’s Precautionary Principle Policy
- San Francisco's Less Toxic Pest Management, Less Toxic Purchasing, and Green
Building programs are working examples of the "Precautionary Principle."
The Precautionary Principle basically says, "An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure." If a practice poses threats to human health or
serious environmental damage, the Precautionary Principle uses the best available
science to identify cost-effective measures that would prevent harm.Our precautionary
approach asks whether a given product or practice is safe, whether it is really
necessary, and whether products or practices with less environmental impact
would perform just as well.

School Policies and Initiatives

Sample School Board Resolution: Blueprint for Healthy, Environmentally Sound Schools – The Green Schools Initiative

Go Green Initiative - The Go Green Initiative is a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation. Founded in 2002, the Go Green Initiative unites parents, students, teachers and school administrators in an effort to make real and lasting changes in their campus communities that will protect children and the environment for years to come.

Food and Farm Toolkit A Guide for Community Organizers (pdf) – Oxfam America – A tool kit to support healthy food in your community.

Indoor Air Quality – Tools for Schools – US Environmental Protection Agency - The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Kit shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff. The Kit provides best practices, industry guidelines, sample policies, and a sample IAQ management plan. The voluntary guidance can save schools time and money so that resources can be directed toward educating children. The IAQ TfS Kit is co-sponsored by the National Parent Teacher Association, National Education Association, Association of School Business Officials, American Federation of Teachers, and the American Lung Association.

Green Schools – Center for a New American Dream – This comprehensive website has sample letters to send to school or city officials, a quick and easy guide to green cleaning in schools, a list of safer cleaning products, information on why safer cleaners are important to schools, a list of schools using safer products and much more.

Green Clean Schools – A National Partnership to Green America’s Schools – Healthy Schools Campaign -The initiative brings together the cleaning industry, educational leaders, parents and advocates in a rapidly growing Green Team whose mission is to encourage schools to adopt environmentally friendly policies, practices and products. The Green Team will spearhead a nationwide educational effort designed to engage school decision-makers at the national, state and local levels through distribution of The Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, the GreenCleanSchools.org website and other outreach activities.

Developing an Integrated Pest Management Policy Statement for Your School District – Minnesota Department of Agriculture

PVC Fact Sheet and Model Policy for Governments (pdf) – (Could be used for schools, as well)

Tools for Businesses

The following are information systems and other tools intended to aid businesses with engaging in green chemistry. These and more resources are also cited in the report Growing the Green Economy Through Green Chemistry and Design for the Environment. Tool descriptions are taken from their respective websites.

EPA's Green Chemistry Expert System: a stand-alone computer program that can be used to select green chemicals and reactions. EPA uses GCES to identify pollution prevention opportunities for the synthesis of new and existing chemicals. Users should find the output valuable for any chemical manufacturing process or green chemistry initiative.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Green Chemical Alternatives Purchasing Wizard: intended as a tool to reduce the hazardous waste profile in research labs, an effort that ultimately saves MIT, and its researchers, money while reducing hazard potentials and the burden to our environment. It is supported by Executive Vice President Curry's Fall 2003 Institute-wide purchasing policy, which identified environmentally preferable purchasing as a sound method for saving money while maintaining MIT's reputation for superior research. It is further supported by MIT's requirement under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to identify opportunities for minimizing waste and MIT's Pollution Prevention Program.
CleanGredients
®: an online database of cleaning product ingredient chemicals, providing verified information about the environmental and human health attributes of listed ingredients. CleanGredients® helps formulators to identify better ingredients and helps suppliers to showcase better ingredients.
Kemi PRIO: a web-based tool intended to be used to preventatively reduce risks to human health and the environment from chemicals. PRIO replaces the Swedish Chemicals Agency's Observation (OBS) list. PRIO allows users to: search for substances and obtain information on properties hazardous to the environment and health; obtain information on prioritized health and environmental properties; identify substances contained in chemically characterized substance groups and product types; and obtain help in developing routines for purchasing, product development, risk management etc. PRIO can provide help in adapting to REACH and in the work towards sustainable development.
Green Screen for Safer Chemicals: a chemical screening method to help move our society quickly and effectively toward the use of greener and safer chemicals. The Green Screen is the first open source tool to identify substances that are inherently less hazardous for humans and the environment. At the foundation of the Green Screen method are the Principles of Green Chemistry and the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Design for Environment (DfE) program. The Green Screen addresses many of the principles of green chemistry through its focus on hazard reduction and does this by defining four benchmarks with each benchmark defining a progressively safer chemical: 1. Avoid$#151;chemical of high concern; 2. Use but search for safer substitutes; 3. Use but still opportunity for improvement; 4. Prefer$#151;safer chemical.
PBT Profiler: The PBT Profiler was designed to be an easy to use, widely available, no-cost tool to screen chemicals lacking experimental data in order to help identify pollution prevention (P2) opportunities. It is a continuation of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OSCPP, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Pollution Prevention (P2) Assessment Framework—a collection of screening models and methods to help promote the design, development, and application of safer chemicals and processes. The P2 Framework uses computerized methods, such as structure/activity relationships (SARs) and standard scenarios, to predict risk related data (physical/chemical properties, bioconcentration, environmental fate, carcinogenicity, toxicity to aquatic organisms, worker and general population exposure, and other information) on chemicals lacking experimental data. The PBT Profiler arose from experience gained in the P2 Framework's outreach program, a vigorous set of initiatives by collaborators in the business, government, and academic sectors to promote the voluntary use of these tools to reduce pollution and highlight the potential economic benefits of informed environmental decision making.
Perkins+Will Precautionary List: We believe that it is appropriate to apply the precautionary principle when selecting and specifying products and materials in light of the lasting impact such materials may have on the users of facilities we design. We need to make our selections based upon governmentally published scientific advice and knowledge which, in keeping with the precautionary principle, indicates a relevant adverse finding as it relates to human health or materially negative environmental impact, with the understanding that we live in a world without scientific certainty. We will seek to, where possible and appropriate, present alternatives to our clients for their consideration, providing, within the standard of professional care, information we have which is summarized here, as well as cost and lifecycle information where it is reasonably available. We seek to empower our clients to make informed decisions. This list does not pretend to be exhaustive, or to reference all relevant published information. Again, in keeping with the precautionary principle, it represents information which we believe dictates appropriate caution and wisdom in design decisions made by design professionals. It is expected that users will exercise appropriate caution in use of this resource, and to conduct their own research so that they can make their own decisions and come to their own conclusions.

Leading Businesses

This is truly an inspiring time of re-invention. Thousands of small businesses are leading the way, and the list of corporate visionaries is growing rapidly, paving the way for the rest to follow. The world's leading index providers, Dow Jones and FTSE have successful sustainability indexes, which companies now vie to be part of - the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index.

Some leaders in making the transition to safer products include: OPI nailpolish, IKEA, Honda, Microsoft, Nike, Bath & Body Works and more.

Resources

See what businesses in Minnesota are doing by checking out the MN Pollution Control Agency’s Governor’s Award site. The Governor's Awards for Excellence in Waste and Pollution Prevention honors superior environmental achievement by Minnesota’s businesses, nonprofits, and private institutions.

Twin Cities Green Guide – A directory of Green businesses and organizations throughout Minnesota

Living Green Expo - The Living Green Expo, Minnesota’s largest environmental event, provides real solutions for people to live better, healthier lives with less impact on the environment.

SustainableBusiness.com - SustainableBusiness.com serves the businesses that are ready to make their vision of sustainability a reality now. They are the Internet community for businesses that integrate economic, and social and environmental concerns into their core strategy.

Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum

The Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum is committed to fostering a common understanding among businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academia to advance green chemistry practice and policy in Minnesota and nationally.

If you would like to join us in this work, please contact: Kathleen Schuler, 612-870-3468, kschuler@iatp.org

Green Chemistry

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry is innovative, smart and ethically responsible. The most successful companies of the future will be those who utilize its opportunities to their competitive advantage, and the most successful chemists of the future will be those who use green chemistry concepts in Research and Development, innovation and education.

Currently, environmentally benign alternative technologies have proven to be economically superior and function as well or better than more toxic traditional options. When hazardous materials are cut from processes, all hazard-related costs are cut as well, significantly reducing hazardous materials handling, transportation, disposal and compliance concerns.

Learn more about safe products by visiting the Green Chemistry Minnesota web site. Green chemistry is a well-established approach for designing, making and then disposing of consumer and commercial products in ways that reduce or eliminate toxic substances.

Resources on Green Chemistry

12 Principles of Green Chemistry (PDF)
EPA Green Chemistry and Design for the Environment Programs
MNPCA's Green Chemistry and Design Website
Green Chemistry and Commerce Council
National Business-NGO Work Group
NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise, University of Minnesota
Center for Sustainable Polymers, University of Minnesota
Center for Green Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Clean Production Action (Green Chemistry reports and information)
Green Chemistry Magazine Online

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Learn ABOUT...

Background

Food

Take action

Resources

Quick tips for food

Plastics

Take action

Resources

Quick Tips for Safer Plastics

Legislative priorities: 2012

City Policies and Initiatives

School Policies and Initiatives

Tools for Businesses

Leading Businesses

Resources

Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum

Green Chemistry

Resources on Green Chemistry

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