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Sustainability: Innovation Through Creative Use of Existing Tools Ruth Hull

Sustainability: Innovation Through Creative Use of Existing Tools Ruth Hull Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc, Toronto, Canada SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) North America May 16 th , 2012. Sustainability challenges.

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Sustainability: Innovation Through Creative Use of Existing Tools Ruth Hull

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  1. Sustainability: Innovation Through Creative Use of Existing Tools Ruth Hull Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc, Toronto, Canada SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) North America May 16th, 2012

  2. Sustainability challenges • Sound chemical management is needed at all stages of a product’s life-cycle • Industry is challenged with balancing profit, product effectiveness, environmental responsibilities • Industry understands the importance of having products that are as “green” and “sustainable” as possible (CSR). • How can they evaluate whether they are doing the best “balancing”? 2

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  4. Tools to Assess Sustainability • Existing tools can be used to evaluate the environmental component of sustainability, such as hazards and risks • Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals • Ecosystem services evaluation • Life-cycle analysis • Risk assessment • These can be linked to the social and economic components using tools such as decision analysis 4

  5. GHS Classification: Foundation of the Safe Use of Chemicals 5 http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html

  6. Ecosystem Services 6 Stay tuned: SETAC Workshop on Ecosystem Services, 2013; www.setac.org

  7. Life Cycle Assessment 7 SETAC Advisory Groups (LCA); www.setac.org

  8. Risk Assessment 8 SETAC Advisory Groups (ERA, HHRA); www.setac.org

  9. Practical Approaches • Methods exist to monitor and assess chemicals in the environment • Go beyond a comparison of concentrations to guidelines • Consider exposures to people, fish, wildlife, etc. (e.g., risk assessment) • Look to the final goal when planning approaches (be flexible, creative, use adaptive management) 9

  10. What can you do? • Industry • Think about the life of the product • Use existing tools to evaluate sustainability (e.g., RA, GHS, LCA, ecosystem services, decision analysis) • Incorporate concepts of CSR • Government • Support innovation • Ensure legislation supports innovation 10

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