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Public Policy Update

By Monique Rodriguez, Senior Manager, Qualcomm & Chamber Public Policy Committee Member

In 2008, California enacted the Green Chemistry Initiative, through legislation (AB 1879/ Feuer and SB 509/Simitian).  With the help of a Science Panel, these bills will authorize the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to adopt regulations by Jan. 1, 2011 to identify and prioritize chemicals of concern in consumer products, develop alternatives to existing hazardous chemicals and regulate, and ban, certain products that contain those chemicals.  The process of regulating a certain chemical will include a set of criteria, including the product’s manufacturing process, use characteristics, and waste disposal.  According to the DTSC, the green chemistry program is a pre-emptive strategy to reduce toxic substances by fundamentally changing the way things are designed and manufactured to contain few or zero hazardous chemicals.

As DTSC is beginning the process of implementing the Green Chemistry Initiative and determining what chemicals are of concern, the agency has started to use the Internet to create a “wiki” web site to increase consumer knowledge about the initiative and to collect input from stakeholders. 

An informal group of business associations, including the California Chamber of Commerce, are monitoring the implementation of the initiative.  As demand for green products are increasing globally, California industries have already applied a series of standards to reduce pollution in industrial processes and do not fault the intent of the initiative to reduce and/or eliminate hazardous chemicals from products and the environment.  However, the industry also believes that sound science and economic sustainability must be applied in the implementation of the initiative to make it workable. Unfortunately, not every chemical has a green alternative.

Also at issue is that the majority of products sold in California are manufactured out-of-state giving California manufacturers a competitive disadvantage.  A global consensus building is needed to level the playing field for California manufacturers. California also needs to focus on incentives for green chemistry innovation in order to accelerate companies’ abilities to develop safe and more sustainable products. 

The initiative is far-reaching.  It will not only focus on commercial products, but also affect products ending up in households such as household cleaners, fabrics, paint, computers, and many more.

As we are moving toward a greener California, it is important that we also understand the unintended consequences and impacts on business.  It is important that Chamber members familiarize themselves with the initiative and visit the “wiki” and provide comments.