I just got back from the Super Bowl. Not the football game. The plastics recycling “Super Bowl.” Held just a few weeks after the (somewhat more) popular sporting event, the Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show for years has been the ultimate opportunity to gather key stakeholders to analyze the state of plastics recycling. Sponsored […]
Fluorinated chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a large and diverse family of chemistry that makes possible the products that power our lives, including cell phones, aircrafts, alternative energy sources and medical applications. PFAS are vital to enabling our lives in the 21st century. In recent years, PFAS have been the subject of […]
Over the past few years, there is a growing myth about consumer exposure to phthalates through food packaging. According to the myth, phthalates are present in consumer diets due to exposure from plastic food wraps and containers, potentially causing adverse health effects. In reality, phthalates aren’t used in materials such as food wrappers; and food […]
Every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issues grades fifteen infrastructure categories. On the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE gave the nation’s drinking water infrastructure a “D”, with over 6 billion gallons of treated water being lost every day. With an estimated $1 trillion needed to address this growing problem, it is […]
In late December, EPA designated the next 20 substances to undergo TSCA risk evaluations. This prioritization action triggered the three and a half years timeframe in which EPA must complete the TSCA risk evaluations of these substances. It also began the TSCA process for assigning responsibility for fees to help defray the cost of each […]
I recently had the chance to look back at some of the Plastics Division’s environmental stewardship programs, and I’m struck by how our engagement on the marine litter/plastic waste issue has grown. And it also has become clear that much of what we accomplished was accelerated by partnering with others. Some of our earliest efforts […]
One of the country’s important anti-terrorism programs is in jeopardy of expiring in a couple of months unless Congress takes action. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program is scheduled to sunset on April 18, 2020. Chemistry is the lifeblood of our economy — directly touching 96 percent of all manufactured goods. Securing and maintaining […]
Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) held a hearing to get the perspectives of various stakeholders regarding the importance of the Chemical Safety Board (CSB). The hearing was also held out of concern for the future of the CSB and to discuss what the White House and Congress […]
Currently, there is significant attention on the outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel Coronavirus. The World Health Organization declared the new Coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China at the end of December, and the first case in the United States was […]
Antimicrobial products are critical to many industries and help in the protection of public health. Antimicrobials are highly regulated, making it critical for companies to stay abreast of the ever-changing regulatory landscape in which they operate. Those engaged in the business of antimicrobials will not want to miss the Thirteenth Antimicrobial Workshop held May 12-13 at the […]
In May 2019 on the Sargasso Sea in the middle of the North Atlantic Gyre I snorkeled among the sargassum in water bluer than imaginable and over 1000 feet deep. This underwater paradise was beautiful but also contained a troubling amount of plastic waste including sunscreen bottles, toothbrushes—even toilet seats, and of course microplastics –tiny […]
We understand and appreciate the concerns that people have about the air they breathe. No one should have to question whether the air they breathe is clean. That’s why companies that make and work with ethylene oxide are actively investing in research and cutting-edge product stewardship technologies — so that we can continue to help […]
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting two public hearings related to ethylene oxide as it takes public comments on its proposed risk and technology review for the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, known as the MON. The MON is the first rulemaking of this type to […]
Since enactment three and a half years ago, EPA has been hard at work effectively and efficiently implementing the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) as Congress intended. The agency continues to consistently meet key TSCA deadlines and requirements, and today marks another milestone in that process as EPA finalized the designation […]
This year’s Greenbuild Conference & Expo, hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), highlighted the benefits that sustainable buildings can have on occupants and their communities, with much of the educational content tailored to the social, economic, and health and wellness impacts of sustainability in the built environment. As the foundation of nearly all […]
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a proposed new trade agreement between the U.S. chemical industry’s top two trading partners. This agreement builds upon the success of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) while modernizing the current trade pact to address 21st-century trade issues like regulatory cooperation. Why now? As ACC’s new President and […]
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a strong belief in the importance of collaboration and partnerships. For the past several years, ACC’s partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has enabled our two organizations to work together to promote policies and initiatives that help improve the health, safety and sustainability of our buildings […]
Chemistry plays an essential role in the products and technologies we use every day, from vital ingredients in thousands of consumer products to raw materials in manufacturing processes. Perhaps due to this ubiquity, chemicals in products have come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Product manufacturers, retailers, brands and others in the consumer products supply […]
Every year, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) welcomes recommendations from U.S. businesses and trade groups on ways to address trade and investment barriers in foreign markets. The National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the U.S. government’s major annual report on the barriers to trade, investment, and services that […]
Members of the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) left their mark in Orlando, Florida, with a successful 62nd annual Polyurethanes Technical Conference. Over 800 polyurethane professionals spent three days demonstrating the impact polyurethanes are making today, and how the industry is promoting sustainability for the future. This year’s opening session kicked the conference into […]