Presented by Cal Baier-Anderson at the GlobalChem conference. More information at http://blogs.edf.org/innovation/2009/04/29/into-the-lions-den-an-enviro-at-globalchem/

1. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Market Sustainability:Market Sustainability:
Retailer InitiativesRetailer Initiatives
Cal Baier-Anderson, PhD
Senior Health Scientist

2. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Opportunities for Engagement toOpportunities for Engagement to
Enhance SustainabilityEnhance Sustainability
Consumer
Demand
Retail
Product Formulation
Chemical Production & Management

3. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Chemical Production &Chemical Production &
ManagementManagement
• Regulatory Mechanisms
– Toxic Substances Control Act
– Kid Safe Chemicals Act
• Voluntary Mechanisms
– High Production Volume Challenge Program
– Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program
– ChAMP
• Challenges to both approaches

4. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Formulator InitiativesFormulator Initiatives
• Self Certification
• Third Party Certification
• EPA’s Design for the Environment

5. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Consumer FocusConsumer Focus
• Avoidance lists
• Web-based shopping guides
• New trends

6. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Avoidance ListsAvoidance Lists

7. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Shopping GuidesShopping Guides

8. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives

9. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
EDF Supports Retailer InitiativesEDF Supports Retailer Initiatives
• Provide products made with less
hazardous chemicals
• Reduce waste handling costs
• Address consumer concerns
• Downstream benefits for both
environmental and human health

10. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Multi-stakeholder ProcessMulti-stakeholder Process
• Retailer
• Suppliers
• Formulators
• Trade groups
• Consumer groups
• Environmental groups

11. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Third Party ReviewThird Party Review
• Protects everyone
– Trade secrets and CBI
– Retailer confidence
– Consumer confidence

12. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Defining Safer ChemicalsDefining Safer Chemicals
• Compare like products
• Identify known “bad actor” chemicals
• Identify chemicals of emerging concern
• Promote use of safer alternatives based
on data comparison

13. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
ChallengesChallenges
• Finding common ground regarding
criteria
• Availability of publically accessible tox
data
• Virtually no exposure information
• Simplifying complex information

14. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
How Much Science is Sufficient?How Much Science is Sufficient?
No InformationNo Information CompleteComplete
InformationInformation
PrecautionaryPrecautionary
DecisionsDecisions
Evidence-BasedEvidence-Based
DecisionsDecisions

15. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
TransparencyTransparency
• Increases
confidence
• Builds relationships

16. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Retailer Sustainability Initiatives
Opportunities for CollaborationOpportunities for Collaboration
• Business NGO Work Group: http://
www.busngoworkgroup.org/about.php
• GC3: http://
greenchemistryandcommerce.org/home.php
• TURI: http://www.turi.org/