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Moving Toward Sustainable Manufacturing Through Efficient Materials & Energy Use

EPA Grant Number: X3832203
Title: Moving Toward Sustainable Manufacturing Through Efficient Materials & Energy Use
Investigators: Goldberg, Terri , Reibstein, Rick , Richard, Paul
Current Investigators: Goldberg, Terri
Institution: New England Waste Management Officials Association
Current Institution: Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association
EPA Project Officer: Bauer, Diana
Project Period: October 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007
Project Amount: $278,000
RFA: Collaborative Science & Technology Network for Sustainability (2004)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

For over 15 years since the passage of the Pollution Prevention Act, manufacturers and government agencies have consistently faced the challenge of poor information systems for evaluating pollution prevention (P2) opportunities. Successful pollution prevention is based on an entity’s ability to understand and improve its choice and use of materials and the associated financial impacts. This proposed project would build upon the current scientific and engineering applications of environmental management accounting as a critical aspect of sustainable production and P2. Short term success would be the development and dissemination of and widespread training on an effective and easy-to-use materials use and profitability software tool. The long term success would be the widespread and routine adoption and utilization of the tool and associated improvements in efficiency and reductions in emissions and wastes among the users of the tool.

The project lead, the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), is a regional interstate association of state environmental agencies that has extensive contacts within EPA Regions 1 and 2 and nationally through the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) to assist with efficient dissemination of the proposed tool. NEWMOA will cooperate with the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance for Toxics Use Reduction to manage the project and pilot test the tool. Both of these entities have close relationships with many key regional and national groups all over the US and would work closely with those organizations to transfer the tool and the lessons learned from the project. The primary beneficiaries of this project would be those companies and organizations that implement the materials use and profitability tool to aid them in setting P2 priorities, identifying value-added opportunities for sustainable production, and implementing other materials and energy efficiency improvements. The state and local environmental and technical assistance programs and private sector consultants would also be key beneficiaries because having the proposed tool would improve their effectiveness in helping companies identify P2 opportunities and in quantifying the benefits and costs of prevention programs and strategies for key policy makers. A key beneficiary would be the public that benefits from the pollution that is prevented through the use of the tool, including wastes and emissions that are reduced during manufacturing, transportation, and raw materials production.

Supplemental Keywords:

pollution prevention, clean technologies, environmentally conscious manufacturing, waste reduction, northeast, EPA Regions 1 and 2, , INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, waste reduction, Technology, Energy, Ecology and Ecosystems, Economics and Business, energy conservation, clean manufacturing designs, cleaner production, life cycle analysis, clean technologies, green design, sustainable development, environmental accounting, environmentally conscious manufacturing, pollution prevention assessment, green process systems, toxic use reduction, software tool, alternative materials, source reduction

Progress and Final Reports:
2005 Progress Report
2006 Progress Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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