Sustainability

The intergenerational dimension of sustainability means that society must be particularly mindful of the long-term threat posed by chemical and biological impacts on the environment. Protecting humans and the environment from toxic chemicals has long been central to EPA's mission and is at the heart of many EPA programs that seek to promote the use of cleaner materials and to reduce material waste and chemical contamination.

EPA programs provide information on green product design and manufacturing processes that reduce pollution, often at lower costs than conventional techniques. These programs include the development of inherently benign materials and chemicals through green engineering and chemistry, biotechnology and industrial ecology, recovery and reuse of materials, renewable bio-based feedstocks, life cycle assessment, and remediation of polluted areas. EPA is assessing the effects of applying nanotechnology for developing safer, more efficient, and sustainable products.

Children's Health has been a special focus of EPA programs and research related to environmental contaminants as they constitute one of the populations most vulnerable to such threats.