Preferences from the JC are highlighted in yellow
An excerpt from the October 2009 JC meeting is below for reference.
...suggested focusing on uncovered areas; degradability is covered in the chemical
characteristics group for the end chemical or product not degradability of the
intermediate products. Biodegradation of co-products and bi-products reused in the
process are covered in the PMI calculation. Recycling is covered in larger
characteristics group. This group should focus on the sustainable sourcing which
applies to incoming materials (process sub task groups) where renewability could be
added under the materials section. Reuse is covered in the materials efficiency and the
PMI calculation. Not covered is sustainable sourcing of incoming materials.
Characteristics of renewability and what type it is should be the focus of this group.
And from the March 2010 JC meeting:
Renewability – Ray Paulson:
Ray presented this topic via PowerPoint. Dr. Narayan provided the definition for biobased which is from ASTM 6866. OECD methods were questioned as to whether or not
they reference ASTM standards. OECD (301-310) was stated to be used more
worldwide than ASTMs and was general covering more than plastics. ASTM
references plastic which was too narrow for this Standard. ASTM does reference
OECD in their standard.
These (references to ASTM) are test methods, not definitions and will be listed as such
in the body of the standard if approved.
Cradle to Cradle design was mentioned. The task group was working within the gate to
gate in the chemical transformation and to see if the JC has a preference of where to
insert and if to include at all the topic of renewability.
Renewability for carbon makes sense; other things go in cycles such as water and
aluminum. This should not be limited with carbon only. Resources are slow to
transition; however what is available as a “greener” choice should be stated. Reuse
and recycle of waste are a recovered resource. Definition of renewable was those
resources that can be replaced. It is a natural cycle going from one chemical form back
to its natural state. Renewable and bio-based are used in product standards as
synonymous. Recyclable would be those that go through its natural cycle such as the
aluminum oxide.
The scope should include those added chemicals that have both recycled material and
bio-based materials in order to determine renewability. The group preferred to use the
term bio-based only if that was the focus and not to confuse renewability with the biobased terminology. The green chemistry principle state renewable and was implied to
mean bio-based.
The question of whether a chemical was biodegradable was determined by subjecting
the chemical to the questions outlined for chemical characteristics. In order to be
biodegradable it needed to meet 3 of the 4 characteristics.
The question for the JC was to provide direction on what the group should be focused
on. Sustainability of atoms was proposed as the intent of the standard and should be
addressing both organic and non-organic sustainable sources. Further questions
include what to include, where to include and the purpose of inclusion.
Georjean brought up section 8.5.1 which addresses resource depletion for
consideration. This can also be applied quantitatively such as a percentage of the total.
There was a suggestion to provide definitions for terms in this Standard instead of
referring to other standards for the definition.
Recycled values are incorporated into the product standards. There are other definitions
of recyclability that can be referenced. It was suggested that bio-based does not imply
better; and that the intensity of greenness would be determined by the user of the
standard based on the information provided.
It was proposed that Life Cycle Assessment could be used to determine renewability.
Degradability could be located in the characteristics section and renewable in the
processes section. OR a new section could be added to address these topics. Adding a
new Sustainable Sourcing section may help to motivate the manufacturers to use more
Life Cycle assessment and the section could be placed prior to MCE&WP. This may
have to be a narrative. The term sustainable has specific meaning and may not be the
best heading. There was some support for both as input and an output in the chemical
characteristic section the idea of recycled and renewable material.
End of life management program for the chemicals could be considered. Question was
raised if the input of chemicals recycled from another process was correct terminology
for end of life management. How can the content of the renewable or recycled chemical
in the next use be reported? Maybe this could be optional as a narrative.
There are some chemicals which are expressly developed to facilitate product recycling
or chemical reuse. There should be somewhere to narrate this. Additionally, a replaced
chemical with a recyclable one should be narrated as well.
Recycled content was different than recyclable content. In some markets bio-based
and recycled content has to be shown in the final product to sell it. This was not a
simple quantitative value; it may be more of a narrative to “write about source materials
and about end of life”.
The objective at the meeting was to request the JC’s preference for what the group
should focus on and where language should be in the Standard for renewability, biobased, biodegradability, recyclable, etc.
1.
2.
3.
This should not be focused on carbon based only.
Keep section 8.5.1 as placeholder.
Sustainable sourcing including bio-based, recyclable
Ray asked to work together with the processes team to expedite the renewable team.
USDA bio-preferred program should be consulted by the task group.