Design for the Environment
A voluntary partnership-based
program that works directly with
companies to integrate health and
environmental considerations in
business decisions.
Design for the Environment
• Changing general business practices to
incorporate environmental concerns.
• Working with specific industries to evaluate the
risks, performance, and costs of alternative
chemicals, processes and technologies.
• Helping individual businesses undertake
environmental design efforts through the
application of specific tools and methods.
DfE partners include:
• Industry
• Professional institutions
• Academia
• Environmental and Public Interest
Groups
• Other Government Agencies
DfE Approach
• Encourages front-end innovations through
redesign rather than relying on end-of-pipe
controls to reducing potential risks to human
health and the environment.
• Uses Cleaner Technologies Substitutes
Assessments (CTSAs) and life cycle tools to
evaluate the performance, costs and
environmental and human health impacts of
competing technologies.
DfE Programs
• Printing projects
• Supplier Initiative
• Electronics projects
• Wall Paints
• Garment and textile
care
• Adhesives in the
Foam Furniture and
Sleep Products
Industries
• Laundry partnership
• Auto refinishing
projects
• DfE-PETE Education
• DfE Approaches to
Developing EMS
Govt regulations affecting
printing industry
• VOC’s affecting air, water and health regulationsCERCLA, RCRA, CAA, SARA
• main chemicals
– acetone
– methanol
– ethyl acetate
– toluene
– xylene
Design for the Environment
Printing Projects
• Lithography project
• Flexography project
• Screen Printing project
Design for the Environment
Lithography Project
• > 50% of industry - books, newspapers,
magazines, etc.
• offset printing process-transfers image from a
plate to a blanket then to substrate
• primary concern is solvent-based blanket washes
Design for the Environment
Flexography Project
• 17% of industry - packaging, plastic bags, labels,
etc.
• printing from a raised image on a printing plate
to substrate using quick-drying inks
• primary concern is solvent-based inks
Design for the Environment
Screen Printing Project
• 3 % of industry - t-shirts, textiles, fine art, printing
on electronic equipment
• Rubber squeegee presses ink through stencil
(image) on porous screen to substrate
• main concern are solvents used in removing inks
and emulsions (stencils) to reclaim screens
Design for the Environment
Screen Printing Project
• Technical Studies
• Implementation Efforts
• Outreach Activities
(methodology applicable for each industry)
Technical Studies
• Cleaner Substitutes Assessment (CTSA)
• Factors Include:
– Chemical composition
– Performance
– Cost
– Occupational Risk and Exposure
– Regulatory Concerns
• Did NOT
– rank a product as better or worse than
another
– recommend “green” products
Implementation Efforts
• Training Video
• Cost Assessment Software
Outreach Activities
• Informational materials
• Industry Conferences/workshops
• Case Studies
Case Study:
Action Graphics
• Eliminated need for ink remover by
– reclaiming screens immediately after a print
run
– using a high-water pressure system
– switching emulsion and haze removers
• Reduced amount of solvent used by
finding more efficient products and
reusing rags.
Comparison of Yearly
Operating Costs*
Old syste m
Ne w syste m
$13,100
$0
Em ulsio n Re m o v e r
$5,000
$2,600
Ha ze Re m o v e r
$7,800
$10,900
$0
$3,000
$25,900
$16,500
Ink Re m o v e r
Filte r Me d ia
Tota l
Yearly Operating Cost Savings: $9,400
* Data not available for change in labor costs