Green Chemistry and Design

Green chemistry and design is formulating or designing a new product (or reformulating or redesigning an existing one) to reduce environmental, workplace, human health, and energy use impacts over the product's entire life-cycle. Product life cycle includes design, production of material and energy inputs, production, end use, end-of-life recovery, and all packaging and transportation between these steps.

Notices

Safer Chemistry Challenge Program

The MPCA has signed on as an Alliance Member of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable's (NPPR) Safer Chemistry Challenge Program. We are pleased to promote their webinar series.

The next webinar will be Introduction to Green Screen(TM).

Register for this webinar at gotomeeting.com.

Plan now for a 2013 MnTAP intern

PRODUCT CHEMISTRY/ENGINEERING INTERN – available to companies
Are you feeling the pressure of global demand for safer products? Industries like yours are increasingly being asked to disclose chemical components in products and being required to find alternatives for some chemicals or components. Many companies have begun developing goals and ideas for redesigning product chemistries, but are still wondering how to meet those goals.

The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) may be able to help your company work towards its goals regarding safer and greener product chemistries. MnTAP offers an intern program in which a highly qualified science or engineering student is placed in a facility to lead an in-depth project that results in green chemistry, waste reduction, and/or energy efficiency solutions. Students are paired with advisors who help guide the projects to completion.

All sensitive and proprietary company information is kept confidential by MnTAP as stated in MnTAP’s policy. Enforceable nondisclosure agreements are a key part of intern projects, so you can rest assured confidential business information is secure.

If you are interested in discussing the potential for a product design or chemical alternative project, please call MnTAP Director Laura Babcock at 612-624-4678.

See more information on the intern program.

Green Chemistry and Design College Curriculum Grant Projects

Leaders across Minnesota government, academia, and business are pursuing reformulation of existing products and design of new products using the principles of green chemistry and green engineering.  Equally important are strategies to raise awareness among the product designers of the future - today’s college students - of the toxicological and life-cycle impacts of chemical use choices on humans and the environment.  As part of the education focus within its green chemistry initiative, MPCA has offered grants to Minnesota post-secondary educators with the goal of shaping the future conduct of professional disciplines by integrating aspects of green chemistry into new or existing courses in chemistry, physical sciences, chemical engineering, business, social science, education, marketing and communication.

Green Chemistry and Design Demonstration Projects

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the extent to which state grant support can stimulate green chemistry and design projects in the private sector. There have been two requests for proposals so far: summer/fall of 2010; and winter/spring of 2011.

In response to the first request for proposals the MPCA received three applications, two of which were selected for development. One of those selected was finalized as a grant contract with Cortec Corporation in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

The objective of this project is to develop a commercially viable, water-borne, corrosion resistant metal primer, with a Volatile Organic Compound level of less than 25 gram/liter. If successful, this will provide performance (and renewable content) similar to a traditional Alkyd coating, with the convenience and environmental benefits of a latex paint. A second project selected for development was unable to proceed because of impacts to the applicant due to the recession.

In the second request for proposal period, the MPCA received seven applications and selected two for development. The MPCA signed grant contracts with Salo Manufacturing of Menagha, Minnesota in April 2011, and with Ecolab of St. Paul in May 2011.

Salo’s objective is to determine whether they can manufacture bathtub and shower units with low styrene soy-based or non-styrene resins and gel coats at similar cost and price and with equal or better performance compared to units made with current raw materials.

Ecolab will redesign several products used in general hard surface cleaning; glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, neutral, alkaline, and acid bathroom cleaners.  These cleaners are used in the markets of hospitality, building service contractors, long term care, and government/education.  The goal is to reduce the overall life cycle impact of chemical components of these cleaners and their packaging.

Projects for both rounds will be completed by September 2012. See the Demonstration Project page linked on the left for more information on grant projects.

Toxics in children’s products and green chemistry legislative report is posted and available for public review and comment.

The MPCA and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) joint legislative report:  Options to Reduce and Phase-out Priority Chemicals in Children’s Products and Promote Green Chemistry.

This report was required by the Legislature as part of the 2009 Toxic Free Kids Act legislation (Minn. Stat. §§ 116.9401 to 116.9407). As directed the report includes:

• recommendations for consideration by the Legislature, 
• a summary of other efforts to address these issues by states, the U.S. government, and other countries where Minnesota companies do business,
• a discussion of potential funding mechanisms for the options, and
• a summary of stakeholder processes that helped inform the report.

Stakeholder comments were appended to the report before it was sent to the Legislature on December 15, 2010.

• Stakeholder comments appended to the report (lrp-gen-9asy10)
• Stakeholder comments received after the report had been sent (lrp-gen-9bsy10)

Past Events

Minnesota Green Chemistry Conference 2012: Strategies for Growth
Thursday, January 12, 2012      
University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

View the video and presentations on the Minnnesota Green Chemistry Forum website.

200 attendees, including 36 product makers and sellers:

Minnesota Green Chemistry Conference: Adding Value Through Green Chemistry
Friday, January 7, 2011 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

179 attendees, including government, NGOs, educators, students and 45 businesses/consultants, including:

• 3M
• AMEC
• Anderson Chemical Company
• Aveda
• Bepex International
• BioAmber, Inc.
• Biocee
• Donaldson Company
• EarthClean Corporation
• Ecolab
• EXL Laboratories
• Glenn Corp
• Green Harvest Technologies
• Grocery Manufacturers Association
• ISurTec, Inc.
• Jones Metal Products
• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
• NatureWorks
• Reluceo, Inc.
• Segetis
• Target Corporation
• Tennant Company
• Valspar
• Zep GreenLink Products

More Information

For more information about Green Chemistry and Design, contact Al Innes, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 651-757-2457.