Chemical footprint of plastic: New report from Clean Production Action ranks popular plastics

SOMERVILLE, Mass., July 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- By switching the plastic used in its IV bags, Dignity Health care system kept 700,000 pounds of high-concern chemicals – the equivalent in weight of a Boeing 747 airplane -- out of the environment, according to a new analysis that measures the "chemical footprint" of plastics.

The Plastics Scorecard v.1.0, released today, offers the first comprehensive method for assessing and reducing chemicals of high concern in plastics.

"From baby bottles made with BPA to medical devices made with phthalates, plastics are a surprising source of exposure to chemicals of high concern for our health and the environment," said Ann Blake, PhD, co-author of the report and Principal at Environmental & Public Health Consulting. "Forward looking businesses are looking closely at plastics for chemicals that may be subject to future regulations or consumer scrutiny."

The Plastics Scorecard was designed as a tool to help companies choose safer plastics.

"Plastics are possibly the largest contributor of any material to the toxic chemical economy. For example, plastics consume 96% of global Bisphenol A (BPA) production," said Mark Rossi, PhD, co-director of Clean Production Action and co-author of the report. "If we are ever to attain a green chemistry economy, we need to shift plastics manufacturing to chemicals of low concern to human health and the environment." 

Findings of the Plastic Scorecard include:

• 5 out of 10 commonly used polymers score a failing grade due to the intensive use of high-concern chemicals at every step of manufacturing. These are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
• 3 polymers -- polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) -- are much further along the path to safer chemicals, because their core inputs are not chemicals of high concern.

The Plastics Scorecard also offers a 5-step program for companies seeking to reduce their chemical footprint:

1. Ask if a chemical additive or plastic is even necessary for the product.
2. Use safer additives for plastic products and avoid chemicals of high concern.
3. Use safer polymers to reduce chemicals of high concern in manufacturing.
4. Close the loop by using post-consumer recycled content, but beware of legacy toxic chemicals.
5. Redesign the product to eliminate additives and/or plastics altogether.

See what businesses are saying about the Plastics Scorecard: www.bizngo.org/news/article/plastics-scorecard-press-release.

For more information see: www.bizngo.org/sustainable-materials/plastics-scorecard

SOURCE Clean Production Action