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This is a list of all Design for the Environment (DfE) resources available, either online or in paper format, at this time.
The work of DfE's Lead-Free Solder Partnership will help industry to focus on products and processes that reduce solders' environmental impacts, including releases of toxic chemicals and reductions of potential risks. With annual worldwide tin/lead solder use at about 180 million pounds, the transition to lead-free solders presents a significant opportunity for risk reduction.
The electronics industry approached EPA as it prepared for compliance with the European Union (EU) Directive to phase out lead in electronics. Completed in 2005, the partnership's Life-Cycle Assessment focused on the environmental impacts of tin/lead solder and leading candidate lead-free solders. It also identified areas for further research including: developing more energy-efficient solder application equipment; resolving the variability of the available silver production inventory data to better understand the impacts of silver mining and processing; and the leachability of tin/lead alternatives.
Results of the DfE and Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute Wire & Cable Partnership's study will help companies make environmentally sound product and material choices, and will identify relative contributions of various processes and substances to the overall environmental and health impacts of the products.
Formed to evaluate the impacts of standard and alternative wire and cable formulations, the partnership is using a life-cycle assessment approach to assess heat stabilizers, flame retardants, and polymer systems used in wire and cable insulation and jacketing.
DfE's Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership is helping industry factor environmental and human health considerations into their decision-making as they choose chemical flame retardants for fire safe furniture foam.
The partnership was formed as the result of stakeholder concerns about worldwide occurrence of pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) in the environment and human tissues. PentaBDE was the primary flame retardant used in the manufacture of low-density, flexible polyurethane foam for furniture, with production volumes of approximately 19 million pounds per year. When industry agreed to voluntarily phase out pentaBDE, the partnership's work took on a new urgency.
This broad, multi-stakeholder partnership was formed to develop and disseminate information on alternative technologies for achieving furniture fire safety standard, and completed its report in September 2005.
Printed Circuit Board Partnership
The purpose of the Printed Circuit Board Flame Retardancy Partnership is to better understand the environmental health and safety aspects of commercially available flame retardants that can be used to meet fire safety requirements for the majority of printed circuit boards.
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the largest-volume brominated flame retardant with an annual production of approximately 330 million pounds, and is the primary flame retardant for printed circuit boards. Alternative flame retardant materials, developed in response to concerns over the use of some brominated flame retardants, are becoming available for use in printed circuit boards.
The partnership plans to conduct an alternatives assessment to focus on environmental and human health considerations, building on the groundbreaking methodology of the Furniture Partnership. The results, along with cost and performance information, will be used by the electronics industry in selecting flame retardants for printed circuit boards. A web site on this partnership will be available later in 2006.
DfE's Formulator Program encourages partners to reformulate products to be environmentally safer, cost competitive, and effective. By providing chemical and toxicological information and suggesting safer substitutes, the Formulator Program reduced an estimated 40 million pounds of chemicals of concern in 2005.
Automotive Refinishing Partnership
DfE demonstrated in its partnership with the automotive refinishing industry that developing best practices helps small businesses reduce emissions of toxic chemicals. Building on this successful approach, DfE is now working collaboratively with EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards and Regions to craft a flexible pollution prevention provision of an area source regulation.
Through SDSI, DfE will recognize companies, facilities, and others who voluntarily phase out or commit to phase out the manufacture or use of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) surfactants. Both NPEs and their breakdown products, such as nonylphenol (NP), can harm aquatic life.
NP is both an intermediate in the manufacture of NPE surfactants and an ultimate degradation product. NPE surfactants are used in many sectors, including cleaning and industrial processes. DfE has identified safer alternatives to NPEs through its partnership work with industry and environmental advocates. These safer alternative surfactants are comparable in cost and are readily available.
SDSI will encourage the manufacture and use of safer surfactants, which will reduce the level of NPE surfactants and NP in streams. This initiative will help implement the Aquatic Life Criteria for NP published in the Federal Register in February 2006. The criteria were designed to protect aquatic life in both fresh and saltwater, providing the basis for state and tribal water quality standards.
Order documents by placing a check next to items on the list below and filling out the order form at the bottom of the page. You may also place an order directly to the National Service Center for Environmental Publications.
For access to older DfE documents please see the DfE section of the OPPT Web Documents Archive page.
Ways to save money AND help the environment:
Eat healthier AND save money: Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo with Multicooker Lids that Fries, Steams, Slow Cooks, Sautés, Dehydrates
Save water AND money with this showerhead adapter, it lets the water flow until the water is hot, then shuts off water flow until you restart it, ShowerStart TSV Hot Water Standby Adapter
Protect your health with these:
Mattress Dust mite-Bedbug protector, 100% Waterproof, Hypoallergenic, Zippered
Handheld Allergen Vacuum Cleaner with UV Sanitizing and Heating for Allergies and Pet, Kills Mite, Virus, Molds, True HEPA with Powerful Suction removes Hair, Dander, Pollen, Dust,
Immune Support Supplement with Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3
GermGuardian Air Purifier with UV-C Light and HEPA 13 Filter, Removes 99.97% of Pollutants
5 Stage Air Purifier, Features Ultraviolet Light (UVC), H13 True Hepa, Carbon, PCO, Smart Wifi, Auto Mode, Quiet, Removes 99.97% of Particles, Smoke, Mold, Pet Dander, Dust, Odors
Interesting Reads:
THE PREPPER'S CANNING & PRESERVING BIBLE: [13 in 1] Your Path to Food Self-Sufficiency. Canning, Dehydrating, Fermenting, Pickling & More, Plus The Food Preservation Calendar for a Sustainable Pantry
The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! Paperback
The Citizens' Guide to Geologic Hazards: A Guide to Understanding Geologic Hazards Including Asbestos, Radon, Swelling Soils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming
Book: The Sixth Extinction:
An Unnatural History Paperback