US Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) Alternatives Assessment Program

Abstract

Design for the Environment (DfE) Chemical Alternatives Assessments (CAA) are an approach to chemical substitution used to evaluate chemicals targeted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for action. CAAs have helped stakeholders consider the health and environmental profiles of chemicals along with the more traditional factors of cost and performance as they choose alternatives. Recent improvements to the CAA methodology and criteria for differentiating chemicals have enhanced transparency and made the methodology implementable by parties outside the EPA. DfE is working to harmonize methodologies for CAA in the USA and plans to begin working with other countries on harmonization. Harmonization would have a number of benefits, introducing efficiencies by reducing the need for redundant assessments, and making it possible to have a central data repository where those conducting CAAs and those choosing safer chemicals can go for information.

Evaluating the Use of Alternatives Assessment To Compare Bulk Organic Chemical and Nanomaterial Alternatives to Brominated Flame Retardants

“…Although AA is not a new concept (see, e.g., Sances and Ingham 1997 or Wick and Nissenbaum 1998 , ), these pressures have led to a greater awareness and wider use of AA. It is now incorporated in both regulatory and private sector frameworks that seek to minimize the human and environmental health impacts of such hazardous substances. − Ideally, application of AA should be “action-oriented” and lead to the adoption of inherently safer substances. ,, Successful implementation of AA, then, should be congruent with and complementary to the goals of Green Chemistry, which aims to reduce risk across the life cycle by designing inherently safer chemicals and processes, guided by the Twelve Principles…”

“…Here, we conduct a heterogeneous AA (one that involves bulk organic chemical drop-in replacements, minerals, and ENMs) as a first attempt to evaluate comprehensively the potential to substitute ENMs for current-use FRs. The assessment is carried out following a procedure that combines the features of two commonly used, comprehensive alternatives assessment frameworks: the US EPA’s DfE Program and BizNGO’s Chemical Alternatives Assessment Protocol (CAAP) . The stages include (1) identify chemical of concern, (2) characterize end uses and function, (3) identify and prioritize alternatives, (4) assess hazards of alternatives, (5) evaluate technical and economic performance, (6) consider life cycle impacts and exposure, (7) select preferred alternative, and (8) implement safer alternative.…”