The document summarizes a webinar on green business and chemical policy reform. It discusses the mission of the Green Business Network to promote a green economy. It outlines Green America's programs and membership opportunities for businesses. Experts from the American Sustainable Business Council and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics discuss the need to reform chemical policy and laws, noting the ubiquity of chemicals and lack of safety data. They argue reform would create a level playing field and expand markets for safer products.

2. Today’s Webinar Moderator Fran Teplitz, director, Strategic Outreach [email_address]

4. Green America’s Green Business & Green Economy Programs: Green Business Network Business Seal Of Approval National Green Pages Green Festivals Green America Exchange Green Business Conferences Business Advertising Guides Consumer and Investor Outreach Corporate Responsibility Programs

6. More Information 1612 K St., NW, Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20006 Desireé Wolford Sr. Manager Membership and Marketing 202-872-5330 www.GreenBusinessNetwork.org www.facebook.com/greenbusinessnetwork www.twitter.com/greenbizconf [email_address]

7. Toxic Substances * Strengthening the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) * Safe Cosmetics Act We await the introduction of new 2011 legislation for each of these bills. Green America’s emphasis: The Precautionary Principle [email_address]

8. Precautionary Principle “ When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context, the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof.”

11. American Sustainable Business Council 1 1 David Levine Executive Director American Sustainable Business Council Green America Chemical Policy Presentation

12. American Sustainable Business Council 2 2 A B The American Sustainable Business Council is a powerful advocate for businesses and business networks that support the education and legislation needed to have a just society and a sustainable economy.

13. American Sustainable Business Council 8 8 Our influence, and support, have quadrupled in 12 months 28 Partners 60,000 Member Companies 100,000’s of Employees Since its founding in 2009, the organizations that have joined ASBC in this partnership represent over 60,000 businesses and social enterprises and more than 150,000 entrepreneurs, owners, executives, investors and business professionals . American Sustainable Business Council

14. American Sustainable Business Council 13 13 Partners

17. Some of the chemicals widely detected in the US population *Representative US sample from NHANES/CDC generally from 2003/2004, PCBs for women ages 16-39 Chemical Percent of US population with measurable levels* Sources Phthalates (7 kinds) 50 – 97% Flooring, wall covering, medical devices, food wrap, personal care products, lacquers Bisphenol A 92% Polycarbonate plastic, food can lining dental sealant Perfluorinated compounds (4 types) 91-99% Nonstick cookware, stain resistant fabrics, food packaging, dental products PBDEs (many) 100% (with at least one congener) Chemical flame retardants, upholstery, carpet, electronics Triclosan 80% Antimicrobial agent , soaps PCBs (many)* 100% ( with at least one congener) Banned in 1977 – persistent through food

19. Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Currently under TSCA Under Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Few chemicals are required to be tested and no minimum data set is required even for new chemicals. A minimum data set (MDS) on all new and existing chemicals sufficient to determine safety would be required to be developed and made public. EPA is required to prove harm before it can regulate a chemical. Chemical manufacturer bears the burden of proving their chemicals are safe. No mandate exists to assess the safety of existing chemicals. New chemicals undergo a severely time-limited and highly data-constrained review. All chemicals, new and existing, would be subject to a full safety determination.

20. Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Currently under TSCA Under Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 The “unreasonable risk” standard under TSCA is not health-based but rather requires extensive cost-benefit considerations. The safety standard would be a strictly health-based standard, “Reasonable certainty of no harm,” adapted from our pesticide safety laws. Where the rare chemical assessment is undertaken, there is no requirement to assess exposure to all sources of exposure to a chemical, or to assess risk to vulnerable subpopulations. The safety standard requires the assessment of a chemical to account for aggregate exposure to all sources of exposure to the chemical, and to ensure protection of vulnerable subpopulations.

21. Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Currently under TSCA Under Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Even chemicals of highest concern, such as asbestos, have not been able to be regulated under TSCA’s unreasonable risk standard. Instead, assessments often drag on indefinitely without conclusion or decision. Chemicals of highest concern would be subject to expedited safety determinations and/or actions to reduce their use or exposure to them. Companies are free to claim, often without providing any justification, most information they submit to EPA to be confidential business information (CBI), denying access to the public and even to state and local government. EPA is not required to review such claims, and the claims never expire. All CBI claims would have to be justified up front. EPA would be required to review them, and only approved claims would stand. Approved claims would expire after a period of time. Other levels of government would have access to CBI.

30. We Can’t Shop Our Way Out

31. The Market is Moving

32. The Solution Safer products and smarter laws to protect our health, the health of future generations and the health of the environment

46. Thank you! www.SafeCosmetics.org Questions? Feedback? Want to help? [email_address] jnudelman@safecosmetics.org