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C4S EVENTS and WORKSHOPS

Certified, Credible Sustainable Products: Innovation in Manufacturing

Registration Fee: $75.00 C4S members, $95.00 nonmembers

C4S Members: Click here to register

Non-members: Click here to register

One of the key strategies used by advanced economies that maintain an extensive regional manufacturing infrastructure involves promoting ways for manufacturers to climb higher on the value chain.  This means companies supply products and solutions that demand a higher return because the products and services reflect greater levels of skills, knowledge, capabilities, and innovation. 

Southwestern Pennsylvania is well-positioned to help its manufacturers command the growing field of products based on sustainable solutions—products that meet the quality functional needs that other business or retail consumers want, while using materials that eliminate or reduce the impacts of those products that are otherwise externalized on society as a whole. 

This workshop features manufacturers and purchasers who have successfully achieved sustainable product certification as well as guidance on the certification process itself. Two panels of high profile industry leaders provide details on the benefits of certification—in terms of financial payback, regulatory risk minimization, and, most importantly, as an innovation driver for tapping into growing new markets.

Credibility of green claims continues to impact how sustainable products are perceived in the marketplace. Greenwashing has become commonplace. This workshop provides certified and credible/verifiable standards that address greenwashing concerns in an increasingly complex marketplace.

Agenda: Certified Sustainable Products

8:30 Continental Breakfast

9:10 Program Objective

9:15 Manufacturing Panel
• Jason Bondra, WESCO Sustainability Director
• Denny Darragh, National Sales Director, Forbo Flooring
• Steve McGuire, Philips Sustainability Director
• John White, Eaton Energy Director

Issues:
- Sustainable manufacturing
- Sustainable product attributes & prerequisites
- Third party certifications
- Increasing sales & profitability
- Sustainable manufacturing underwriting
- Certified sustainable product credits
- Eliminating greenwash & market confusion
- Leadership standards campaign

10:30 Break

10:45 Purchasers Panel
• Shawn Carter, Regional President, Home Depot (invited)
• Joe Parisi, GSA Public Building Service
• Heidi Goldstein, Thompson Hine, LLP

Issues:
- Home Depot Eco Options
- Executive Order compliance
- Lacey Act
- Sustainable manufacturing underwriting standard for retailers & manufacturers

11:30 How to Get Certified

Keith Winn, President, Catalyst Partners

12:30 Adjourn

Registration Information

• C4S/Sustainable Pittsburgh Members Register online ($75.00):

• Non-members Register online ($95.00):

Or contact:


Matthew M. Mehalik, Ph.D.
Program Manager
Sustainable Pittsburgh
412-258-6644
mmehalik@sustainablepittsburgh.org

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Green Chemistry Roundtable Series
Session #2: Debate: Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Date: March 18, 2010
Time: 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Location: New Hazlett Theater
Registration Fee: $30.00

Join us for what promises to be a GREAT debate on Green Chemistry, Policy Issues and the reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

With top representatives from the American Chemistry Council, Environmental Working Group and Bayer Corporation, this is your chance to learn why TSCA is so important to your business, your health and the environment - and the future of green chemistry.

So don't miss what promises to be the most important debate on this issue on Thursday, March 18.

With the upcoming reform of TSCA - originally passed in 1976 - is there a need to put greater emphasis on safety and public health when it comes to a new chemicals policy in the United States?

Moderator:
Gordon Mitchell, Director, William Pitt Debating Union, University of Pittsburgh (to be confirmed)

Debaters:


Michael P. Walls, Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, American Chemistry Council


Timothy Jones, Regulatory Affairs - Material Science,  Bayer Corporation

Jason Rano, Legislative Analyst, Environmental Working Group


Maryann Donovan, Ph.D., MPH, Director, UPCI Center for Environmental Oncology

Panel of Questioners:


Terry Collins, Ph.D., Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
Student(s),William Pitt Debating Union, University of Pittsburgh


This is the second roundtable in a series of four planned in 2010 through a collaboration between the Rachel Carson Homestead Association and Champions for Sustainability (Sustainable Pittsburgh). 

We thank the William Pitt Debating Union of the University of Pittsburgh for their help with this event.

Light snacks will be served.

Click here to register.


Contact:

Matthew Mehalik mmehalik@sustainablepittsburgh.org 412.258.6644.

Session #1: Preventing Pollution By Design
Presented by:
Champions for Sustainability & Rachel Carson Homestead Association

Date: January 13, 2010
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 AM
Location: Alcoa Corporate Center
201 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Registration Fee:
$30.00

Don't miss the first of our Green Chemistry Roundtables for 2010.  Champions for Sustainability in collaboration with the RCHA will hold a series of roundtables that will convene leaders in the growing field of Green Chemistry to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing our region - and our country.

Our guest speaker for Session #1, Preventing Pollution By Design, will be John R. Ehrenfeld, author of Sustainability By Design.

This first roundtable will be held at the Alcoa Corporate Center in Pittsburgh. Built in 1998, Alcoa's aluminum-and-glass Corporate Center on Pittsburgh's North Shore riverfront used many design ideas that are now standards in the Green Building portfolio.

Green Chemistry Roundtable Series: Manufacturing a Sustainable Economy

How can green chemistry propel southwestern Pennsylvania's manufacturing business to become economically more sustainable?

This region is well positioned to help its manufacturers command the growing field of products based on green chemistry solutions - products that meet the quality functional needs that other business or retail consumers want, while using materials that eliminate or reduce the impacts of those products that are otherwise externalized on society as a whole.

With its substantial manufacturing capacities as well as its expertise in advanced chemistry and materials, product design and innovative talent, our region can grow and sustain its manufacturing base by bringing them together strategically.

The series of roundtables convenes leaders in the growing field of green chemistry to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing our region, and the entire country.

Upcoming titles for our series of roundtables include:

Session #1, PREVENTING POLLUTION BY DESIGN, John R. Ehrenfeld, (January 13, 2010)

Session #2: POLICY ISSUES and reform of the TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (March 2010)

Session #3: GREEN PRODUCTS: SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES (May 2010)

Session #4: RECLAIMED AND REPROCESSED PRODUCTS (July 2010)

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Alcoa Foundation

Bayer Foundation

Sponsorship opportunities are still open for the rest of the Green Chemistry series. Contact us for more information.

Contact:

Matthew Mehalik mmehalik@sustainablepittsburgh.org 412.258.6644.