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MN Bubbles to the Top In Quest for Cleaner, Greener Chemicals

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Thursday, January 26, 2012   

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - It's called "green chemistry," and leaders from academia, business, government and nonprofits are meeting today to find ways to make Minnesota a leader in the industry. Kathleen Schuler, senior policy analyst with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, defines green chemistry as the use of safer and alternative chemicals in the production of consumer products.

"Green chemistry is a way to think about a product's life cycle and how you can design safer products in the first place. Let's think about the public health impacts. What is the toxicology? What are the toxicological effects of the chemicals we're using in our products?"

Some 80,000 different chemicals are used in commerce now, but Schuler says safety data is available on just a small percentage.

Among the benefits of promoting a healthy business environment for green chemistry in Minnesota are the jobs that could come at research, processing and manufacturing companies, Schuler says.

"We feel that green chemistry is an economic opportunity, both for new businesses designing greener products, and also for existing businesses making their products safer and greener using safer chemicals."

The benefits reach far beyond economics. Other positive effects Schuler highlights are protecting public health and the environment.

"If you apply green chemistry, you use less energy, you consider your climate impacts, and you consider your impacts on the environment, public health and water (you use less water). Green chemistry has a broad application."

More than 200 business owners, entrepreneurs and green chemistry advocates are expected for the conference, which is being held at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. This is the second annual green chemistry conference. The focus this year is on developing strategies for growth.

More information is available at www.greenchemistrymn.org.




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