The European Chemicals Agency has proposed to add 20 chemicals to its list of "substances of very high concern" (SVHC) list, as defined by Article 57 of the REACH Regulation, Platts reported. Most of the chemicals, which include dichromium trischromate, pentazinc chromate octahydroxide and calcium arsenate, were selected due to their "potentially serious effects" on health. A public comment period will run until October 31.
The first public comment period for the Global Reporting Initiative's G4 sustainability reporting guidelines is open, the group announced. The online survey is open for 90 days, and seeks feedback from stakeholders on topics such as report formats and the minimum content of a GRI sustainability report.
The Basel Action Network formally replaced the Pledged e-Stewards Recyclers program on Thursday with the stricter third-party audited certification known as e-Stewards Certification, which is based on the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment , the group announced. The group said the e-Stewards Certification is the "gold standard" for responsible electronic waste recycling and is backed by 70 environmental organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and major corporations such as Samsung and Alcoa.
Electronic Recyclers International has received ISO 9001 certification for all of its electronic waste facilities throughout the U.S. The independent auditor QMI-SAI Global inspected all of the company's operations.
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition announced that it has revised the criteria in its "Vision for Sustainable Packaging" for material to qualify as sustainable packaging. To be considered sustainable, packaging must be "made from materials healthy throughout the life cycle." The old language required packaging to be "made from materials healthy all probable end of life scenarios."
A coalition of corporations and universities in Israel have created a group aimed at developing unified communication and smart grid technologies for utilities, according to a report in Greenbang. Founding members of the group, which will receive funding from the office of the country's Chief Scientist, include ECI Telecom, Motorola Solutions Israel Ltd., and Ben-Gurion University.
Four Cargill corn milling locations have earned the EPA's Energy Star designation, the company announced. The plants in Blair, Neb., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Eddyville, Iowa, and Wahpteon, N.D., measure in the top 25 percent in the industry for energy efficiency.
CVS/pharmacy announced that its distribution center in Chemung County, New York has been awarded LEED Gold certification, the first for a CVS distribution center. Gray Construction built the complex, which features an energy-efficient white PVC roof and a rainwater harvest system for irrigation.
Following the lead of California's warnings about the health hazards of tattoos mandated under the state's Proposition 65 requirements, the Food and Drug Administration will begin studying the effects on the body of several chemicals found in tattoo ink, Environmental Health News reported. Concerned about the findings of several academic reports, the agency will probe phthalates, benzo(a)pyrene, and other chemicals.
