Intertek and California DTSC Set Agenda for Greener Electronics
19 Jan 2009
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Intertek, the leading international provider of quality and safety services, will hold a symposium between industry, regulators, and enforcement agencies to demonstrate best health and environmental compliance practices regarding regulated hazardous materials in consumer electronics and the ‘greening’ of products and supply chains into the future.
The symposium, entitled “The Greening of Electronics in a Global Economy,” will be held on February 19, 2009 at the California Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters in Sacramento. It will address the need and opportunities for reducing hazardous substances in consumer electronics, current US and international best practises in health and environmental compliance practices, measures open to electronics manufacturers for ensuring compliance, and global prospects and trends in ‘greener’ electronics supply chains and new regulation.
California is one of the leading international jurisdictions in the regulation and enforcement of harmful substances in consumer electronic products. A number of international jurisdictions and governments have hazardous substances laws in place, including the EU, China, Japan, Canada and Australia, and delegates from agencies in these countries are invited to the forum. As regulatory terms and enforcement in each jurisdiction varies, the symposium will allow industry and regulators to discuss together the challenges in ensuring compliance with varying laws and standards across global manufacturing and supply-chains. California is the first U.S. state to actively promote legislation in this area and the symposium, is the first of its kind in North America.
The symposium will also be attended by some of the world’s leading electrical manufacturers. Brian Krzanich, Vice President and General Manager of Manufacturing and Supply Chainat Intel Corporation, will deliver the symposium’s key note speech. Speakers include Judy Glazer, Director of Global Operations Social and Environmental Responsibilityat Hewlett Packard, Tim McGrady, Environmental Manager at LG Electronics, Mr. Henrick Hagen Olesen of the Danish EPA, Göran Gabling of KEMI the Swedish Chemicals Agency, and a speaker from the China MII.
Claudia Polsky, Deputy Director of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Green Technology at DTSC, said: “Integral to California’s Green Chemistry Initiative is the identification of product manufacturers that have robust environmental compliances systems, and those that are going beyond compliance to find ways to eliminate harmful, as-yet-unregulated chemicals in their products. This symposium will be an opportunity to share best practices with some of the leading electrical manufacturers in the world, and to identify opportunities for global cooperation among government agencies with responsibility over toxics in electronics.”
Joel Pekay, Global Marketing and Business Development Director of Intertek’s Health and Environmental Services, said: “Hazardous waste generated from electrical products is a global concern and we are proud to befacilitating communication between industry and environmental enforcement agencies. There is huge benefit to businesses in understanding and cost-effectively addressing global legislation in their operations and this first symposium is a step towards leading and sharing that best practice in the U.S.”
Contacts
For further information, please contact
Joel Pekay
Global Marketing and Business Development Director
Telephone: 630-481-3126
Email: joel.pekay@intertek.com
Website: www.intertek.com/green