April News & Updates from TURI

A Note from the Director

Dear colleagues,

For decades, TURI has worked alongside change-makers in the public and private sectors to build a better future. This year, TURI awarded over $137,000 in grants to industry leaders, small businesses, academic researchers, and one community-based organization, and you'll read about some of our successes below.

As we continue to give additional grants, grow our offerings, add training opportunities, and more throughout the next year, TURI is hiring three new positions to help us expand our capacity. We're looking for:

💻 Office Assistant

✏️ Training Associate

🧪 Safer Chemicals Lab Technician

Are you a good fit for one of these roles — or know someone who is? Learn more here.

Best,

Baskut

Grant Update: Conklin Furniture

One of TURI’s latest grantees, Conklin Office Furniture of Holyoke, is a small business that provides sustainable office furnishings by recycling and refurbishing used office furniture.

They received a 2022 TURI Small Business Grant to examine their use of products that contain toxic solvents as part of their ongoing work to implement an environmental management system.

This project is focused on finding safer options for their use of spray adhesives and paint cleaners and thinners, which traditionally contain methylene chloride and toluene, respectively.

The TURI team was joined by OTA staff to help Conklin discover opportunities for toxics use reduction. We are currently testing cleaners for spray adhesive and are excited to see what the results are. Stay tuned to future newsletters for the results!

Learn more about TURI grants here.

NEW: SAB Actions and Assisting DEP with New Flame Retardant Law

At the Science Advisory Board (SAB’s) February meeting, the board recommended listing carbon nanofibers. This recommendation adds to the board’s previous recommendations to list single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, in response to the June 2020 Petition from Clean Water Action and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

The board is currently discussing whether to recommend listing any of these materials as Higher Hazard Substances. The next step in the listing process is the development of a policy analysis and presentation at the Advisory Committee and Administrative Council meetings.

The SAB has also begun work related to An Act To Protect Children, Families, and Firefighters From Harmful Flame Retardants. In this act, the board is responsible for reviewing and recommending new flame retardants to DEP every three years.

Next SAB Meeting

Easy Access to Chemical Hazard Information: OECD eChemPortal updated with latest ECHA data. ECHA’s data on more than 1.3 million endpoints for 26 500 substances registered under REACH is now available for search on the eChemPortal. The eChemPortal also searches EPA’s CompTox Chemicals Dashboard and PubChem, as well as other resources, to make it easier to get information and data.

Higher cancer rates found in military pilots, ground crews. A Pentagon study has found high rates of cancer among military pilots and, for the first time, shows that ground crews who fuel, maintain and launch those aircraft are also getting sick.

Why environmental justice is a critical component of safe and sustainable chemistry. There is now a groundswell of work around climate and chemicals which is rapidly scaling into a common message of justice for all, safe work, and healthy communities. So what does this mean for sustainable chemistry?

The False Trade-off Between Green Energy and Toxic Chemical Regulation. Toxic substances have been difficult to regulate, and companies are now lobbying against regulations that keep us safe. Despite their arguments, it is possible to reduce the use of toxics and still grow a company. Moreover, most regulations in America are introduced gradually and companies often have years to fully comply with new environmental rules.

Image provided by Betty Seaman shows Navy Capt. Jim Seaman, who died of lung cancer at the age of 61.UNCREDITED/AP

Upcoming Events

Our Spring TUR Conference is in-person on April 12 in Marlborough!

Attendees can look forward to the following - and more!

CASE STUDIES: Learn from Transene and other companies in two sessions that dive into the ways facilities are implementing changes to create safer work environments and products for their customers.

SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS: Embedding toxics use reduction planning into other company sustainability efforts enhances the effectiveness of each. Learn how to implement this at your facility.

NETWORKING: Meet and network with peers, hear from other companies, and share best practices and tips.

Join us and earn up to 12 continuing education credits.

TURA Environmental Management System Certification Training

April 25, 2023, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (virtual)

May 4, 2023, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (in-person hosted by Umicore Electrical Materials, Attleboro MA)

If you are interested in this training please contact Pam Eliason (email: Pamela_Eliason@uml.edu) at your earliest convenience.

Learn more & save the date

Goodbye to Brenda

Many of you have worked with Brenda Wilson, our Office Administrator during her 15+ years at TURI. Brenda has been an important point of contact for our TUR Planners, and has been pivotal to the Institute’s success throughout her tenure with us. We will miss her calming influence during crunch times and her constant attention to detail. She is leaving TURI for a much deserved retirement. Brenda looks forward to doing more with family, but will miss you all.