SOCMA To Launch “Clean Chemistry” Initiative

The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) will launch a new sustainable chemistry initiative, The International Center for Sustainable Chemistry, in early 2007. The initiative is the result of a partnership between SOCMA and the EPA. The center will serve as an industry medium for green chemistry outreach and activities.

The core functions of the partnership include: providing technical advice on risk screening models and methods, delivering customized product stewardship programs and training, developing and evaluating approaches to judge what makes one chemical “greener” than other, establishing product-specific stakeholder groups to address emerging chemical issues from a functional use perspective, and developing and new approaches to green chemistry.

“The Center has a purely technical focus and serves as a center of excellence for chemical risk screening, featuring the Sustainable Future models developed and used by EPA,” said, Joseph Acker, SOCMA president. “The Center is a platform for stakeholder discussions on emerging chemical issues, building a bridge between supply chain players and among other interested parties. We look forward to working with the EPA and others in developing innovative and new approaches to green chemistry,” Mr. Acker continued.

In March 2007, SOCMA is planning a meeting to present the center’s organizational structure, roles and responsibilities, and formally adopt the mission and strategic plan. SOCMA will meet with interested organizations and companies over the next two months to form a governing body and finalize the draft of the center’s strategic plan. The agency will be serving in a technical advisory role.