Dec 31, 2015
Design for the Environment
A voluntary partnership-based
program that works directly with
companies to integrate health and
environmental considerations in
business decisions.
Design for the Environment
• Changing general business practices to incorporate environmental concerns.
• Working with specific industries to evaluate the risks, performance, and costs of alternative chemicals, processes and technologies.
• Helping individual businesses undertake environmental design efforts through the application of specific tools and methods.
DfE partners include:
• Industry
• Professional institutions
• Academia
• Environmental and Public Interest Groups
• Other Government Agencies
DfE Approach
• Encourages front-end innovations through redesign rather than relying on end-of-pipe controls to reducing potential risks to human health and the environment.
• Uses Cleaner Technologies Substitutes Assessments (CTSAs) and life cycle tools to evaluate the performance, costs and environmental and human health impacts of competing technologies.
DfE Programs
• Printing projects
• Electronics projects
• Garment and textile care
• Laundry partnership
• Auto refinishing projects
• Supplier Initiative
• Wall Paints
• Adhesives in the Foam Furniture and Sleep Products Industries
• DfE-PETE Education
• DfE Approaches to Developing EMS
Govt regulations affecting printing
industry• VOC’s affecting air, water and health regulations-
CERCLA, RCRA, CAA, SARA
• main chemicals
– acetone
– methanol
– ethyl acetate
– toluene
– xylene
Design for the Environment Printing Projects
• Lithography project
• Flexography project
• Screen Printing project
Design for the Environment
Lithography Project
• > 50% of industry - books, newspapers, magazines, etc.
• offset printing process-transfers image from a plate to a blanket then to substrate
• primary concern is solvent-based blanket washes
Design for the Environment Flexography Project
• 17% of industry - packaging, plastic bags, labels, etc.
• printing from a raised image on a printing plate to substrate using quick-drying inks
• primary concern is solvent-based inks
• 3 % of industry - t-shirts, textiles, fine art, printing on electronic equipment
• Rubber squeegee presses ink through stencil (image) on porous screen to substrate
• main concern are solvents used in removing inks and emulsions (stencils) to reclaim screens
Design for the Environment
Screen Printing Project
Design for the Environment
Screen Printing Project
• Technical Studies
• Implementation Efforts
• Outreach Activities
(methodology applicable for each industry)
Technical Studies• Cleaner Substitutes Assessment (CTSA)• Factors Include:
– Chemical composition– Performance– Cost– Occupational Risk and Exposure– Regulatory Concerns
• Did NOT– rank a product as better or worse than
another– recommend “green” products
Case Study: Action Graphics
• Eliminated need for ink remover by
– reclaiming screens immediately after a print run
– using a high-water pressure system
– switching emulsion and haze removers
• Reduced amount of solvent used by finding more efficient products and reusing rags.
Comparison of Yearly Operating Costs*
Old system New system
Ink Remover $13,100 $0
Emulsion Remover $5,000 $2,600
Haze Remover $7,800 $10,900
Filter Media $0 $3,000
Total $25,900 $16,500
Yearly Operating Cost Savings: $9,400
* Data not available for change in labor costs