Green Screen powered by GreenWERCs -- SCOPE and INTENT
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Solution Overview – Green Screen powered by GreenWERCS
Introduction
Companies are piloting Clean Production Action’s Green Screen for Safer Chemicals (Green Screen) version 1.1 as a method to assess alternatives to restricted substances and/or chemicals of concern. This approach enables the identification of safer, more benign chemicals and materials in the procurement evaluation. Chemicals that score poorly in the Green Screen are inherently more hazardous and carry higher risks of being targeted in regulations and consumer campaigns. By leveraging the Green Screen method through the processing and calculating power of the integrated GreenWERCS tool, a Green Screen benchmarking score can be generated and delivered to companies like HP and Apple in the most efficient and cost effective manner. This scope of work outlines a proposed pilot oriented path to integrating the Green Screen method into the GreenWERCS system and creating a software tool and service platform to better optimize harmonization and cost efficiency of Green Screen assessments. This tool is tentatively called, “Green Screen powered by GreenWERCs”(GS/GW).
The goal of this pilot project is to demonstrate the ability to enable global adoption of the Green Screen in the electronic sector through a proof of concept pilot. To increase scalability for our business partners, CPA will work with the WERCs to create a software tool and service platform that reduces costs through automation and harmonization of GS assessments while maintaining security of proprietary data for suppliers and OEMs. Integration of the Green Screen method into software powered by the WERCs will:
· enable generation of a GS benchmark score on chemicals in materials and products through automation, expert systems, and professional review; and
· create a secure central repository for GS hazard lists and information generated from assessments
· enable sharing of non-proprietary hazard assessment information to reduce assessment costs;
· continue to advance a harmonized approach to hazard assessment that supports more informed decisions about chemicals and materials used in products, beginning with the electronics sector.
Clean Production Action and WERCS will coordinate the Green Screen specifications into the GreenWERCS software platform. Apple will work with CPA and the WERCS to pilot the system before it is publicly launched. Additional parties in the electronics sector may be engaged in the pilot.
I. KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED IN A GS SOFTWARE PLATFORM POWERED BY GREENWERCs
1. BUILDING THE GS CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT LIBRARY (GS CAL)
The Green Screen Chemical Assessment Library (GS CAL) is a database pool of Green Screen chemical hazard assessments from which all GS assessments will be generated and shared. The library will include hazard classification levels (e.g. H, M, L) along with the supporting data used for classification. The hazard classification will used as lists that will support GS Benchmarking. The GS CAL will begin with existing hazard lists, typically generated for hazardous chemicals by regulatory and authoritative bodies. It will also house newly generated lists of hazard classifications for chemicals with low inherent hazard. The process by which the GS CAL will be generated is described below.
A. USE OF EXISTING AUTHORITATIVE AND EXPERT LISTS- Publicly available authoritative and expert chemical hazard lists identified in the Green Screen method will be integrated into GreenWERCS and the Green Screen hazard classification benchmarking method. In addition the “CPA/HBN Red List” will be added and maintained by the WERCs through mutual collaboration. This list is currently being specified in standards (Green Seal, Green Good Housekeeping). A reporting format will be developed to present the hazard classification information in a concise table or matrix that can be used by authorized Green Screen chemical profilers and validators to score and benchmark chemicals. This standardized output will be generated through the use of the GS/GW tool. Typically hazard lists are used to identify chemicals that have been tested and demonstrate high inherent hazard for specific hazard endpoints. Most chemicals in commerce are not found on hazard lists because they have not been tested, have not attracted regulatory attention or they are not deemed sufficiently hazardous to warrant regulation or “black listing”. As Green Screen assessments are performed, new, supplemental Green Screen lists will be developed, enabling the software to to identify chemicals with lower inherent hazard characteristics.
B. NEW LIST DEVELOPMENT – The Green Screen is a method that involves classifying chemical hazards based on review of all available data. The hazard information obtained from Green Screen assessments by qualified toxicologists will be used to develop new GreenWERCS lists for each of the Green Screen hazard endpoints. Low, moderate, high and in some cases, very high, hazard classification for each of the hazard endpoints will be determined based on review of the scientific literature, use of structure activity relationship modeling, expert review of chemicals based on chemical analogs and overall judgment of the weight of evidence based on comprehensive review. This information will be used to generate lists of chemicals that meet low, moderate, high (or very high) classification for each hazard endpoint. For example, based on assessment of acute aquatic toxicity, a list of chemicals with low acute aquatic toxicity will be generated. This novel approach to generating lists of based on hazard classification of all hazard levels is key to leveraging the GreenWERCS capability.
These newly generated Green Screen hazard lists will be integrated into the GreenWERCS software and Green Screen scoring approach. These lists will be made available for future Green Screen assessments and will include the information used to generate the classification. This is essential to creating cost efficiency and reducing redundancy of performing multiple toxicological assessments of chemicals that are used in multiple formulations and products. This is also essential to applying the GS Benchmarks that are based on complete hazard classifications. Over time, quality control protocols will be established by the WERCs and CPA to validate hazard classification and benchmark scores for chemicals and materials.
Note: The GS CAL will allow the sharing of assessments at the chemical CAS# level between GS chemical profilers and GS/GW subscribers. In some cases, proprietary data will be provided to a GS chemical profiler. In this case, the proprietary data may be kept confidential by the GS chemical profiler. However, it must be made accessible for validation also under confidentiality agreement. However, the proprietary data will NOT be shared openly to all subscribers. It may be held in the Chemical Assessment Library in redacted format.
2. BUILDING THE GS MATERIAL ASSESSMENT LIBRARY (GS MAL) – Private and Public Options
The GS Materials Assessment Library (GS MAL) is a library of GS assessments of materials and formulated chemical products. Because materials and formulated chemical products are typically made up of multiple chemicals and those formulations are often valuable and proprietary, it will be possible to share the results of GS assessments while keeping key formulation information confidential. This does not compromise the value of the GS assessment because subscribers will be able to see the results of the overall material or formulated product assessment along with each hazard classification associated with each and every chemical; allowing them to make more informed decisions and to lower their overall risk to business as well and human health and the environment. The GS MAL will have both private and public functions.
A. PRIVATE CONTROL BY SUBSCRIBERS (SANDBOX) -- Like the current GreenWERCs retail model there is value in a platform that allows subscribers to assess materials and to keep the formulations proprietary. Using this model, subscribers may also send their formulations directly to the GS profiler of their choice for assessment work. The results will be shared only with the subscriber who sponsors the chemical and owns the results. At the subscriber’s discretion, the results of GS MATERIAL assessment may be published in full or redacted predetermined format to customers of their choice. RESULTS FOR ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL CHEMICALS, DISSOCIATED FROM THE PRODUCTS IN WHICH THEY ARE USED IN A MATERIAL OR FORMULATED PRODUCT, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT LIBRARY.
B. PUBLISHED ASSESSMENTS IN THE GS/GW MARKETPLACE -- A database, accessible to all subscribers, will be established where GS material assessments are published by subscribers who seek broader visibility for their materials. These assessments must be validated before they are published and may be published using predetermined full or redacted formats. This database may eventually serve as a marketplace for preferred materials as we expect that low scoring products are unlikely to be published here. The GS.GW Marketplace is envisioned as an outgrowth of the GS Chemical and Material Assessment Libraries. However it is not a priority of this pilot project.
Quality control protocols will be established by the WERCs and CPA to ensure the validity of the inherent hazard information and the Benchmark scores for all materials and formulated chemical products.
3. Harmonization and Integration with other TOOLS and platforms
There is a need for harmonization and integration of hazard assessment data into enterprise resource planning systems that facilitates full material disclosure and integrates scores for other high priority sustainability related impacts, including but not limited to energy, recycling, and resource use. Product designers need to simplify and integrate disparate information related to sustainability to make more informed material selection decisions. For example, they may want to optimize products for low hazard and low carbon footprint. CPA will bring in advisors as part of this pilot to ensure that information can flow efficiently between leading platforms to meet the needs of customers. Each opportunity for integration between GreenWERCS and a customer’s specific commercial or legacy internal systems will be treated uniquely as an individual project with appropriate engagement between the customer and The Wercs Ltd. The process of defining requirements, building a specification, and presenting appropriate cost proposals for such integration will be managed as a unique scope of work.
II. HOW A GS SCORE IS GENERATED
1. A chemical or the chemical constituents of a material will be input by a licensed user of the GS/GW software tool. Automated hazard assessment and benchmarking will be performed by evaluating each chemical CAS# against:
a. Existing hazard classification lists generated by authoritative or expert bodies and selected
by CPA to support hazard classification against a suite of known hazard endpoints.
b. Classification generated for use in GS/GW by a GS chemical profiler.
2. The hazard assessment will result in the presentation of a hazard summary table that illustrates hazard classifications for each GS endpoint and/or data gaps.
a. Where there are data gaps, the chemical(s) may then be sponsored by the subscriber for review by a GS chemical profiler ultimately via a secure GS/GW portal, and initially via mail or direct communication, to allow for independent chemical profiling and validation
b. Results for individual GS chemical assessments will be used to further populate the GS Chemical Assessment Library as defined in step 1b.
3. Following the hazard classification, each chemical will be subjected to automated benchmarking. The benchmarking algorithm will be clearly defined for users. The rules for benchmarking data gaps will be established by CPA.
4. Materials and formulated chemical products will be subjected to an automated scoring algorithm defined by CPA to benchmark the overall mixture based on individual GS assessments. The algorithm will be clearly defined for users.
5. Sponsors will have the option to publish the results in predetermined full disclosure or redacted formats to customers of their choice and/or to the GS/GW marketplace database.
III. SCOPE OF THE PILOT PROJECT
The scope of this pilot project is Phase 1. Future work is dependent on the success of Phase 1.
Phase 1
A. Integrate GS logic into GreenWERCS
1. Identify and integrate the relevant Green Screen authoritative, screening and reference lists into the GreenWERCS system
2. Create list infrastructure for each hazard endpoint in the Green Screen and subdivide those lists into appropriate classification levels (e.g H/M/L). While initially these new lists will be unpopulated, the infrastructure will be built to support their addition
3. Create a reporting format based on the Green Screen hazard table and link the lists to the hazard table.
4. Develop an algorithm based on the GS Benchmarks to automate the GS benchmarking against the GS hazard table
5. Develop a reporting format and template for reporting GS Benchmark scores
B. Set up elements of the infrastructure for information flow between users and subscribers
1. Set up access to the software via a web interface for key pilot partners including Apple, ToxServices, CPA, and 3 or more supplier/assessment sponsors. During the pilot phase certain access for sponsors may be limited to read –only access.
2. Allow for input by chemical profiler to generate new lists of hazard classifications
3. Develop reporting formats and templates for communicating confidential and non-confidential information
4. Run several materials through the system to streamline the flow of information. It is recommended that at least 4 materials comprised of a total of at least 15 chemicals be assessed in order to test the functionality of the system. Sponsors will then be able to access information via a web based read only query tool. Information flows will include:
a. The flow of chemical and material identify information from the chemical sponsors to the GS chemical profiler, via email initially;
b. The flow of hazard classification information to the hazard lists;
c. The generation of a GS hazard table and benchmark score; and
d. The flow of reports using pre-determined formats to GS/GW users.
5. Create rules for protecting confidential information
Phase 2
A. Build the Material Assessment (MAL) Library Private Option (Sandbox)
B. Build the Material Assessment Library (MAL) Public Option
C. Ensure validation of all assessments published in the MAL Public Option
Phase 3
A. Identify the appropriate enterprise systems that can accommodate the GS/GW tool
B. Link the GS/GW tool to other software tools that support Bill of Materials disclosure and sustainable product design initiatives.