PRINCIPLES OF PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP



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CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT 12/31/09

Product Stewardship Institute

Strategic Plan

Fiscal Year 2010

There will be substantial opportunities for product stewardship in 2010. For the remainder of the fiscal year, the Product Stewardship Institute, Inc. (PSI) will continue its role as a product stewardship leader with a strong and growing membership base. PSI will structure its activities around four strategic priorities: (1) Research, Pilot Projects, and Evaluation; (2) Facilitation and Consensus Building; (3) Legislative Tracking, Analysis, and Advocacy; and (4) Education and Empowerment. PSI will expand and strengthen the product stewardship movement and sustain the organization throughout the current challenging economic climate by providing services in these four primary areas of need.

Mission

PSI’s mission is to pursue initiatives to ensure that all those involved in the lifecycle of a product share responsibility for reducing its health and environmental impacts, with producers bearing primary financial responsibility.

Desired Results

PSI seeks product policies that achieve the following:

• Save government money while expanding waste management services.

• Reduce overall waste management system costs through greater efficiency.

• Reduce product lifecycle impacts through reduced toxicity and increased source reduction, reuse, recycling, and safe waste disposal.

• Increase “green” jobs.

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Developing the PSI Brand

PSI seeks to be respected by industry, government, environmental groups, and the public as a product stewardship resource that provides excellent technical, economic, regulatory, and political analysis and recommendations. PSI will be a strong advocate for the Principles of Product Stewardship and its implementation in local, state, and federal policies, programs, regulations, and legislation. PSI will be known for its ability to build capacity for product stewardship in the United States through education, research, project implementation, legislative analysis and support, facilitation, and empowerment of government and the public. PSI is not an ‘advocacy group’ as compared with consumer, environmental, or similar political organizations (which serve valid functions in the development of public policy). Rather, PSI uses its technical and policy expertise to promote the concepts of product stewardship, and works with all parties to seek consensus solutions and harmonized approaches.

I. Research, Pilot Projects, and Evaluation

Effective product stewardship is informed by rigorous and timely research and requires an understanding of the numerous factors associated with developing strategies to reduce product impacts. PSI provides clear, factual analysis and practical recommendations to inform and shape product stewardship policy, focusing on specific products as well as framework approaches. PSI designs, implements, and evaluates pilot projects, and includes recommendations for next steps and the potential for a national roll-out.

In FY 2010, PSI will provide the following services:

1. Conduct background research on specific products, policies, and issues, including analysis and assessment of barriers and potential strategies.

Examples of past work include:

• Product Stewardship Action Plans (e.g., paint, lamps, medical sharps, thermostats, etc.)

2. Document financial and environmental benefits of product stewardship.

Examples of past work include:

• Financial benefits fact sheets and calculator

3. Develop performance metrics to assess program effectiveness.

Examples of past work include:

• Battery performance metrics report (RBRC)

• Mercury thermostat methodology (US EPA, states)

• Lamps performance metrics white paper (US EPA)

4. Design, implement, and evaluate pilot projects and other programs.

Examples of past work include:

• Computer Take-back Pilot Project (Staples)

• Model Thermostat Collection Project in Bridgeport, CT (CRRA)

• Retail Collection of Fluorescent Lamps and Thermostats (Ace Hardware)

• Oregon Paint Pilot Project Evaluation (US EPA)

II. Facilitation and Consensus Building

Promoting and implementing product stewardship requires coordination among diverse groups across a product’s lifecycle. Even within one sector -- such as local governments within a particular state -- different interests and priorities must be understood and aligned. PSI helps groups share information, identify common interests, reach agreement, and develop and implement priority strategies to promote and implement product stewardship.

In FY 2010, PSI will provide the following services:

o Convene national, multi-stakeholder product dialogues.

Examples of past work include:

• In-person meetings that are part of a process for reducing impact in a product sector, including paint, pharmaceuticals, medical sharps, fluorescent lamps, phone books, etc.

o Convene workgroup conference calls to achieve specific goals related to reducing product lifecycle impacts.

Examples of past work include:

• Pharmaceuticals Regulations Workgroup (convened to change the Controlled Substances Act)

• Recycled Paint Standard (will increase the market for recycled paint)

• Paint Infrastructure Workgroup (provides options for paint collection, transportation, and processing)

• LCA/CBA for Leftover Paint (will determine the conditions best suited for the reuse and recycling of leftover latex paint)

• Paint Source Reduction Report (options and recommendations)

• Assess waste pharmaceuticals disposal options and develop best practices (current)

o Design and facilitate one-time, in-person meetings to gain stakeholder input on product stewardship-related issues or initiatives.

Examples of past work include:

• Non-refillable gas cylinders meeting (Worthington Cylinder)

o Convene focus groups from PSI’s resource network to gain targeted strategic input.

Examples of past work include:

• Dell presentation to government stakeholders on its new electronics take-back program

o Coordinate local governments within a state or region working together on product stewardship.

Examples of past work include:

o Local government coordination in CT, NY, VT, and OK

III. Legislative Tracking, Analysis, and Advocacy

In the U.S., state-level legislation is the focal point for the growth of the product stewardship movement. Effective, coordinated state laws have the potential to create the foundation for future federal product stewardship legislation. Local legislation is also emerging as a potent force for change. PSI strives to develop progressive local, state, and federal product stewardship legislation, and harmonize legislative approaches and elements.

In FY 2010, PSI will provide the following services:

1. Provide up-to-date information on the status of product stewardship legislation in the U.S. and distribute it broadly

Examples of past work include:

o Maps of laws and legislation (provided on website, PowerPoint presentations, PS Updates, newsletter, and Member/Partner briefings)

2. Provide technical assistance related to product stewardship legislation and related policies.

Examples of past work include:

o Consult to members and partners on ongoing basis related to technical aspects of active product legislation

o Legislative comparison charts and documents

o Disposal Bans for Mercury Containing Lamps and Other Products White Paper

o Fluorescent Lamp Financing Options White Paper

3. Develop and promote model product stewardship legislation.

Examples of past work include:

• Paint

• Thermostats

4. Provide expert testimony on product stewardship legislation.

Examples of past work include:

o Letters and in-person testimony in support of state product stewardship legislation (pharmaceuticals, fluorescent lamps, thermostats, framework)

• Convene government officials and environmental groups to share information, and develop and promote product stewardship legislation

IV. Build Capacity for Product Stewardship through Education and Empowerment

PSI staff and members provide a powerful source of information about all aspects of product stewardship for “beginners” as well as seasoned product stewardship professionals. PSI provides a forum to share information about product stewardship and a clearinghouse for emerging ideas. We offer timely and concise information about product stewardship trends, private sector initiatives, and policy developments in the US and globally. In the past decade, PSI has made significant progress building the capacity for product stewardship action among manufacturers, retailers, and state and local environmental agencies. While PSI will continue to build the capacity for product stewardship with those entities, PSI will expand its outreach to local governments and will embark on a new initiative to reach the general public through social marketing techniques. Local governments and their citizens hold the key to push manufacturers and retailers to embrace sustainable approaches to product management, including the design, manufacture, and sale of sustainable products; convenient take-backs; and reducing lifecycle product impacts.

PSI educates the following groups:

1. Local, state, and federal government officials

2. Business representatives

3. Environmental and health advocates

4. General public

PSI provides the following educational services:

• Networking calls, member/partner update calls, product stewardship updates, PSI forum, newsletter, website (access to these opportunities varies depending on membership status)

Product Areas

|Currently Active Products |Products “On hold” |Potential Future Products |

| |(ready for re-activation depending on need and funding) | |

|Fluorescent lamps |Batteries |Carpet |

|Paint |Gas cylinders |Cosmetics |

|Pharmaceuticals |Medical sharps |Electronics (harmonizing performance measurement) |

|Phone books |Radioactive devices |Mattresses |

|Thermostats |Tires |Motor oil |

| | |Packaging |

| | |Pesticides |

Key Strategic Areas for Discussion

Cross-cutting substantive issues:

o Financial/economic benefits of product stewardship*

o Performance measurement and goals*

o Comprehensive chemicals policy/green chemistry**

o Climate change***

o Lifecycle assessment****

o Nanotechnology*****

* PSI has taken significant steps to advance these areas in 2009.

** PSI/NAHMMA conference in 2009 was first time that product stewardship and chemicals policy were

treated together in one conference.

*** PSI developed a fact sheet in 2008 linking product stewardship to greenhouse gas emissions.

**** PSI participated in two lifecycle assessments in 2008-9

*****PSI held a Networking Conference Call on nanotechnology in spring 2009.

Key Fundraising Strategies

• Expand and improve fundraising from foundations

• Seek additional PSI corporate, academic, and organizational partners

• Market range of services to existing PSI corporate partners

• Continue to seek state grants and contracting opportunities

• Seek funding from general public through Facebook

• Conduct a preliminary assessment of the viability of a major donor campaign

• Develop an Advisory Council

• Seek opportunities at US EPA to use PSI contract vehicle with SRA (US EPA’s facilitation mega-contractor); explore whether other federal agencies have facilitation subcontractors (Department of Interior, etc.)

Specific Actions

PSI will take a “scramble and GO!” approach to these actions, spending as little time as possible to determine quickly whether these ideas have potential to develop into fundable projects.

Education

• Website/Marketing Materials: Revise website and marketing materials to promote services more effectively

• Presentations: Revise general PowerPoint presentation with animation and graphics. Develop list of presentations desired. Develop criteria for acceptance of speaking invitations.

• PSI Annual Forum: Hold strategic session in Boston or Maine if sponsorship funding received. Decide by February 15.

• Networking Calls: Seek joint sponsorship/distribution of PSI networking calls with SWANA, Resource Recycling (Jerry Powell), Environmental Leader, CSRWire, Environmental Working Group (Ken Cook), Green Buzz (Joel Makower), and others.

• Legislative Briefings: seek foundation funding to conduct product stewardship briefings for key legislative and administrative staff, including House and Senate environment committee chairpersons, key legislators, policy officials in the Governor’s office, and other senior administrative staff. Briefings would target state legislatures, and introduce the principles of product stewardship, product stewardship laws and regulations in the US and abroad, and the evolution toward framework concepts.

• Strategic Partnerships: Enhance strategic partnerships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Legislatures, Environmental Council of the States, and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Local Governments for Sustainability -- pass resolutions in support of PSI Principles of Product Stewardship, speak at association conferences, and distribute PSI information through their networks. Explore strategic partnerships with SWANA, Resource Recycling (Jerry Powell), Environmental Leader, CSRWire, Environmental Working Group (Ken Cook), and Green Buzz (Joel Makower).

• Gain Key Business Support for Product Stewardship Legislation: Seek support for stewardship legislation on individual products and framework from Waste Management, Covanta, Stericycle, and other key businesses and business associations.

Products

• Gas Cylinders: seek follow up to one-day non-refillable cylinder meeting sponsored by PSI and Worthington Cylinder by developing pilot project concept for consideration; explore parallel gas cylinder recycling opportunity with StewardEdge in Ontario.

• Rechargeable Batteries: Follow up on PSI proposal to RBRC to gain consensus on battery performance metrics and a state legislative model through a facilitated process.

• Plastic bags: Follow up on initial discussion with American Chemistry Council and promote dialogue on plastic bags between elected city officials (e.g., from National League of Cities) and ACC senior staff.

• Retail Waste Paint: Follow up with Home Depot about removing regulatory barriers to the recycling of miss-tint, off-spec, and other waste paint from Home Depot stores.

• Electronics: develop concept proposal to electronics manufacturers and state officials to harmonize electronics performance metrics and/or develop state model electronics legislation.

• Packaging: Seek PSI role in emerging US EPA initiative; seek other roles for PSI to enhance the understanding of packaging systems in Canada and Europe and consideration for implementation in the US, including networking calls, facilitated forums, and other opportunities; seek opportunities to partner with US EPA and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

• Mattresses: Follow up on International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) inquiry to PSI to pursue an advanced recovery fee for mattresses; market services for research, facilitation, and legislative assessment as tools to increase the recovery and recycling of used mattresses.

• Motor Oil: Follow up with PSI contacts at MA Petroleum Council and American Petroleum Institute to explore the development of model used oil recycling legislation based on EPR to increase the rate of recycling; explore facilitation of LCA on re-refined oil with CA DTSC.

• Tires: Follow up with PSI contacts with the tire industry, particularly Firestone, Rubber Manufacturers Association, and other companies to develop model EPR legislation for tires.

• Pesticides/fertilizers: Explore partnership with The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) and state and local agencies interested in making pesticides and fertilizers a priority product.

• Cosmetics: Explore interest in a multi-stakeholder dialogue to identify priority products for developing safer cosmetics (including Warner Babcock Institute).

• Project scoping for demolition waste and organics: Explore the feasibility for product stewardship in these two areas.

• Sneakers: Develop greater markets for recycled sneakers with athletic shoe companies.

Framework

• Framework Scoping Studies: promote state framework product stewardship study bills along with PSI’s capability to conduct the research, provide options and recommendations, facilitate stakeholder input/feedback meetings, and provide executive briefings for the legislature and senior agency staff on framework concepts, political considerations, and options for implementation.

Local Government

• Continue to establish local government coordination agreements in states.

• Develop local government “tool kits” for the implementation of product stewardship at the local level, including rural areas.

• Develop guidance for local governments on how to report program costs (e.g., what metrics should be used to best enable evaluation and analysis of program impacts, what each metric should include/not include, etc.).

General Public

• Develop social marketing campaign to empower consumers to pressure manufacturers and retailers to take action on specific products; maintain PSI Facebook page.

• Ratings Systems: Seek to strengthen the end-of-life side of existing and emerging ratings systems targeted to consumers, such as .

International

• International Product Stewardship Conference: Develop first international conference on product stewardship through the Product Stewardship Council (Australia)

• Confederation of Indian Industry: Explore pilot take backs, corporate partnership, etc.

• Green Business Rating System: seek contract with the Confederation of Indian Industries to build the capacity for product stewardship in India and develop the product stewardship component of the CII Green Business Rating System

• Product Stewardship Metric: Follow up on Dow Chemical inquiry to develop a company-wide product stewardship metric; tie to Green Business Rating System of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Key Strategic Areas

o Financial/economic benefits of product stewardship

o Post documents on PSI website and promote their use.

o Test calculator for target products by agencies with legislation and/or active programs; refine as needed

o Seek funding to integrate CIWMB financial benefits project with PSI project

o Actively promote the use of PSI tools to those advocating for product stewardship legislation

o Performance measurement and goals

o Refine thermostat metrics and promote its use among states with laws and those with active legislation

o [JN: please add for lamps, electronics, paint, and other products; add new initiatives]

o Comprehensive chemicals policy/green chemistry

o Participate in finalizing NAHMMA policy on Chemicals Policy

o Explore PSI role in developing model state legislation on chemicals policy

o Climate change

o Revise PSI fact sheet connecting Product Stewardship to greenhouse gas impacts

o Promote inclusion of PSI Principles of Product Stewardship in state and local Climate Change Action Plans

o Expand PSI financial/economic benefits calculator to include reduction of greenhouse gases based on product stewardship efforts

o Lifecycle assessment

o Market PSI ability to convene stakeholder groups to develop joint LCA’s for public projects.

o Explore facilitation of LCA on re-refined oil with CA DTSC (see motor oil above).

o Nanotechnology

o ????

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