Fostering Green Chemistry in the Auto Industry: A Michigan Perspective Clinton S. Boyd (Sustainable Research Group) Carol Henry (George Washington University) 15 th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference + 5 th International Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry, June 21-23, 2011; Washington, D.C.
Governor Granholm s Executive Directive 2006-6: Promotion of Green Chemistry for Sustainable Economic Development and Protection of Public Health Michigan Green Chemistry Program Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable Michigan Green Chemistry Action Plan Michigan Governor s Green Chemistry Awards Program (Annual) Michigan Green Chemistry Conference (Annual) Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse
Potential for Green Chemistry Innovations in the Auto Industry Auto industry: OEMs and Suppliers Complex assemblies: thousands of parts Significant resource utilization: diversity of materials; large material flows; global sourcing Hotbed of material & technology R&D; innovations Complex supply chains Complexity presents challenges & opportunities
Auto Industry Awareness and Engagement OEM and Supplier case studies SAE International: standards SAE Cooperative Research Projects (e.g. Alternative Refrigerants) Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SPE) Green Supplier Network (GSN) Ontario BioAuto Council GreenCentre Canada Conference presentations: o Michigan Green Chemistry Conferences o ACS GCI Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference o SAE World Congress Emissions/Environment/Sustainability Sessions: Focus mainly on emissions reductions, alternative energy & fuels One session on Sustainable Materials and Components focus primarily on recycled content, utilization of wastes
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Award winners for Automotive and Transportation Sector Source: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/industry_sector.html
Observations: Individual efforts > collaborative efforts Main focus on: fuel efficiency, emissions reductions Material focus primarily on light-weighting, recycled/recyclable content Alternative materials considered: biobased materials Supplier > OEM Rarely presented as green chemistry No coordinated/integrated auto green chemistry community or industry adoption of green chemistry
Building an Auto Green Chemistry Community Representation on the Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable Grants awarded by State of Michigan / Michigan Green Chemistry Program: o Green Chemistry Education Grant Program o Green Chemistry Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing Grant Program o SAE Workshop in 2009: Feasibility Study for Establishing a Center for Green Innovation & Technology Transfer for the Automotive Industry in Michigan o Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse SAE Green Technology Systems Group o SAE 2011 World Congress Sessions: Examples of Green Innovation and Sustainable Practices in the Automotive Sector: An Expert Panel Discussion Green Chemistry for Automotive Applications o SAE 2011: Workshop to Characterize Biobased Materials in Vehicles for the USDA BioPreferred SM Program
Observations: Suppliers are key, but OEMs must adopt/support green chemistry Preference/interest in a pre-competitive collaborative environment Significant challenges for supply chain with respect to alternative materials: o Cost, quality, aesthetics, safety o Performance specifications and testing o Stability and geographic availability of suppliers, resources o Feedstock limitations and species variations (renewable resources) o Environmental trade-offs Raise green chemistry as an over-arching issue for the auto industry: o Improve understanding of green chemistry o Standardize definitions, terms, principles etc o Dialogue on what does green chemistry mean to the auto industry o Collaborative approach to identifying and overcoming shared barriers and challenges
www.migreenchemistry.org
Goals Provide informational content & resources pertaining to green chemistry in Michigan Build and grow a dynamic community of green chemistry practitioners in Michigan Connect Michigan to the wider national and international green chemistry community
Project Partners Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network
An interactive community
Thank you! For more information, please contact: Clinton S. Boyd, PhD Senior Scientist Sustainable Research Group www.sustainableresearchgroup.com Email: cboyd@sustainableresearchgroup.com Phone: (616) 301-1059