Newsletters

We are celebrating a huge victory! Yesterday the California State Building Commission ruled unanimously that California can safely update its codes to allow the choice of polystyrene building insulation without flame retardants below a concrete slab.
Building insulation–where there is no fire safety benefit–is one of the largest uses of toxic flame retardants. After many years of our scientific research and policy work towards healthier buildings, our Institute applauds this very positive first step. Big thanks to Green Science Policy staff who have led this work: Veena Singla, Avery Lindeman, Swati Rayasam, and Joe Charbonnet.…

Can you believe it’s been more than ten years since we began our flame retardant work? A veritable roller coaster of ups and downs have ensued, with thankfully many successes so that toxic flame retardants are no longer needed in our nation’s furniture and most children’s products. We are planning a 10th Anniversary Celebration of Big Ideas here in Berkeley to thank our many friends and colleagues who have provided invaluable collaboration and support. Stay tuned for more information.…

I hope you are enjoying the spring. Here at the Green Science Policy Institute, we are back from our sixth annual Six Classes Toxics Reduction Retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains. During this inspirational retreat, scientists, businesses, NGO and government leaders developed innovative joint projects to limit the use of highly fluorinated stain and water repellant chemicals (PFAS).
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The hills are green, colorful wildflowers are blooming, and I am back from a lecture/workshop trip to five cities. I shared the Six Classes concept for reduced toxics and a healthier world at the Chemistry Dept., University of Toronto, Canada; Health Canada in Ottawa; Harvard University and Harvard Hospitals in Boston; and in New York City and Albuquerque, I shared the Six Classes concept for reduced toxics and a healthier world.  
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When it comes to highly fluorinated or “Forever Chemicals,” only using them when they are truly essential is so much easier than trying to clean them up after they are contaminating our drinking water and ecosystems. An example of a safer alternative is one of the first outdoor jackets without these chemicals in the fun short video on the right. And now other outdoor manufacturers are also offering clothing with alternative waterproof treatments!…

Big news on the chemical class concept! Last Thursday the California Department of ToxicSubstances Control (DTSC) announced a proposal to list carpets and rugs containing any member of the class of highly fluorinated chemicals (PFAS) as Priority Products under their Safer Consumer Products Regulations…

The Green Science Policy Institute and I wish you a very happy and healthy 2018. This is a big year for us–our tenth anniversary! Hard to believe it has been a decade since the Institute was founded to address the problem of toxic flame retardants in furniture and baby products. We’ll be letting you know about some fun events to mark this special occasion. …

During these challenging times, we have some uplifting news about the increased awareness and decreased use of two of our Six Classes of chemicals of concern. Please check out the dramatic short videos below for some inspiration. Will Flame Retardants Continue to Harm Future Generations? A precedent-setting notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) waspublished last month in the Federal Register warning manufacturers, consumers, and especially pregnant women and children against using the entire class of organohalogen flame retardants in children’s products, furniture, mattresses,…