On 7 March 2012 an Alternative Identification and Assessment training session was realised for the Spanish Trade Union Confederación Syndical de Comisiones Obreras CC.OO. The training took place at the training facilities of CC.OO. with 19 participants.

The SUBSPORT trainers from ISTAS received positive feedback from participants highlighting in particular the work in small groups, the practical orientation as well as achieving knowledge about tools to assess alternatives presented on SUBSPORT.

If you are interested in a training session please contact us or find more information at www.subsport.eu/training.

A nationwide survey shows a positive correlation between Green School practices and student achievement in science. The study was conducted by the University of Colorado Denver’s Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences.
Schools that took part in the survey observe GreenPrint core practices as defined by the Green Schools National Network (GSNN)
The core practices are:
• Curriculum that advances environmental literacy and sustainability
• Stewardship and service learning
• Sustainable facilities design and management
• Health and well being
• Strong partnerships and networks

Go to: www.greenenvironmentnews.com

Campbell’s Soup has agreed to stop using the chemical BPA in the lining of its cans, joining a host of other brands moving away from using the substance. Campbell’s Soup Co. spokesman Anthony Sanzio said the company has been working on alternatives for five years and will make the transition as soon as “feasible alternatives are available.”

Go to: JSOnline

Another SUBSPORT training session on Alternative Identification and Assessment was held by the SUBSPORT team in Cairo (Egypt) in February 2012. The training session was organized by the Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production CP/RAC of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Mediterranean Action Plan and the Egyptian National Cleaner Production Center ENCPC.

The training session was a great success: 20 women and men holding key positons in companies, organisations and academia participated and provided very positive feedback. An interview with Tatiana Santos, the SUBSPORT trainer from ISTAS, was presented on the TV channel Manara.

The SUBSPORT team conducts training sessions also according to your requirements. If you are interested please contact us or find more information at www.subsport.eu/training.

The first Community Rolling Action plan (CoRAP) addresses 90 substances that are suspected of posing risk to human health or the environment. The CoRAP list has been prepared in close cooperation with the Member States, taking into account the agreed risk based criteria for the selection of substances. ECHA has adopted the CoRAP on the basis of the favourable opinion of ECHA’s Member State Committee (MSC), which was adopted by consensus on 9 February 2012.

Go to: echa.europa.eu

The Evaluation report presents details and figures on ECHA’s REACH dossier evaluation activities and their respective output. The report contains recommendations to registrants with regard to the relevance of particular tests, the test material for the specific substance, substance identity and reproductive toxicity testing. There are also tips to avoid shortcomings in the chemical safety assessment, hazard assessment, PBT assessment, exposure assessment and its scope, risk characterisation and classification and labelling.

Go to: echa.europa.eu

Chemical Watch is running a webinar on extended safety data sheets on 28 March at 14.00-15:30 GMT, 15:00-16:30 CET, 9.00-10.30 EST. Join experts from CEFIC, AISE and Apeiron to discuss Extended Safety Data Sheets.
You will hear among others about:
• Good practice for manufacturers on how to write an eSDS
• How to establish an efficient system to manage eSDSs within the company
• Challenges and duties of a downstream user when they receive an eSDS
• Highlighting the solutions for industry
• Scaling in relation to eSDSs to adapt exposure scenarios to real life conditions
• eSDS compliance checks and practical tips & tricks

Subscribe at chemicalwatch.com

The 4th International Bio-based Chemicals Conference will put in front of its participants information about the bio based chemicals like a number of bio based chemicals that are already in use either as singly or in combination with other products. In fact, these bio based chemicals are set to become extremely commercially beneficial and useful products.
The Bio- based Chemicals Conference will welcome over 180 industry leading attendees for 2 days of intense networking and discussion. Over 30 speakers representative of the complete bio- based value chain will explore key topics ranging from product scale up to future market trends to the latest in bio- based chemical development.

The conference will take place in Rotterdam (Netherlands), March 13 -14 .

Go to: www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

In the context of the action plan, the Swedish Chemicals Agency analysed 30 textile articles with respect to their levels of three antibacterial agents (biocides): silver, triclosan and triclocarban. The antibacterial treatment is usually marketed with the function of preventing odours in textiles. This report describes the purpose of the study, provides background to antibacterial treatment of textiles and the environmental and health hazards posed by the studied biocides, presents results and discusses the conclusions to be drawn from this study.

Go to the report

The French Environmental Health Network (RES), Générations Futures (GF) and ADVEPP, the organisation representing victims of perchloroethylene fumes have asked for a ban on perchloroethylene in new dry-cleaning facilities. They draw the attention to perchloroetylene on the occasion of the World Cancer Day 2012 in February. Perchloroethylene is a carcinogen (classified by the IARC as Group 2A) and neurotoxic solvent but still widely used in dry cleaning.

Go to (in French):actu-environment.com