Programs: Equitable and Sustainable Economy

EHF is working on the development of whole systems solutions for an equitable and sustainable economy. We utilize education, advocacy, and policy to advance sustainable materials, products, and businesses, and green chemistry and engineering as well as other innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing issues of our time. In all efforts, the focus is on building strategic partnerships to enable a long-lasting, systemic, and sustainable change.

Transformation of the Economy

EHF believes it is time to create the framework and foundation for a transition to a new, 21st century American economy grounded in principles of sustainability and equity. We need to move beyond the toxic politics and business of the past to create the innovative solutions — enterprises, collaborations, and ideas — necessary for accelerating such a transformation.

Sustainable economic development and market transformation is a special focus of the work, particularly as it supports a transition from the fossil fuel and petrochemical economy to a renewable, safe, healthy and just society.

EHF supports greater effectiveness and success among the organizations and alliances working in this arena. To that end, we are collaborating with a number of key NGOs, businesses, government, and funding allies to implement different components of a broad architecture including:

Accelerating the transition from use of hazardous chemicals and materials.
Defining and disseminating sustainability frameworks and criteria for chemicals, materials, and products.
Advancing the support for research and development-based Green Chemistry and related principles.
Accelerating market demand for safer and healthier products.
Promoting new business and business models to advance the market transformation and create prosperity for all stakeholders.
Advancing government policies for the sustainable economy.

Green Chemistry and Sustainable Materials

With the backdrop of toxic chemicals and petroleum-based plastics and other materials threatening the environment and human health, the development of green chemistry and engineering and sustainable materials and products particularly sustainable biomaterials holds great promise. When done correctly, it can address many of the environmental, health, economic problems, and national security concerns generated by the manufacture of plastics and other hazardous chemical products from petroleum and other fossil fuels.

EHF’s focuses on networking, building collaborations, and catalyzing interest and new partnerships in green chemistry and sustainable materials. EHF helps provide resource materials, educational opportunities, and support for NGOs, businesses, and governments to embrace a green chemistry and sustainable materials agenda.

Our strategic partnerships in our Sustainable Economy work include:

Business NGO Working Group for Sustainable Materials and Safer Chemicals is a unique collaboration to promote the creation and adoption of safer chemicals and sustainable materials in a way that supports market transitions to a healthy economy, healthy environment, and healthy people. This group includes representatives from major corporations and leading environmental and public health organizations as a model for how to successfully effectuate change in an increasingly complex world.

Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative seeks to help purchasers, policymakers, and environmental and public health activists navigate the maze of new and emerging bioplastics and guide the marketplace toward sustainable products by creating production and purchasing guidelines, engaging new market opportunities, supporting NGO market-based campaigns, and promoting policy initiatives.

Maine Bioplastics Initiative works to harness the agricultural, economic, technical, research and development, and market resources to build the foundation for a viable and sustainable bioplastics industry in Maine which is vertically integrated from growing the raw materials (biomass) all the way through a product’s useful life to its final reuse, recycling or bio-composting.

American Sustainable Business Council is a national coalition of mission-driven businesses, social enterprises, and sustainable business networks working to create a just and sustainable economy. What unites all these organizations is a belief that we must make the transition to a new, 21st century American economy that is grounded in principles of sustainability and equity.

For more information on this work, please feel free to contact David Levine, dlevine@environmentalhealthfund.org 917-359-9623


Programs Overview Global Chemical Safety Program Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Safer Substitutes to Brominated Flame Retardants Equitable and Sustainable Economy		Equitable and Sustainable Economy EHF is working on the development of whole systems solutions for an equitable and sustainable economy. We utilize education, advocacy, and policy to advance sustainable materials, products, and businesses, and green chemistry and engineering as well as other innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing issues of our time. In all efforts, the focus is on building strategic partnerships to enable a long-lasting, systemic, and sustainable change. Transformation of the Economy EHF believes it is time to create the framework and foundation for a transition to a new, 21st century American economy grounded in principles of sustainability and equity. We need to move beyond the toxic politics and business of the past to create the innovative solutions — enterprises, collaborations, and ideas — necessary for accelerating such a transformation. Sustainable economic development and market transformation is a special focus of the work, particularly as it supports a transition from the fossil fuel and petrochemical economy to a renewable, safe, healthy and just society. EHF supports greater effectiveness and success among the organizations and alliances working in this arena. To that end, we are collaborating with a number of key NGOs, businesses, government, and funding allies to implement different components of a broad architecture including: Accelerating the transition from use of hazardous chemicals and materials. Defining and disseminating sustainability frameworks and criteria for chemicals, materials, and products. Advancing the support for research and development-based Green Chemistry and related principles. Accelerating market demand for safer and healthier products. Promoting new business and business models to advance the market transformation and create prosperity for all stakeholders. Advancing government policies for the sustainable economy. Green Chemistry and Sustainable Materials With the backdrop of toxic chemicals and petroleum-based plastics and other materials threatening the environment and human health, the development of green chemistry and engineering and sustainable materials and products particularly sustainable biomaterials holds great promise. When done correctly, it can address many of the environmental, health, economic problems, and national security concerns generated by the manufacture of plastics and other hazardous chemical products from petroleum and other fossil fuels. EHF’s focuses on networking, building collaborations, and catalyzing interest and new partnerships in green chemistry and sustainable materials. EHF helps provide resource materials, educational opportunities, and support for NGOs, businesses, and governments to embrace a green chemistry and sustainable materials agenda. Our strategic partnerships in our Sustainable Economy work include: Business NGO Working Group for Sustainable Materials and Safer Chemicals is a unique collaboration to promote the creation and adoption of safer chemicals and sustainable materials in a way that supports market transitions to a healthy economy, healthy environment, and healthy people. This group includes representatives from major corporations and leading environmental and public health organizations as a model for how to successfully effectuate change in an increasingly complex world. Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative seeks to help purchasers, policymakers, and environmental and public health activists navigate the maze of new and emerging bioplastics and guide the marketplace toward sustainable products by creating production and purchasing guidelines, engaging new market opportunities, supporting NGO market-based campaigns, and promoting policy initiatives. Maine Bioplastics Initiative works to harness the agricultural, economic, technical, research and development, and market resources to build the foundation for a viable and sustainable bioplastics industry in Maine which is vertically integrated from growing the raw materials (biomass) all the way through a product’s useful life to its final reuse, recycling or bio-composting. American Sustainable Business Council is a national coalition of mission-driven businesses, social enterprises, and sustainable business networks working to create a just and sustainable economy. What unites all these organizations is a belief that we must make the transition to a new, 21st century American economy that is grounded in principles of sustainability and equity. For more information on this work, please feel free to contact David Levine, dlevine@environmentalhealthfund.org 917-359-9623