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Clean Production Action

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Clean Production Action COLLABORATORY FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY Elements of Change NOVEMBER Moving forward together 2020 toward a cleaner, safer future 1 COLLABORATORY FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary 6 About CoRE 8 The problem: How to safely meet demand for renewable energy 14 CoRE’s Grand Challenge 15 The CoRE solution: Innovative materials design for health & sustainability 20 Integrated platforms for more effective results 28 Impact and lessons learned 40 Building on a successful start, and planning for a productive future 52 3 COLLABORATORY FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 4 Executive Summary The renewable energy industry has the potential to significantly improve human health, safety, and the environment around the globe. Unfortunately, the industry’s products rely on toxic chemicals, from lead contained in solar cells to hydrofluoric acid used in manufacturing processes, which in turn pose challenges to the decommissioning and recycling of the products. The Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University of Buffalo, Clean Production Action, and Niagara Share created the Collaboratory for a Regenerative Environment (CoRE) in 2017 to address this growing problem, and accelerate progress toward cleaner, safer solutions. CoRE brings together academic experts in materials science with entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations to accelerate clean production and sustainable materials in the renewable energy economy. Our innovative collaborations and data-driven tools enable business, government, and nonprofit leaders to identify and select inherently safer chemicals and sustainable materials for a healthier renewable energy economy. In this report, you will learn more about the ongoing impact of our work—from using artificial intelligence to discover new materials, to helping some of the world’s largest technology companies measure their “chemical footprint,” and collaborating with leaders to create safer, healthier communities. 5 COLLABORATORY FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 6 About CoRE 7 COLLABORATORY FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 8 ABOUT CoRE Who we are In partnership with Clean Production Department of Action and Niagara Share, the Department Materials Design Clean Production and Innovation (MDI) Niagara Share Action (CPA) University at Buffalo of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo houses An interdisciplinary Creates lasting partnerships Designs and delivers Facilitates connectivity the Collaboratory for a Regenerative department at the across thought leaders strategic solutions of platforms and oversees Economy (CoRE). The JPB Foundation University at Buffalo (UB)— to formulate new ideas for green chemicals, CoRE’s operations and funds the program. a premier, public, research- and policies designed sustainable materials, integration. WHAT WE DO WHAT intensive university in the to positively impact people, and environmentally top 1% of universities in the the environment, and the preferable products. world.1 MDI is a pioneering bottom line in industrial new department focused communities. on establishing knowledge discovery in materials science by harnessing the tools of information and data science.2 Dr. Krishna Rajan, Alexandra McPherson, Dr. Mark Rossi, Dr. Chitra Rajan, Associate Erich Bloch Endowed Chair Principal Executive Director Vice President for Research Advancement • Leading proponent in the field • Launched the startup • Founder of BizNGO, • 25-year career as a senior LEADERSHIP of materials informatics Clean Production Action a collaboration focused on (CPA) advancing safer chemicals administrator at universities • SUNY Distinguished Professor and sustainable materials Buffalo-Niagara: • Delivered tools • Coordinated large scale, • Leader in the fields of An ideal environment for developing and services to CPA • Co-author of the multi-institution teams effective solutions computational studies, partners such as Apple, GreenScreen®, the gold to create research programs and advancing quantitative CoRE’s work in the Buffalo-Niagara region HP, Kaiser Permanente, standard in hazard and consortia to advance methods for the interpretation and Western New York (WNY) areas provides leading nonprofits, assessment used by industry technology-enabled solutions of nanoscale chemical a unique opportunity to pilot and scale solutions and the U.S. Environmental leaders such as Hewlett in health, manufacturing, imaging techniques with industrial suppliers and solar manufacturers Protection Agency Packard, Seagate, and DSM renewable energy, and other in the region. Manufacturing is the largest sectors • Served on the national • Co-founder of the Chemical contributor to the WNY regional economy, advisory board of IEEE’s Footprint Project, and author and clean, safe manufacturing is a priority for EPEAT—the world’s of a United Nations report the protection of the Great Lakes watershed. largest green electronic on safer alternatives to toxic product registry chemicals 9 ABOUT CoRE ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 10 ABOUT CoRE What we do Our values OUR MISSION HEALTHY PEOPLE, PLANET, AND ECONOMY Empower all stakeholders with science- and data-driven tools First and foremost, we seek to transform the chemicals to reduce the chemical and material footprint of the renewable and materials economy into one that sustains the lives of all, energy sector and its supply chains, thereby creating meaningful, especially the most vulnerable populations measurable progress toward a regenerative materials economy. CONVERGENCE OUR FOCUS Our cross-sector, multi-organization, deliberate approach Developing strategies and solutions that improve chemicals to developing implementation strategies yields greater social, management as well as accelerate sustainable material environmental, and economic value development for renewable energy technologies. Sustainable development of clean and safe technologies can be achieved only SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS through simultaneous and integrated consideration of technical, Scientific knowledge and tools enable us to analyze complex, environmental, and social factors in all aspects of the design, multi-faceted societal problems and create innovative solutions development, and adoption of renewable energy technologies. A SYSTEMS APPROACH We address the entire life-cycle of products, while simultaneously How we demonstrate exploring the use of alternate materials without compromising our values: Our approach cost-effectiveness or engineering integrity • Utilize the power of science and technology to understand ACCELERATED DISCOVERY AND ITS TRANSLATION TO PRACTICE CoRE engages and partners with business, nonprofit, government, and academic leaders in the and address complex, Transferring research to practice typically takes years, even development and implementation of new solutions and strategies for data-driven, materials innovation societal problems decades; our goal is to use an accelerated discovery paradigm frameworks. By doing so, we create pathways for the inclusion of environmental and human to get results faster • Recognize the importance health considerations at the front end, especially in materials development and selection, of addressing root causes and chemicals management. ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING through preventive, rather We make deliberate efforts to work together with key stakeholders, than remedial, measures including workers and industrial communities, that can contribute • Value collaborations with At CoRE, we: to (and reap the benefits of) advancements in a regenerative economy industry, nonprofits, and • Identify pathways to accelerate solutions for safe and clean technologies to benefit all stakeholders government agencies, as we BROAD DISSEMINATION work together in stakeholder • Reduce the chemical footprint of manufacturing operations and the renewable energy sector A publicly accessible web portal and other initiatives to broaden collaborations for systemic and its supply chains and deepen the network of stakeholders engaged in the change regenerative economy at the regional, national, and global levels • Build on our knowledge infrastructure to support research platforms and the translation of that • Identify and disseminate knowledge for stakeholder needs proven and evidence-based • Use multiple modes and avenues to engage and share project results with various stakeholder practices for scalable, lasting communities impact 11 ABOUT CoRE ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 12 The problem: How to safely meet demand for renewable energy 13 COLLABORATORY FOR A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY ELEMENTS OF CHANGE 14 THE PROBLEM CoRE’s More than a dozen states, including New York and California, have passed legislation mandating a net zero carbon economy. Grand This demands a concerted effort in the rapid development of renewable energy technologies to address the climate crisis and Challenge Innovative materials design for avoid the ensuing catastrophic social and environmental impacts. health and sustainability Build a collaboratory Many renewable energy industries, including solar energy, depend We take a holistic view on novel materials to reduce costs and optimize efficiencies. that supports wide- of materials development, scale inclusion including determining However, some of these materials are: of environmental the ability to synthesize and human health a new material, as well • Unsafe for the environment and human health as studying how it • Being rapidly depleted considerations at will perform, NEW
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