Coming on the heels of the state’s ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gases and address global warming by cutting carbon emissions, California announced this week a package of regulations aimed at consumer and industrial products.  The “Green Chemistry Initiative” implements recently adopted state law authorizing the California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to identify and prioritize chemicals of concern in a public online “toxics clearinghouse.”  Another law enacted this year establishes a California Green Products Registry for manufacturers to voluntarily enter chemical ingredients of products and their environmental and health effects, as measured under state-approved standards.

The overarching goal of the initiative is to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals in consumer products.  The new regulations may impose new labeling requirements and/or restrictions on use of certain chemicals in consumer products.  As the regulations are implemented, the real challenge facing companies and their branding experts is how to legally and appropriately comply with this new regulatory climate while still maintaining the viability of their products. 

View the report here: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/GreenChemistryInitiative/index.cfm