In 1992, in anticipation of the emerging national and global trend toward product stewardship, pollution prevention, and green consumerism, a group of forward-thinking researchers at the University of Tennessee (UT) established the Center for Clean Products (CCP).
CCP is a multi-disciplinary research center dedicated to the development, evaluation, and adoption of clean products and materials. The Center is housed within UT's Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment.
CCP staff members bring a combined 40 years of experience to partnerships with industry and other stakeholders, working to improve the environmental performance of a wide range of consumer products and manufacturing systems. Through these partnerships, CCP has assisted industry leaders in adopting a life-cycle perspective, incorporating environmental concerns into the earliest phases of product design, and making clean production a cornerstone of their corporate culture.
News
Jack Geibig (director of ISSE's Center for Clean Products) gave a presentation at the American Institute of Architects national convention in San Francisco on April 30. The educational seminar was titled “Use of Life Cycle Inventory Data in Materials Selection: A Case study of the Natural Stone Industry.”
CCP's Director of Policy, Catherine Wilt, was named by Waste & Recycling News to a list of "25 Influential Women in Environmental Management" who have worked to eliminate gender barriers in their field. The article was published on March 30, 2009.
The Center for Clean Products has been asked to lead the development of a national green product standard for toys through the Ecologo program. The multi-stakeholder effort will include Walmart, Target, and FAO Schwartz to name a few key participants. Cat Wilt will lead the effort.
The Chancellor's Honors Banquet recognizes students, faculty, staff, and friends of UT for their extraordinary achievements. At the 2009 ceremony, held April 6, Catherine Wilt, CCP's Director of Policy, was recognized for Extraordinary Community Service in 2009.
Features
EPEAT Standards Development—The Center for Clean Products will manage the public process to develop environmental standards for up to four additional electronics product categories, beginning with imaging equipment and televisions.
Electronic Environmental Benefits Calculator, Version 2.0 - The University of Tennessee, with support from Abt Associates and Dillon Environmental Associates, developed this calculator (under a cooperative agreement with US EPA) to assist in estimating the environmental and economic benefits of purchasing EPEAT-registered products. This calculator tool is currently available in an Excel Spreadsheet format. In 2009, EPA plans to make the Calculator available as a web-based tool.