With a theme of “driving sustainable manufacturing”, Wayne State University in the “Motor City” was the perfect location for the Fourth Annual Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference.
The purpose of these annual conferences is to further collaboration amongst the best and brightest scientists and engineers interested in making sustainable products and delivering services that are safer, healthier, more energy efficient, lighter and more cost effective for both manufacturers and the consumer.
This conference covers a lot of ground in one short day. Student projects and efforts are highlighted with demonstration posters and boards at the facility. Awards are presented to the best work in academia and business that further advance green chemistry as it relates to manufacturing products in the business world. This years’ academic recipient was awarded to Dr. Vijay Mannari of Eastern Michigan University for his work in Soy-Based Polymer Building Blocks: A Sustainable Platform for Advanced Coatings. Dow Chemical Company was awarded the business green chemistry award for their new Polymeric, flame retardant polystyrene foam building insulation which could very well have worldwide implications for safer and more energy efficient buildings across the globe.
All of the introductory speakers did a wonderful job of framing the importance of the collective work of the Green Chemistry Roundtable and how such efforts are leading to more sustainable products, increased recycling, better life cycle analyses, less harmful toxins within Michigan products, increased energy security and otherwise leading to furthering manufacturers’ efforts on environmental stewardship. Phyllis Vroom, Deputy President at Wayne State University said it best when she commented: “Environmental stewardship begins at the molecular level”. Dr. Farshad Fotouhi, Dean of Engineering at Wayne State University, remarked up to forty (40%) percent of faculty surveyed are involved in one form or another with green technology and sustainable manufacturing. Dr. Fotouhi stated the WSU faculty is proactive in this new discipline and that Detroit is the best place to lead the future of sustainable manufacturing.
Carrie Majeske, Ford Motor Company Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Policy was the morning keynote speaker who provided an illuminating perspective on Ford’s activity in the area of sustainable manufacturing. She outlined the three main pillars of this sustainable philosophy and long-standing activities in this area at Ford. Ms. Majeske’s department provides long term strategic policy and vision on where the company needs to be with regard to sustainability. The long term vision, metrics and goals center around reduction of negative human health impacts, reducing reliance on petroleum based products and minimizing products known to be harmful to the environment or otherwise manufactured or manifested involving human rights violations.
Ms. Majeske outlined a history of proactive sustainable behavior at Ford Motor Company and the increased focus on improving vehicle environmental quality. From greener, more sustainable industrial plants and buildings to subscription to the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Principles to increasing scrutiny to Ford’s focus on sustainable materials, Ford truly desires to help drive the green economy with a more sustainable vehicle.
With both morning and afternoon breakout sessions, a wonderful lunch and keynote speech from Bob Peoples, former Director of American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute, Student Poster Awards and plentiful networking opportunities, there is no doubt “green Up 2012” was a resounding success and participants will be anticipating further success and green chemistry innovations at the Fifth Annual Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference next year.
ROBERT E. MATTLER, Associate Broker, Attorney and LEED AP BD+C, is Director of GREEN Brokerage at Armada Real Estate Services in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Bob speaks, writes and advocates about emerging sustainable real estate issues in Michigan and elsewhere. Bob is a Senior Correspondent for www.greeningdetroit.com . For more information, contact Bob at Armada Real Estate (248) 855-1221; or by e-mail: bmattler@armadarealestate.com
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Author: Robert E. Mattler, Green Agent Man, representing GreeningDetroit.com
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