Overheat on Earth is not the only concern of the environment. The petrochemical sector has experienced a deep look, criticism, global measures through all its history and more when it comes to the use of it, recycling and the lefts in the surroundings. There are more issues that will face in the near future.

A couple of months ago, the NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, released the following statement on the European Parliament passage of REACH (the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals). They are aware that the members both produce in and import into the European Union. They know that they don’t have a final legislation with a specific provision that would otherwise accept data generated by international chemical programs or recent developments confirm that existing data from test results will be accepted by the EU regulatory authorities.  

Also in the food safety studies there was a recent result for polycarbonate products in San Francisco. The potential endocrine anomalies and cancer causing capabilities as well as possible effects on pregnant women and on children’s health were discussed. The result? Consumers can continue to use polycarbonate products with confidence.

In the other hand, the private sector also is thinking about taking some ecological measures for the products they buy. On February 2007 Wal-Mart exposed its environmental policy for the use of imported polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in packaging. It will depend in an environmental scorecard that will be using when 2008 starts. That scorecard assigns points as the packaging material travels. Then it will be graded to see if it can be sold to the great retailer. It will take into consideration seven areas:  reduction of materials, recycling, revenue, gas emissions and the use of virgin raw material fossil fuels, between others.  This will take place only in Wal-Mart U.S.A.

These issues will surround us all the time, more in this days. It is not a reason to feel weight in our shoulders at all; it is only a consequence of the same global conscious.

more information: alejandra.herran@desc.com.mx