NewslineVolume VI, Issue 14 - July 1, 2005The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: Encapsoil-Guard Newest SOA Product
Contact Joan Seelaus at 706.428.2123. Learn more about the SOA program CRI Upgrades Vacuum Cleaner WebsiteAs part of CRI's continuing upgrade of the organization's website, a new design has been launched featuring the Green Label certified vacuum cleaners. The site reflects a much cleaner and user- friendly design and is more in-tune with the recent upgrades to CRI's overall website. One of the features of the new webpage for vacuum cleaners is the ability to search vacuum cleaners by individual manufacturers. Contact Joan Seelaus at 706.428.2123. Learn More About CRI's Green Label Vacuum Program NAM Agrees Co-Sponsor SeminarThe National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has agreed to co-sponsor a seminar with CRI on International non-tariff trade barriers. The seminar is set to help establish the magnitude of the threats carpet faces to a broader stakeholder group in an effort to enlist broader support against measures CRI is currently fighting. CRI president Werner Braun met with NAM president and former Michigan Governor John Engler recently to set up the seminar. No date has been set, but is forthcoming. Contact James Beach at 706.428.2116. Recycling Amendment Passes!The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) reports that the RISE "Recycling Investment Saves Energy" Amendment has been adopted by the Senate Finance Committee as part of the tax package for the energy bill. The amendment would provide almost $100 million in tax incentives for recyclers through a targeted 15 percent tax credit for equipment used in the processing and sorting of recyclable materials. Senator Jim Jeffords (I - VT) authored the amendment. Rallying this kind of multi-stakeholder support is exactly the kind of work that the National Recycling Coalition was created to pursue, and it feels great to have won this one! The fact that this recycling legislation took hold in the energy bill is extremely important for the recycling community. It demonstrates that Congress takes seriously the significant energy savings associated with recycling. Contact Bob Peoples at 706.428.2115. Learn More About the National Recycling Coalition REACH Feared Because of Europe's PowerThe European Union's proposed REACH chemicals testing and registration program is a primary example of Europe's potential power to set policies and reshape the behavior of major U.S. companies, according to Fortune magazine. "REACH takes a sledgehammer approach," says American Chemistry Council managing director Mike Walls. "It's unworkable, it's unwieldy, and it will be very difficult to administer." But if REACH eventually takes effect, it will be "impossible to ignore" and could end up costing 8 billion Euros (more than $9.7 billion USD) over the next 11 years to implement. General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt remarks that, "Europe in many ways is the global regulatory superpower." Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136. California Biomonitoring Plan Spurs Tough DebateA bill in the California state legislature to set up a state-wide biomonitoring program would, if passed, provide state officials with the information needed to make difficult policy decisions on human health and the environment, states The Daily Review (Bay Area). The sponsor of the bill believes this is a basic right-to-know issue, allowing individuals to know what is in their bodies and providing a better understanding of human exposure to toxic substances. However, industry groups are concerned that the resulting data on chemical "body burdens" could be misinterpreted by regulators and the public and would lead to unnecessary restrictions on industry and products. Scientists are raising questions about the biomonitoring program outlined in the bill, particularly the inability to know the health effects of the levels of chemicals found in program participants. However, Richard Jackson, the state's top public health officer, says "Biomonitoring is the future. We've got to do it, but we've got to do it right." Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.21366. CRI Meetings
* Sustainability Issues Managment Team, July 7, 9:00 - 4:00 pm CRI Participation in Upcoming Events
* ASID Leadership Conference, July 14-16, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Joan Seelaus at 706.428.2123. Check our website calendar for other industry related events |
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