MillWatch #43 - August/October 2003

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In a stunning breakthrough in environmental management, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted the precautionary principle as city and county policy on June 17, 2003.

The road to the victory was long and extremely political, involving key leadership inside and outside the city's governing structures, help from most of the major organizations involved with toxics and health in the US, as well as dozens of grassroots organizations, co-operating under the guidance of Jared Blumenfeld, hired to head the city's Department of the Environment.

The statement is based on several key assertions:

Every San Franciscan has an equal right to a healthy and safe environment.
Historically, environmentally harmful activities have only been stopped after they have manifested extreme environmental degradation or exposed people to harm.
San Francisco is a leader in making choices based on the least environmentally harmful alternatives, thereby challenging traditional assumptions about risk management.
As the City consolidates existing environmental laws into a single Environment Code, and builds a framework for new legislation, the City sees the Precautionary Principle approach as its policy framework to develop laws for a healthier and more just San Francisco.
A central element of the precautionary approach is the careful assessment of available alternatives using the best available science...This process allows fundamental questions to be asked: "Is this potentially hazardous activity necessary?" "What less hazardous options are available?" and "How little damage is possible?"
San Francisco looks forward to the time when the City's power is generated from renewable sources, when all our waste is recycled, when our vehicles produce only potable water as emissions, when the Bay is free from toxins, and the oceans are free from pollutants.

As you read through this policy, ask yourself, would my local work be easier if precaution were official policy in my community? Why not campaign to make it so?

* Rachel's Environment & Health News #765, March 20, 2003
* http://www.breastcancerfund.org/pp_precaution.htm

Don't miss the Commentary by Reach for Unbleached! Program Director Jay Ritchlin, "EPPs Offer a Value Added Market," in the September 2003 issue of Pulp and Paper Magazine, available at www.paperloop.org

The Precautionary Principle requires a thorough exploration and a careful analysis of a wide range of alternatives. Using the best available science, the Precautionary Principle requires the selection of the alternative that presents the least potential threat to human health and the City's natural systems. Public participation and an open and transparent decision making process are critical to finding and selecting alternatives.

Where threats of serious or irreversible damage to people or nature exist, lack of full scientific certainty about cause and effect shall not be viewed as sufficient reason for the City to postpone measures to prevent the degradation of the environment or protect the health of its citizens. Any gaps in scientific data uncovered by the examination of alternatives will provide a guidepost for future research, but will not prevent protective action being taken by the City. As new scientific data become available, the City will review its decisions and make adjustments when warranted.

Where there are reasonable grounds for concern, the precautionary approach to decision-making is meant to help reduce harm by triggering a process to select the least potential threat. The essential elements of the Precautionary Principle approach to decision-making include:

1. Anticipatory Action
2. Right to Know
3. Alternatives Assessment
4. Full Cost Accounting
5. Participatory Decision Process

The Board of Supervisors encourages all City employees and officials to take the precautionary principle into consideration and evaluate alternatives when taking actions that could impact health and the environment, especially where those actions could pose threats of serious harm or irreversible damage.

Portland has long prided itself on being in the forefront of recycling and environmental issues. Now they are the first to incorporate many of the results of the Environmental Paper Summit into their new Sustainable Paper Use Policy, with the guidance of the Center for a New American Dream, which also coordinated help from Reach for Unbleached!, Conservatree and others.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AFPA) was not nearly so enthusiastic and launched a high-pressure lobbying attack two days before the City Council vote.

Faced with hard ball tactics, what did the Portland City Council members do? They passed the policy unanimously on June 11, and even accelerated the transition to PCF/TCF papers from 2006 to 2004.

Policy Statement

The City of Portland shall incorporate sustainable practices in its procurement, use, and disposal of all paper products. Sustainable practices include, but are not limited to:

Reducing paper consumption.
Considering fibre source and type, paper processing methods, and recyclability in paper purchase decisions in addition to price, performance quality, and end-use application.
Reusing and recycling paper products.

Action Items:

All equipment to have duplex capability so they can print on both sides
Move printers to central locations; remove desktop printers
Set duplex mode as default for printers

Paper Criteria

Within one year, meet current U.S. Federal Procurement Standards, with the exception of recycled content for tree-free products
Paper products purchased by the City will be processed chlorine free (PCF) or totally chlorine free (TCF), by July 2006. "Paper products that are processed elemental chlorine free (ECF) DO NOT meet this criterion."
By July 2004 10% of all paper product purchases will meet fibre-sourcing criteria such as being free of fibre from endangered forests, plantations, genetically modified organisms
Non tree fibres to be grown and harvested using sustainable farming practices
Credible Chain of Custody certificate required

Performance Tracking

All departments to document strategy to meet paper criteria and reduction policy in both external and internal usage
All departments to track copy, printing, and writing paper consumption

"Whereas

'The Lord is God, let the earth be glad, let coasts and islands all rejoice, cloud and mist enfold God, righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne' (Psalm 97: 1-2)

Whereas Our United Church Creed invites us to 'live in respect with creation'

Whereas our scriptures invite us to be stewards of the earth (Genesis etc.)..."

So declaring, the Burnaby/Vancouver congregation of the United Church has passed a Paper Resolution calling on the church to purchase environmentally sustainable paper (recycled and totally chlorine free). The lengthy resolution mentions the Reach for Unbleached Buying Club as one possible source for the paper. It also calls for an adjustment to the budget for the office of the Church to absorb the anticipated extra 10-20% in cost over current paper.

MillWatch

No. 43 August/October 2003

No. 43
August/October 2003