Course Textbook
Kutz, M. (2009). Environmentally conscious materials handling. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Unit III Essay
Select two of three questions below to answer in a minimum 250 word essay each. (50 points each).
Some questions have multiple parts, so be sure to answer accordingly. Any sources used, including your textbook should be cited appropriately. Upload as one word document.
1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a concept that is gaining ground in the marketplace – especially in Europe. It says that the disposition of used products is not the obligation of the local communities in which people reside, but it is the obligation of those that benefit from the product – namely the manufacturers and consumers. As a staff member of EPA tasked to write EPR regulations:

a. How would you assign ERP responsibilities between the manufacturer and the consumer for an automobile?
b. How would you modify the program if the manufacturer was located outside of the U.S. (e.g., in China)
c. How do you think that this type of program would influence product designers in the Research & Development group?

2. Companies are very concerned with the reputation of their organization and of their product brands. Scientists in conjunction with product stewards are responsible for assessing the hazards of these products to human health and to the environment. A lot of money is spent by companies to communicate that their products are safe to use for their intended purpose. In this scenario, you have been tasked to develop the message to be communicated to your customers about your products. For each scenario, describe what you intend to communicate about your product:

a. You are an upstream specialty chemical company that makes chemical intermediates that are building blocks for larger molecules that can end up as medicines or as household cleaning products. What would you say to convince your customer that your product is safe to purchase and to use?
b. You are a retailer selling a product to the consumer. What message would you use to tell them that the product is safe to purchase if it is used as intended by the manufacturer?
c. What is different about these messages, and why are two different approaches needed?

3. Congress is often swayed by the concerns of their constituents and this can lead to legislative initiatives that can have a large impact on a business. This is especially true after a major event occurs and people have been adversely impacted. Many of the initiatives are designed to rid products of hazardous and toxic substances. In the past, PCBs have been removed from electrical equipment, and one of the recent initiatives is to remove Bisphenol-A (BPA) from plastic containers. As a consultant, you have been hired to advise a company about how they can identify the chemicals of concern that they should check to be sure that they are not in their products or manufacturing operations.

a. Identify three lists of chemicals for your client to evaluate.
b. If they find that their product does contain a chemical of concern, what will be your advice to them?
c. How can providing a toxic free product be a competitive advantage for which consumers will be willing to pay a higher price?