Design for the Environment

The Design for the Environment (DfE) program is one of EPA's premier partnership programs, working with individual industry sectors to compare and improve the performance and human health and environmental risks and costs of existing and alternative products, processes, and practices. DfE partnership projects promote integrating cleaner, cheaper, and smarter solutions into everyday business practices.

EPA also supports using "benign by design" principles in the design, manufacture, and use of chemicals and chemical processes--a concept known as "green chemistry." EPA's Green Chemistry Program promotes the research, development, and implementation of innovative chemical technologies that prevent pollution in both a scientifically sound and cost-effective manner. In addition, EPA's emerging Green Engineering Program strives to help academia introduce a "green" philosophy into undergraduate chemical engineering curricula. The DfE Program works with these and other related programs.

The goal of DfE is to facilitate the identification, adoption and innovation of clean products, processes, technologies, and management systems.

DfE has current partnerships with automotive refinishers, furniture flame-retardant users, nail salons, electronics manufacturers, and laundry facilities, among others. DfE helps these partners to identify best practices and changes they can make, leading to environmental and health benefits for all.