Product stewardship is the responsibility of manufacturers to manage the health and environmental impacts of their products throughout the lifecycle of raw materials sourcing, production, consumer use and disposal. The concept has taken on added importance as supply chains for domestically sold products stretch back into parts of the world with laxer health and environmental standards and weaker enforcement. U.S. product regulation is now being used as a lever to elevate environmental, safety and health (ESH) practices in the developing countries that supply our marketplace.

The importance of product stewardship was spotlighted in 2007, during what has been termed “the summer of recalls.” Importers of children’s toys and jewelry containing excessive lead, along with importers of melamine-tainted pet food, were subject to high-profile fines and recalls. In the process, long established and trusted brands were tarnished.

The Sapphire Group is well equipped to advance your product stewardship efforts. We will work with you from the early stages of product design to identify environmentally superior materials and processes and have extensive experience with the precautionary approach embodied in programs such as REACH, HEDSET, TSCA, and VCCEP. The Sapphire Group provides clients with detailed decision-making tools for orienting and selecting alternative chemicals and practices, provides an opportunity to make informed decisions, allows a company to identify risks as well as opportunities early in the development process, and to make sound business decisions to advance products through research and development toward ultimate commercialization.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE