Part 5 of 16 Things for a Green Sales Edge.

If someone asked you for your Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), you probably could send them one, but do you know what’s on it? More accurately, do you know what’s IN your product’s production?

More and more buyers have a redline list – things that they ask their buyers to watch for in products. If they learn that these chemicals are present, then they are encouraged not to buy that product.

When was the last time you looked at your MSDS sheet or had a sales training class on it? Can you make a solid statement that there are no POPs in your product (Pervasive Organic Pollutants).

Go HERE for the original POP “Dirty Dozen” followed by nine more added recently. How well would your sales staff do on a “POP” quiz?

If you were selling into the LACCD, the following have been redlined with exceptions found here.

Arsenic

Cadmium

CFCs

Cholorinated Polyethylene &

Chlorosulfonated Polyethlene (except HDPE and LDPE)

Chrome

Creosote

Formaldehyde

Halogenated Flame Retardants (PBDE, TBBA, HBCD, Deca-BDE, TCPP, TCEP, Decholorane Plus, Bromine or Chlorine

HCFCs

Lead

Mercury

Neoprene (chloroprene)

Phthalates

Polyurethane

PVC

They will also want to know if steps have been taken to reduce the use of toxic materials in the production process, and are there any outputs from the manufacturing process of this product on any of the following toxic materials lists?

EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) List

Office of the Environmental Health Hazard Assessment List of Chemicals know to cause      Cancer and Birth Defects.

DOE BNL Carcinogens Table

Next time you hold a sales training, be sure to include a good game of  ”Toxin Bingo” .

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