Materials Management takes a holistic approach to reducing environmental impacts by looking at a product's entire life cycle—from extracting raw materials to manufacturing, use and disposal. Research shows for many products, the majority of environmental impacts take place before a product even reaches a consumer. In Oregon, 48% of greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to our consumption of materials in a variety of product forms. Of those emissions, only 1% is from waste disposal, while 99% are from manufacturing and supply chains. This means the entities designing and producing products can have the most impact by reducing emissions in these processes. This web page highlights DEQ's work to evaluate the impacts of materials used in Oregon, and how to reduce them.
Contact
Katie Romano
Materials Management Program
503-875-7915