In about a decade California's "green chemistry" laws are expected to start affecting most products made in or brought into the Golden State, including fuel, building materials and retail items. Proponents predict that the regulations not only won't drag down the state's currently ailing economy further but will act as a tonic — creating more jobs than the Internet, as one regulator phrased it.
Green chemistry, also known as "sustainable chemistry," refers to processes that cut harmful environmental substances during manufacturing, usually by reducing waste, using nontoxic components and improving efficiency. Although not a new concept, it's not well known outside the chemical industry.
No other states are as far along on the concept as California — see its nascent green chemistry regulations wiki here — but federal officials say the idea has been a priority in Washington, D.C., since the Clinton administration. More>>