ORONO, Maine — As Maine lawmakers consider arguments for
changing a law aimed at protecting children from toxic chemicals
in the environment, public health and environmental advocates
hope to send the message that “green” manufacturing practices
help drive innovation and promote a healthy business climate. As
a press conference at the University of Maine on Tuesday,
advocates unveiled Safer By Design, a new national report
showing that businesses prosper by meeting growing consumer
interest in environmentally friendly products. “The message of
the report is clear,” said Nathaniel Meyer of the Environment
Maine advocacy organization. “Companies here in Maine and across
the country are already replacing toxic chemicals with safer
alternatives, and it’s helping their businesses. We need to move
forward by continuing to harness Maine’s ingenuity rather than
moving backward by weakening current protections that safeguard
our health and our environment and that spur innovation.” The
national report highlights the T