Du Pont Corporation

The single largest corporate polluter in the United States

In 1989, Du Pont and its subsidiaries reported discharging more than 348 million pounds of pollutants to land, air, and water.

1989 was 10 million pounds greater than 1987

Du Pont Comparison: 1989

More pollution than Allied-Signal, Ford Motor Company, and Union Carbide combined.

14 times greater than Dow Chemical 20 times greater than Chrysler 30 times greater than Mobil

Conservative Estimates

Du Pont’s “Toxic Release Inventory” (TRI) is self-reported and covers only 321 out of approximately 60,000 chemicals.

TRI does not refer to mines, tank farms, oil and gas drilling, or incinerators

Du Pont’s Response

In 1990, Du Pont’s chief executive, Ed Woolard, said that the company would voluntarily reduce its air emissions by 60% by 1993, using 1987 as the base year.

Other reductions were also announced.

Du Pont’s Actions

Change in waste disposal strategies. Du Pont shifted from visible waste

disposal strategies to less visible methods.

Greater use of deep-well injection and high-temperature incineration.

Partial treatment only for other waste flows.

Du Pont’s Deep-Well Methods

1989: 254.9 million pounds More waste than most Fortune 500

companies produce from all sources in a year.

39 Class 1 hazardous waste wells, ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 feet deep.

High levels of toxicity.

Uncertainty

Congressional Office of Technology Assessment knows where the wells are located.

But no one knows where the wastes will end up.

Many reports of deep-well leaks into drinking water, and blowouts.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Du Pont chemist, Thomas Midgely Jr. discovered CFCs in 1928.

Marketing began in 1931 under trade name of Freon.

Many varied uses for CFCs. Du Pont held a near monopoly of market

for more than 40 years for many CFC lines.

CFCs and the Ozone Problem

1974 discovery that chlorine in CFCs caused destruction of ozone.

By 1978, aerosol sprays were banned in U.S. Demand for CFCs dropped by 50%.

Du Pont fought the ban.

New Research

By 1979, four years of research led to two alternatives to CFC, both better, but with problems.

In 1981, all research stops when Ronald Reagan wins presidency.

The Ozone “Hole”

1985, a team of British scientists discover an ozone hole over Antarctica.

1986, research at Du Pont for CFC alternatives resumes.

1989, Du Pont announces unilateral withdrawal of CFC production.

CFC /Alternatives

HCFCs - partially halogenated CFCs, still have chlorine

HFCs - non-chlorine, with hydrofluorocarbons

Montreal Protocol Acceptance

Non-binding resolution to phase out HFCs and HCFCs by 2040.

U.S. Clean Air Act calls for phase-out of HCFCs by 2030.

Du Pont’s lobbyists win argument to guarantee minimum life of 20 years for new chemicals. New monopoly established.