Left to right: AeA's Michaela Muranova, Chris Smith, UK RoHS Enforcement Authority, Steve Andrews, UK BERR and AeA member, event host and speaker, Kristine Kalaijian, Philips Healthcare.

On May 9, 2008, a sell out crowd of environmental compliance, EHS and product managers from New England high tech companies assembled for AeA New England's fifth annual full day conference on Environmental Compliance: WEEE, RoHS, REACH, Eup, Sustainability and Going Green.   The event was sponsored by AeA member Botsford EchoTech Partners and event partner Allen & Overy and hosted by AeA member Philips Healthcare in Andover, MA.  AeA New England thanks our speakers, sponsors, host and our attendees for making the 2008 environmental program a great success!

To keep attendees up to date on the latest legislative and regulatory developments, current best practices and what is on the horizon, AeA again this year assembled an impressive group of experts.  Speaking at the event were:

• Steve Andrews, UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,
• Chris Smith, UK RoHS Enforcement Authority (NWML)
• Holly Evans, President, Strategic Counsel, LLC, AeA Consultant
• Felise Cooper, Associate, U.S. Environmental & Regulatory Law Group, Allen & Overy
• Michaela Muranova, Director for International Environment and Trade Policy, AeA
• Kristine Kalaijian, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Philips Healthcare
• Krista Botsford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Botsford EcoTech Partners
• Tara O'Donnell, Esq., Donoghue, Barrett & Signal, PC, AeA Lobbyist

The conference included in depth presentations on WEEE, EU RoHS, China RoHS and other global RoHS regulations.  A company best practices session demonstrated how companies are complying with RoHS and adapting internal operations.  Detailed presentations on the REACH and EuP directives were followed by a session on the growing body of environmental law being adopted at the state level, including both environmental recycling and material restrictions mandates.  A best practice case of how companies are developing and executing sustainability programs was featured, along with  additional case studies showing how companies are retooling internal operations and communications and with their supply chain to best address these changes.  View event agenda.

Conference attendees also received additional reference materials on these evolving laws and received a briefing on the work being done by AeA to support industry interests.  As the only association lobbying on IT environment issues at the state, federal and international levels, AeA committees meet regularly on developments and work to make sure the industry 's voice is heard.  AeA is actively lobbying environmental issues in all 50 states.  To keep members fully informed, a monthly newsletter, the Environmental Issues Update, from Strategic Counsel, LLC is now available to AeA members (contact AeA for subscription details).  In addition, AeA's online state  legislative tracking tool, the AeA State Government Affairs Information Network, provides company executives with the latest developments and the ability to share intelligence and use reports as-is within their companies, including a customized summary feature and email alerts on topics of interest.

Conference attendees were encouraged to share what they had learned with other colleagues in their company impacted by these laws, and were invited to become active in AeA committees.   Please contact AeA's Anne Doherty Johnson to learn how AeA can help your company better understand and comply with these laws and regulations.

Special thank you to our sponsors: Visit by clicking on the logos.

And our event host: