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In September 2005, Environmental Defense Fund and DuPont entered into a partnership and have since been working together to develop a nanotechnology risk framework for the responsible development, production, use and disposal of nano-scale materials.

The Nano Risk Framework, jointly developed by DuPont and Environmental Defense, was a new framework intended to help businesses, governments and the public at large evaluate and discuss the potential risks from nano-scale materials. It was created by a multidisciplinary team from both organizations, including experts in biochemistry, toxicology, environmental sciences and engineering, medicine, occupational safety and health, environmental law and regulations, product development and business development. The goal was to develop a systematic and disciplined process for evaluating and addressing the environmental, health and safety risks of nano-materials across all stages of a product’s lifecycle – from initial sourcing through manufacture, use, and recycling or disposal.

As part of the evaluation process for the framework, DuPont tested three different classes of nano-scale materials: a new titanium dioxide-based product, carbon nano-tubes and zero valent iron. In developing the Framework, Environmental Defense and DuPont solicited and received significant feedback from a broad range of interested parties, including other companies and NGOs, government officials and academics. DuPont and Environmental Defense even launched a new website to accompany the framework. At NanoRiskFramework.com, the project is available for download, as well as detailed case studies of the three nano-scale materials tested by DuPont for this release.