Michael Schmeida

Michael Schmeida, LEED™AP, has recently joined Oatey, a manufacturer of plumbing supplies in Cleveland, Ohio as the organization's corporate manager of Stewardship. Before that, he was at Tremco’s Commercial Sealants and Waterproofing Division for nearly 10 years, working his way up from a technical service representative to director of Compliance and Sustainability. He has been a featured speaker and author on many occasions and has addressed the California Department of Toxic Substances Control on green chemistry. He has also taught an introductory sustainability course at his two-time alma mater, the University of Akron. He serves as vice-chair of ASTM E60 on Sustainability and is former chair of the Adhesive and Sealants Council’s Regulatory Affairs Committee, a member of SSPC 189.1 within ASHRAE and active within nearly two dozen other organizations and/or committees at various levels.

Regulatory Review: Holistic Environmental Regulation

Lifecycle assessments will likely play a major role in future environmental regulations.

Michael Schmeida

November 1, 2013

One argument many industries have against environmental regulation has been that it often ignores a holistic view of a product and instead focuses on only one attribute (e.g., volatile organic compounds, or VOCs).

Regulatory Review: TSCA Reform and EPA Actions

The recent introduction of a bipartisan bill will likely pave the way for future TSCA reform.

Michael Schmeida

August 5, 2013

When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, most people interested in chemicals regulation lauded it as the greatest and most advanced piece of chemical legislation of their time.

Regulatory Review: An Introduction to Alternatives Assessment

A basic understanding of AA may be useful to those in the adhesives and sealants industry.

Michael Schmeida

May 1, 2013

Over the past couple of years, the concept of alternative assessment (AA) has become much more common in the regulatory environment.

Regulatory Review: Categorical Considerations for VOC Regulation

Some products that are considered to be coatings may not lie within the architectural coatings rule, but may instead cross over to adhesives and sealants rules—or even others.

Michael Schmeida

February 1, 2013

Given any of the variety of adhesive and sealant products on the market, many ASI readers could probably determine the specific VOC rule and level that would apply.

Regulatory Review: LEED Updates and Supplier Challenges

Michael Schmeida

November 1, 2012

Since its inception in 1997, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) system has been a major influence on how adhesives and sealants manufacturers design and market products.

Regulatory Review: North American Phthalate Regulation

Michael Schmeida

September 4, 2012

Phthalates serve a vital role in the creation of many polymeric materials.

vocs colatile organic compounds smoke tremco

Regulatory Review: SCAQMD Rule 1168

Michael Schmeida

July 2, 2012

South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Volatile Organic Content (VOC) Rule 1168 for Adhesive and Sealant Applications is being reviewed and edited this year.

Regulatory Review: Green Guidance from the FTC

Michael Schmeida

March 1, 2012

Though the publication of the revised Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) “Green Guides” has been significantly delayed, many industries continue to address the sustainability movement and green marketing claims are becoming

Michael Schmeida

November 1, 2011

Regulatory changes will have a strong effect on the adhesives and sealants industry.

Michael Schmeida

August 1, 2011

In 2008, California Assembly Bill 1879 (AB 1879), which requires the state of California to implement a Green Chemistry Rule or Law by the year 2011, became a law. It