INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 133

1. Headline: Substitution of less toxic raw materials in the

fabrication of furniture reduces waste

2. Background: See below.

3. Cleaner Production Principle: Material substitution

4. Description of Cleaner Production Application:

Solvent-based inks have been replaced by water-based inks

for printing woodgrain on fiberboard and plywood pieces

prior to furniture assembly. The water-based inks are

non-toxic and may be discharged into the city's sewer

collection system, reducing off-site solvent recycling

costs, as well as raw material costs. The solvent-based

finishes still required are being used in a

counter-current manner such that the virgin solvents flush

the equipment and are later used as a thinner for

finishing material.

Material/Energy Balance and Substitutions:

FEEDSTOCKS: Inks, coatings

WASTES: Solvents

MEDIUM: Liquid

5. Economics

CAPITAL COST: None

OPERATION/MAINTENANCE: None

MONTHS TO RECOVER: 0

DISPOSAL & FEEDSTOCK: $112,000/yr in reduced raw

materials and disposal costs

6. Advantages

FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION: The water-based inks cost 50% less

than the solvent-based inks ($75,000/yr savings)

WASTE PRODUCTION: 30-40% reduction in waste solvents

($37,000/yr savings in disposal costs)

IMPACT: Conversion to water-based inks from solvent-based

inks has allowed for a reduction in raw material costs by

50%, and a 30-40% reduction in solvents generated that

require off-site recovery. Product quality has remained

the same.

7. Constraints: No information provided.

8. CITATION: "Case Summaries of Waste Reduction by

Industries in the Southeast", Schecter, Roger N., Hunt,

Gary, July, 1989, Page 15.

9. Keywords: United States, USA, wood, furniture, material

substitution, ink, solvent, water-based ink, coating, ISIC

2511.

10. Reviewer's Comments: This case study part of a core

collection of case studies from North Carolina, USA and

was originally abstracted for the US Environmental

Protection Agency's Pollution Prevention Information

Clearinghouse. It underwent a UNEP IE funded technical

review in 1994 for quality and completeness. It was

edited for the ICPIC diskette in July 1995.

(Docno unep04: 112-003-A-282)