CASE STUDY #224
1. Headline: Reduction in the use of solvents in a paint and
lacquer production company. Reduction in workers health
problems due to reduced exposure to solvents and in waste
caused by packaging.
2. Background: Scandia Kjemiske A/S was invited by their parent
company to take part in a cleaner production project. This
project was initiated by the State Pollution Authority and
Norwegian Society for Chartered Engineers. At the same time the
State Pollution Authority was planning to license the releases
to solvents. The company knew it had high costs in connection
with its waste management, and wanted to reduce these to the
lowest possible level. The case study was carried out in 1993.
3. Cleaner Production Principles: Good housekeeping, material
substitution, internal recycling
4. Description of Cleaner Production Application
The main health and environmental problem in the company is
release of solvents from production. The company has started a
process with the aim to introduce water based products. This
process has so far reduced the release of solvents from 10
kg/hour to 4 kg/hour.
Good housekeeping practices have been promoted by information
to the workers. Both the release of solvents and the generation
of waste is influenced by daily practices.
Re-use of incoming packages is another measure that has been
implemented, both to reduce costs and to reduce the amount of
waste.
Covering of some containers have prevented the evaporation of
solvents into air.
Case Study Summary
Scandia Kjemiske produces 2,2 mill. liters of pigmented and
unpigmented lacquer each year. The main markets are industry,
car repair shops, and "do it yourself" hobbyists.
During the production process, solvents are released into the
air. This is the main environmental problem. Many of the
measures taken during the project have the common goal of
reducing the release of solvents. Below, different measures are
listed.
- Cleaning of mills.
The cleaning of mills requires large amounts of thinner. In
some applications, thinner can be reused. This reduces the
amount of waste generated, and does not require investments.
- Closing off the immediate area around the axles for
dissolvers and stirring equipment, this reduces the releases to
air.
- The drying of boxes now takes place over open barrels.
Experiments with covers will be initiated to see if it might be
possible to let the runoff take place in a closed environment.
- Reduction of the use of open strainers (closed filling
system).
- Raw materials have been evaluated and classified. Raw
materials in category 1 will be phased out in 1993, while
category two will be phased out during 1995.
- Standardization of primary and secondary packaging components
to reduce the number of different items, is considered.
- Draining of 1/9 liter boxes directly from containers, has
been started. This eliminates the temporary storage on 20 liter
buckets.
- Earlier routines for weighing thinner have been changed,
something that has reduced the amount of waste.
Metal scrap is generated from packaging, raw materials and
finished products
- To reduce the amount of non-returnable pallets, discussions
have started with suppliers. The use of Euro-pallets will make
it possible with internal/external re-use.
- Cleaning and selling of 120 liter plastic containers has
started
Material/Energy Balances and Substitutions
Waste stream, in the period of measure, yearly, yearly
reduction
Paper/cardboard (impure), 643 kg, 7780 kg, N/A Paper/cardboard
(pure), 853kg, 10322kg, former 60% re-use, now 100%
Barrels 2001, 2484 kg, 30069 kg, 8000 kg eliminated, rest
re-use Metal containers, 420 kg, 5084 kg, unchanged
Metal boxes, 487 kg, 5893kg, 400kg eliminated
Plastic containers, 24 kg,291 kg, 250 kg reuse
Plastic (pure), 415 kg, 5022kg, unchanged
Plastic (impure),66kg, 793kg, unchanged
Pallets, 3014 kg, 36485 kg, 1100kg eliminated, the rest re-used
internally water for washing, 787kg, 9527kg, unchanged
Thinner for washing, 3455kg, 60000 kg, none eliminated so far,
but potential for a reduction of 28500kg
Rags, 436kg, 5279,kg, unchanged
Other, 552kg, 6680, unchanged
Total, 13636kg, 183225kg, 40000kg eliminated or re-used
internally/externally
5. Economics: There is a yearly net savings 165.000 NKR in
operational and maintenance costs.
6. Advantages: See Description of Cleaner Production
Description
7. Constraints: Due to the simplicity of most of the proposed
measures, no technical constraints were reported
8. Contacts
Norwegian State Pollution Authority
Att: Uno Abrahamsen
Postboks 8100 Dep, 0032 Oslo,
Norway
TEL: + 47 22 57 34 00
Oestfold Research Foundation
P.O.Box 276
N-1601 Fredrikstad
TEL: +47.69341900
A/S Skandia Kjemiske
Att: Knut A. Skj`r
Postboks 42 Alnabru
0614 Oslo, Norway
9. Keywords: SIC 3521, paint production lacquers
10. Reviewer's Comment's: This case study was translated from
Norwegian and submitted to UNEP IE on behalf of the Norwegian
State Pollution Control Authority by Stiftelsen
Ostfoldforskning in February 1994. They were reviewed and
edited by UNEP IE in July 1995. They have not undergone a
formal quality review.