INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

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.