Substitution of surfactant and bio-accumulative substances in detergents
Summary and conclusions
For many years, there has been focus on surfactants because of their potential hazardous impact on the environment. Efforts have concentrated on industrial laundries because these facilities wash very soiled clothes and therefore need more effective detergents than normal household detergents.
The scope of this project is to minimise the environmental impact of industrial laundries, by substituting or minimising the use of non-biodegradable and accumulating substances.
The project has been carried out by two manufacturers; Henkel-Ecolab and Novadan. These are the largest producers of industrial detergents for the Danish market. Together with the two companies, the Danish Technological Institute participated in the project. The Institute was represented by the Centre for Environment and Waste Technology and the Centre for Clothing and Textiles.
The project was started in February 2001 and completed in August 2002. The project was funded by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the three parties involved in the project.
The main results of the project are:
 | Development of industrial detergents with less environmental impact |
| Development of a test method for industrial detergents |
| Adaptation and further development of an existing method for evaluation of environmental impact |
Four commercial detergents were developed for heavily soiled and lightly soiled clothes. The new formulations have less impact on the environment than the original products.
The focus on environmental issues had an effect on the other surfactants used by the two manufacturers. They tried to get an overview of all surfactants in use, and eliminated the ones with the most negative environmental impact.
It has become clear that suppliers of surfactants today focus on developing new substances which are more environmentally friendly. It has also become clear that the documentation available has improved over recent years, although some additional information is still needed.
It was not the scope of this project to focus on the environmental impact alone. The products should also be efficient. However, no methods to test the washing effect of industrial detergents existed. Methods only existed for household detergents.
ON the basis of previous experience gathered by the Danish Technological Institute in testing washing efficiency, a new method was developed. The new method allows comparison of the efficiency of two or more products used for the same purpose.
The results from the test of efficiency showed that the new products had an efficiency that was at least as good as the original products.
During the process of developing the new products, the Danish Technological Institute assisted the manufacturers by assessing the environmental properties of alternative surfactants and other relevant substitutes.
For the environmental assessment the so-called DTI model (see chapter 3) was used. The model was adjusted and the requirements of the Nordic eco-labelling criteria were implemented.
The DTI model was used to document the environmental impact of the detergents developed. The advantage of using the model was that many alternatives could be relatively easily assessed, and that the type of washing (heavy, medium and less stained clothes) could be included.
The improved model can be used by general manufactures of detergents in the development of new products, and also as a part of the documentation when applying for an eco-label.