Kortlægning af kemiske stoffer i forbrugerprodukter, Nr. 87 2007 – Kortlægning af LAS

Kortlægning af LAS

Summary

Linear Alkylebenzene Sulphonates (LAS) is a group of surfactants that has through the times been one of the most used surface-active substances in detergents and cleaning agents for private households as well as industries and institutions.

The effect from LAS on the environment has been up for debate over the years. LAS is on the Danish EPA’s list of unwanted substances and it is also one of the xenobiotic substances in sludge which the WWTP’s must report to the Danish EPA each year. In 1999 the Danish EPA launched a campaign to make consumers buy LAS-free detergents. A number of environment- and consumer organisations supported this campaign.

The objective of this project is to present an overview of the current LAS consumption in Denmark, and also an overview of which initiatives has been taken in Sweden where LAS consumption is considerably less than in Denmark. This information can be used in considerations as to whether a follow up on the campaign in 1999 would be desirable. The project does not include any new assessment of the environmental or health effects of LAS.

Mapping of Danish LAS consumption has been done by contacting a series of major manufacturers and importers of detergents and cleaning agents. The mapping has shown that there was a large reduction in LAS consumption in the period 1998 - 2002, but that there has been little reduction in the consumption up till 2005.In 1998 a LAS consumption of 4,300 tonnes was estimated, in 2002 the detergent and cleaning agents industry reported a figure of 1500 tonnes, and this current mapping has found a total consumption in 2005 of 1,268 tonnes LAS, distributed between 1,097 tonnes in consumer products and 171 tonnes in products for industries and institutions. Of these, 1,056 tonnes LAS are found in laundry detergents and 212 tonnes in cleaning agents. It is estimated that the mapping has involved app. 80% of the detergents and cleaning agents to consumers and 80 - 90% of the products to industry and institutions. The resulting estimate of the total consumption of LAS in Denmark in 2005 is therefore 1,570 tonnes, distributed between 1,370 tonnes in consumer products and 200 tonnes in products for industries and institutions.

In Sweden, the consumer trade’s decision to mainly sell eco-labelled detergents has been the most important single cause of the LAS decline in recent years. Eco-labelling holds a very large market share compared with Danish conditions. In particular it has been the Swedish Environment- and consumer organisations, fronted by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, who have kept the consumers focused on LAS.

On the basis of the current consumption and the experience from Sweden it is recommended to promote ecolabelling in Denmark and to keep the current limit values for LAS for using sludge on agricultural land.