Layman’s Report « BIO DEGREASING SYSTEM »
Project Supported by the LIFE Environment programme Of the European Union

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The context of the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE Project

Every year, within the E.U., over 400,000 manual cleaning installations used in garage and plants in order to remove grease and oil from parts before maintenance or cleaning for quality control, use over 160,000 tonnes of solvent.

These 160,000 tonnes of solvent finish one way or another as waste, and there is a pressing need to reduce the amount of solvents used in industry in order to comply with growing regulatory pressures.

There is a worldwide focus on VOC (Volatile Organic Components) reduction. In Europe the key directive 1999/13 has been introduced in order to help European countries to comply with the following international agreements:
1987 : MONTREAL PROTOCOL- Ban of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
1991 : GENEVA PROTOCOL- Control of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
1992 : RIO CONVENTION- Sustainable development
1996 : KYOTO CONVENTION-Control of Greenhouse effect

Over a million people operate those manual installations and there is increasing concern about the possible impact of solvents on their health. H&S (Health and Safety) regulations such as the European directive 98 / 24 have been voted in order to guarantee to all users that the product they use is the least dangerous possible to perform a given task, at home as well as at work.

Such an enormous amount of solvent generates an equal amount of waste which requires increasingly difficult waste treatment. When a solvent evaporates this is waste, just as if it were liquid or solid and local regulations on waste are getting tighter and increasingly expensive.

Not to mention many other very technical European, National or local regulations such as; directive n° 67/548 on labelling, regulation n°3093/94 on CFC or directive IPCC, and many others already in place or yet to come.

The objective of the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE project

Aim :
Thanks to the LIFE program, and with the help of the Meaban Group Subsidies established in The UK, Spain, Poland and Germany, the objective of the project is to improve Health & Safety at work, to reduce VOCs, and to reduce hazardous waste, by widely replacing traditional solvent degreasing fountains in the E.U. with the Clean3 biological degreasing fountain concept.

The Strategy to transfer widely this technology in Europe : 2 axes

1 : Find partners in the 10 countries targeted : Germany, England, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Denmark and Poland. After being trained on the concept (the machine, biology, the after sales service…), these partners have to demonstrate the efficiency of this machine in comparison with solvent degreasing fountains in their country.

2 : Take advantage of the Meaban group’s experience in particular markets : automotive, railway, aeronautics, electricity, army, food industry, to test the concept in these fields in order to obtain qualifications and approvals

After having adapted the machine and the products to comply with the demand of the country or of a particular market, the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE project is to Communicate the results through advisory boards, exhibitions, magazines, websites, leaflets…

What is special about the Clean³ concept

The Clean³ concept is special because it offers a real alternative (technical and economical) to solvents by using a Biotechnology. The result is a concept which reduces waste by over 80%, and it uses much safer chemical products.

The Clean³ concept is protected by patents and is a very good example of Biotechnology as a safer replacement of classical chemical products.

The Clean³ concept is based primarily on some very simple principles :
- The less waste generated the less waste there is to treat.
- The less dangerous the new chemical is the less harmful the final product will be for the user and the environment
- A non flammable product will reduce the risk of fire in often marginally secure environments.

The Clean³ concept applies the Lavoisier rule. In nature :
- Nothing is wasted
- Nothing is created
- Everything is transformed

Where the Clean³ systems can be used

How the Clean³ system works

The Clean³ concept is based on 3 key elements

A machine allows to apply the product warm, comfortably and reliably. The machine operates at 35°. Moulded in Polypropylene, the Clean³ machine is very sturdy and complies with the European safety label C€.

Clean3Booster is a powerful aqueous based degreasing solution which cleans as well as any solvent
Non toxic.
No special hazard labelling is required (transport, storage, use)
Colourless, it contains neither solvents nor hydrocarbons.
Non flammable, no flash point.
PH is neutral.
It is delivered in a 20 litre Bag-in-box, easily recyclable.

Clean3Booster‘s regeneration is achieved thanks to the bio-regulation distributed by Clean3Filter. It is seeded with a bacterial flora selected to destroy hydrocarbons.
-Natural, and not genetically modified, they feed on hydrocarbons and thus transform them into CO2 and into water.
- These micro-organisms are mesophilic aerobic, non morbific bacteria of a group conform with European legislation.

The Clean3Booster cleans the parts by removing the greasy dirt. The Bacteria from the Clean3Filter eat the grease held in the Clean3Booster, the clean Clean3Booster is then reused to clean new greasy parts

The results of the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE project in the target countries

The results of the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE project on the target markets

The achievements of the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE project

10 partners found to ensure the transfer of the Clean3 Bio degreasing fountain
The Clean3 Bio Degreasing Fountain is known and works in 11 European countries
16 exhibitions or conferences in 6 European countries over the 3 year program
More than 20 articles published in 4 European countries
More than 50 trials of the Clean3 Bio Degreasing Fountain in the targeted countries and the markets
Approvals obtained from 2 automotive manufacturers
Qualification obtained from 2 aeronautical manufacturers
NATO codes
Certificate from the Defense industry
100 Clean3 Bio Degreasing Fountains sold in the targeted countries
More than 300 Clean3 Bio Degreasing Fountains sold on the targeted markets
More than 700 Bio Degreasing Fountains sold in the lifetime of the LIFE project

How the LIFE  programme helped Clean³

The Clean³ concept would never have managed to survive without the LIFE programme

As the concept is based on a brand new technology, we would not have had sufficient credibility to convince local regulatory boards, consumers and business partners that we are a real alternative to solvents.

In a business dominated by very large corporations using a mature technology, “Life” gave us the edge needed to compete globally and in a more balanced way.

It obliged us to follow a very strict and proven project management approach which helped us to monitor and follow our progress during the entire “Life” programme (3 years)

The local consultant mandated by the « Life » programme, helped us by connecting us to the network of the “Life” partner network, and gave us support to achieve and respect the aim of our programme.

It allowed us to convince financial and business partners to finance the project by investing 1.5 Million Euros in the technology.

It gave us a very high visibility communication

the Environmental Benefits of the ‘Bio Degreasing System’ LIFE project and the Transferability of its results

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

About 700 Clean3 Bio degreasing fountains sold over the 3 year LIFE project. This represents a reduction of about 277,000 Liters in the use of solvent, and the same quantity of waste.

Every year the quantity of solvent is reduced

Accidents reduced

TRANSFERABILITY OF THE LIFE PROJECT RESULTS

It will be achieved through the network of partners created in the targeted countries

This Layman’s report will be available on our Website and will be printed to be diffused

We will update all the information we have published about LIFE project