European Consumers clean their laundry in a more sustainable way than five years ago.

Today, the European Commission (DG Enterprise) and A.I.S.E., the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products released the final data of industry’s voluntary Code of Good Environmental Practice. The final results covering a five-year period (1997 - 2001) show an impressive decrease of poorly-biodegradable ingredients and important reductions in the consumption of household laundry detergents and the use of energy and packaging.

Thanks to the introduction of new formulations and of innovative products, the European detergents producers have managed to reduce by almost a quarter the amount of ingredients that do not biodegrade well (e.g. polymers) in the environment. These innovations have also enabled European consumers to reduce their consumption of detergents by almost 8% per capita and by more than 16% on a per wash basis. Additional reductions in the use of energy per wash and less packaging per capita have further contributed to reduce the impact on the environment. This was even more challenging as demographic changes in European society (more and smaller households) have led to more washes over the same period.

In parallel, consumers have been provided with a series of tips on how to use the products in a more sustainable way. This was achieved through a unique pan-European campaign called “Washright”, including on-pack messages, internet and a TV campaign over the last three years.

In 1997, the Soap, Detergents and Maintenance Products Industry proposed its voluntary Code of Good Environmental Practice. This was implemented with the official support of the European Commission – confirmed in Recommendation 98/480/EC – as from mid 1998 till the end of 2001. The Code aimed to lower the impact of household laundry detergents on the environment by encouraging both reformulation by producers and more effective use of products by consumers.
Through its National Associations in the 15 EU Member States and in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, A.I.S.E. enrolled more than 170 companies covering more than 90% of the market in Europe.
Maarten G. Labberton, A.I.S.E. Director-General said : “I am proud of our efforts. This unique industry initiative supported by the European Commission shows that we –one of Europe’s most competitive industries - can work well together for a common purpose : to improve the environment for all”.

Building on the momentum created, A.I.S.E. was happy to confirm the preparation of a Charter on Sustainable Development by the whole detergent and cleaning industry in Europe.

“Members of our industry will be able to sign up to this new initiative in order to continue to improve the environmental and overall performance and use of their products” said Mr Labberton.
The activities of the upcoming Charter on Sustainable Development will include a Programme covering important issues such as product design, information to consumers on the best use of products and specific activities for the industrial and institutional cleaning products markets.

This Programme will also refer to the HERA project (Human and Environmental Risk Assessment), through which industry is committed to deliver human and environmental risk assessments on the main ingredients of household cleaning products and make the results available to the public.

Notes:

• Through its 35 national associations in 30 countries, A.I.S.E. represents 750 member companies, of which 60% are small and medium-sized enterprises. The soap, detergents and maintenance products industry employs more than 150,000 people. The annual turnover in the 15 EU Member States + Norway and Switzerland is 25,5 billion Euro (year 2000). It is estimated that the total market value covered by the A.I.S.E.’s membership (30 countries) is about 35 billion Euro (www.aise-net.org).

• Washright is the campaign developed by A.I.S.E. in mid 1998 to provide consumers with information on how best to use their products when doing the laundry (www.washright.com).

• The objective of the joint HERA project with the chemical industry on Human and Environmental Risk Assessment is to demonstrate that the risk assessment concept can provide relevant safety evaluation concerning the ingredients of household detergents and cleaning products, for the authorities and the public, in an effective, efficient and transparent way (www.heraproject.com).

Annexes:

• Summary of the results of the A.I.S.E. Code of Good Environmental Practice,
  1996 - 2001. To download the full reports, click here:
  • A.I.S.E. report (PDF - 1940 Kb)
  • IBM report (PDF - 1120 Kb)
    
• The washright campaign (poster) (PDF - 162 Kb)

• HERA project on Human and Environmental Risk Assessment (leaflet) (PDF - 208 Kb)

Summary of the results of the A.I.S.E. Code of Good Environmental Practice, 1996 - 2001.