Pan European Industry Initiatives
UKCPI is a proactive and responsible Association and as such welcomes the creation, development and involvement in a range of initiatives to maintain human and environmental safety and improve environmental quality. What we have learnt is that it is essential to build sustainability into everything we do. UKCPI is actively involved in a number of sustainability initiatives that have been developed and coordinated by AISE, the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance products. These initiatives include the following:
The UKCPI is not responsible for the content on the external website's detailed below.
The Air Fresheners Product Stewardship Programme is an initiative of AISE, the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance products, which represents, among others, the Air Fresheners products industry across Europe. It builds on a series of voluntary initiatives already undertaken by AISE in the domain of safety assessment and sustainability.
The programme is open to European companies from that industry sector, and, like most other AISE agreements, it goes beyond the legislative requirements covering those products. (The following pieces of legislation apply for Air Fresheners: Directive on classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances - (67/548/EEC), Dangerous Preparation Directive - (1999/45/EC), Directive on restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances - (76/769/EEC), General Product Safety Directive - (2001/95/EC), Aerosol Dispensers Directive - (75/324/EEC)).
The programme aims at promoting best practice in the industry, through responsible manufacturing, communication and use of Air Fresheners across Europe, allowing consumers to make the best-informed choices about safe product usage.
Human and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA)
HERA is a voluntary industry programme to carry out Human and Environmental Risk Assessments on ingredients of household cleaning products.
A unique European partnership established in 1999 between the makers of household cleaning products (AISE) and the chemical industry (Cefic) who supplies the raw materials.
Previously safety assessments were carried out on ingredients by the companies, and the results remained confidential to them. In today's world, both the regulators and the general public rightly demand greater transparency of the information on the potential risks posed by the ingredients of products used in the home. There is now a call for these data to be published, so that the need for more information if required, can be debated in public.
The objective of HERA is to provide a common risk assessment framework for the household cleaning products industry, and show that this process will deliver evaluated safety information on the ingredients used in these products in an effective and transparent way. This process is intended to support a risk-based approach to chemicals legislation in the European Union, and may serve as a pilot for the application of the same process in other sectors and/or geographical areas. For further information please visit: www.heraproject.com/Index.cfm
Professional Industrial and Institutional Sector
The European Association AISE, the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance products has produced several documents relevant to the Professional, Industrial and Institutional Sector:
- Professional Hygiene for Health and Well-Being download pdf 2277Kb
- Professional Laundry and the Environment download pdf 242Kb
Sustainability
The AISE Charter for Sustainable Cleaning
A common approach for all companies in the soaps, detergents and maintenance products industry in Europe, aiming to promote and demonstrate continual improvement in the industry’s sustainability profile.
Designed to bring benefits for society and the environment, the Charter is a life-cycle based framework for promoting a common industry approach to sustainability practices and reporting. It covers a wide variety of activities and initiatives ranging from, for example, the human and environmental safety of chemicals and products, eco-efficiency to integrated product policy. Going beyond current legislative requirements, the Charter aims at driving the industry towards continual improvement in sustainability.
Companies participating in the Charter will apply sustainable thinking at all phases of the product life-cycle, from product design, through manufacture, to use and disposal. This means they will not only be active in reducing impacts on the environment but also in guarding the health and well-being of customers and consumers, in operating with high ethical standards and in contributing to economic advancement.
For further information please visit: www.sustainable-cleaning.com.
Cleanright
A new multilingual website providing information on domestic cleaning products has just been launched. Developed by Cefic the European Chemical Industry Council, and AISE the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, the new website is promoted in the UK by the leading trade association, the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI) and in conjunction with the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), the site – www.cleanright.eu – aims to establish itself as the first point of reference for consumers and others seeking accurate, easily understandable information on cleaning products.
Through this site, consumers in particular will be able to gain useful information on the importance of reading the label, following safety tips, guidance on conserving water, and information on saving energy and CO2.
Consumers as well as regulators and stakeholders are increasingly demanding more openness, advice and information on the products they buy. The Cleanright website aims to answer a broad range of questions on household detergents and maintenance products as well as the ingredients they contain.
The centrepiece of the website is an interactive house containing everyday household items and surfaces with broad-brush information on product categories which may best be used to clean these. The interactive house also offers tips, information and guidance on how to follow a ‘greener’ lifestyle.
Throughout the site, including the interactive house, there are hints and tips on sustainable living with data on the benefits of taking a shower rather than a bath and guidance on lowering the temperature on washing machines, for example.
Information for different audiences is colour coded through a two-fold approach. Information in the colour tabs is for consumers with a focus on best and safe use advice, energy saving tips, ways to reduce utility bills and how to get the best results from cleaning products. Information in the grey tabs is aimed at stakeholders and ranges from details of voluntary initiatives, through safety assessments to an A to Z of ingredients.Laundry Sustainability
There are a number of European Voluntary Initiatives which are supported by UKCPI. For further details please contact us.
Safe Use Icons
The provision of appropriate information on how to use products can help guide consumers to get the best performance from products, whilst minimising the environmental impact and increasing safety margins for consumers.
The AISE Charter for Sustainable Cleaning has, as one of its key components, the provision of appropriate information to consumers so that they understand how to use products in a sensible, safe manner and achieve the best results.
To this end, AISE. has developed a set of safe use icons in order to improve and further develop clear messages for consumers on how to use AISE consumer products. These messages will be communicated via on-pack labelling and other communication tools.
For further information on Safe Use Icons please visit: http://www.aise.eu/go.php?pid=44103&topics=17
Save Energy and Water
The Save Energy and Water project is a sustainability initiative concerned specifically with automatic dish washing (ADW) detergents, used for domestic dish washing, placed on the market in Europe. The initiative was launched by AISE in June 2006 and aims to promote a sustainable approach in the use phase of ADW detergents by encouraging consumers to switch to a lower temperature of wash, where appropriate. Such a change in behaviour will save energy and water, helping to reduce CO2 emissions from domestic electricity production and consumption which contribute to climate change, and also assist in saving water resources. It will also help to reduce domestic energy and water bills for consumers.
The project is specifically aimed at ADW detergents used for domestic dish washing and placed on the market in Europe (the EU-25, plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland). Companies that commit to the Save Energy and Water project make commitments to promote lower temperature washes to consumers on packs, on their websites and through advertising. The project has the potential to deliver significant environmental benefits, whilst not affecting the performance attained by ADW detergents. The aim is to modify behaviour, so that the consumer is encouraged to choose the lowest appropriate temperature more often. If just half of the EU households currently using higher temperature dish washing programmes switch to energy saving programs, they could cut up to 388,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from their annual energy use. They could also save up to 700 million litres of water a year - enough for over 200 million showers (at moderate use rates). For further information please visit: www.aise.eu/go.php?pid=592&topics=17
Washright
The Washright campaign aims to provide household tips to consumers consistently throughout Europe and to advise them about washing laundry in a more environmentally-friendly way. The campaign was initiated in 1998 through AISE to compliment the Industry’s work in developing products and packaging that have minimum impact on the environment, while educating consumers on more efficient washing habits.
Use the lowest recommended temperature
Many people still think you need to wash clothes at very high temperatures to get them really clean. Yet most of today’s washing detergents give good results at lower temperatures. You can make a big difference in the amount of electricity you use by choosing a lower temperature wash programme most of the time. If you wash at 40 degrees, you can cut your electricity bill, help the environment and your washing can still come out clean.
Avoid underfilling the machine
We all know the situation – we want to wear a certain blouse or pair of trousers but they are dirty, so we put them in the washing machine and wash them on their own. The problem is that some washing machines may use the same amount of electricity and water, however big the load is. So why not put in some more washing and fill the machine properly. This will help you save money by washing more clothes while using the same amount of electricity and water. Remember: it is still important to pre-sort your washing into appropriate loads according to the colour and type of fabric.
Reduce Packaging Waste
We all know that packaging uses natural resources. This is why it helps the environment to retain permanent or refillable packaging and buy refill or lightweight packs where available. The content is just the same and it means less cardboard and/or plastic packaging in your dustbin and the environment. You can also recycle if facilities are available.
Measure according to soil and water hardness
The amount of detergent you should use depends on whether you have hard waster in your area, how dirty or soiled your laundry is and the particular washing product you are using. Following the instructions on the pack should give you the best results while helping the environment. As manufacturers are constantly improving their products, these instructions may change from time to time. Please, therefore, check them regularly, even though you may always use the same brand.
Wash right if you want to help the environment
Next time you do the laundry. Read the washing instructions on the pack. If you are in doubt or have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or contact the product manufacturer’s consumer service department. You will find the contact details on the detergent pack.
For further information please visit: www.washright.com