Best practices in chemicals management in industry (Work Package 4)
Leader of the work package is Institute for Ecology of Industrial areas (IETU).
The work package consists of 4 groups of activities:
- 4.1 Development of best practices in industrial sectors
- 4.2 Industrial installation case studies
- 4.3 Development of BAT descriptions
- 4.4 Identifying hazardous substances preventing recycling and reuse in industry
The aim of the work package is to increase knowledge of the management of hazardous chemicals in the IED industrial sectors via co-operation between operators and authorities. The ultimate aim is to reduce the release of hazardous substances into the Baltic Sea from industry.
Three industrial sectors have been chosen to be analyzed in detail:
- surface treatment of metals and plastics
- textile industry
- subsectors of chemical industry: polymers and large volume inorganic chemicals
A review of the selected sectors´ performance in the management and handling of hazardous substances will give a sound basis for the BREF review process and the development of good practices.
The results of the WP4 will be useful in several ways for different target groups and end-users by providing:
- information to be integrated into the BREFs. Enhanced information on hazardous substances in BREFs will lead to a better consideration of chemicals control in environmental permits for installations within the EU
- “hands-on” guidance and tools for the industrial installations and the authorities to improve the practices in chemical management
- information on the selected industrial sectors in the Baltic Sea Region that HELCOM can use in developing reduction measures and actions.
Aspects of Circular Economy are also addressed by assessing what kind of affect hazardous substances have on the recycling and reuse of waste, by-products, and products and how barriers for recycling, reuse and use of secondary raw materials could be avoided.
While WP2 and WP3 focus on international frameworks and aim for policy level improvement, WP4 focuses on the “real world” performance of industry. Textile sector is a forerunner in WP4´s work.
Development of best practices in industrial sectors and industrial case studies
The current practices of the use and management of hazardous chemicals will be analyzed in detail in three industrial sectors: surface treatment of metals and plastics, textile industry and one sub-sector of chemical industry.
The case studies will be carried out in up to 15 industrial installations in the five partner countries.
As a result the project will produce “Sector guidance” reports on best practices for the management of hazardous chemicals in each of the selected industrial sectors. These reports will contain:
- information about the use of hazardous chemicals in the industrial sector
- evaluation of the current management approaches, reduction measures, and recommendations for the improvement of the chemicals management
- description of potential candidate BATs
- recommendations to promote circular economy
- a permit model concerning chemicals and hazardous substances.
Development of BAT descriptions
This activity will produce descriptions about the techniques and measures that are identified in the case studies as potential candidate BATs for the reduction of releases of hazardous substances in the selected industrial sectors. The work includes screening of:
- substitution and prevention measures
- abatement techniques to reduce waste water discharges and air emissions, including end-of-pipe solutions
- emission monitoring techniques
- emerging techniques (ET)
Five candidate BAT descriptions have been developed for TXT BREF review process, download the document here.
Identifying hazardous substances preventing recycling and reuse in industry
The EU action plan for the Circular Economy aims to “close the loop” of product lifecycles through greater recycling and reuse. However, hazardous substances may diminish the possibilities of recycling. This problem needs to be tackled at a European level.
This aspect of circular economy has not been taken into account in BREFs before. This activity will act as a pilot action to help to promote the Circular Economy in the EU BAT process.
The activity will identify and evaluate the opportunities and obstacles that the presence of hazardous substances in the materials and the production processes cause for the recycling and reuse of production wastes. If less hazardous chemicals can be used, it leads to fewer obstacles for recycling and cleaner WWTP sludge.
Final draft of the report 'Promoting non-toxic material cycles – challenges and opportunities in the BREF process' was available for comments in February. The final report is now published and available in the Publications page. The project team thanks all those who commented!
Contact persons:
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Work Package leader: Janusz Krupanek (IETU) j.krupanek(a)ietu.pl
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Activity 4.1 and 4.2 leader: Janusz Krupanek (IETU) j.krupanek(a)ietu.pl
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Activity 4.3 leader: Annika Månsson (Swedish EPA) annika.månsson(a)naturvardsverket.se
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Activity 4.4. leader: Helena Dahlbo (SYKE) helena.dahlbo(a)syke.fi