Development of Guidance Documents on VOC Reduction and Substitution for Activities Covered by the VOC Solvents Directive (1999/13/EC)

Background

The objective of Directive 1999/13/EC is to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), responsible for relevant impacts on environment and human health. To achieve this aim, the Directive has defined limit values for VOC emissions of 20 commercial activities. Existing installations have to comply with the regulations first-time in 2007.

In order to support the Member States implementing the Directive, the Commission will ensure an exchange of information about measures for VOC reduction and substitution. According to article 7 of the Directive,the Commission shall publish guidance for each affected activity.

Task description

Ökopol will develop guidance for printing activities, metal coating activities, manufacturing of inks and varnishes as well as manufacturing of leather and footwear. BiPRO will develop guidance for another activities covered by the Directive (dry cleaning, surface cleaning, wood and plastic lamination, wood impregnation, adhesive coating, coil coating, winding wire coating as well as coating of wood, plastic, textile and paper surfaces).

The intention of the guidance is to describe measures for VOC reduction and substitution. The guidance shall give a summarised overview of best available techniques (BAT), describing difficulties of implementation and proposing possible solutions.

By practical examples, the guide shall support companies finding and implementing adequate solutions for the reduction of VOC emissions.

In order to gather technical information and anonymised emission data for the guidance, Ökopol will contact relevant companies and sector experts, as well as public authorities.

Contact:

Christian Tebert

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