implementing green chemistry in the dry cleaning sector · implementing green chemistry in the dry...
TRANSCRIPT
Implementing Green
Chemistry in the Dry
Cleaning Sector
Anna Zimmermann
San Francisco Department of
Environment
What Is Dry Cleaning? Why Does It
Matter? Can Dry Cleaning Be “Green”?
Which Garments Do You Dry Clean?
Federal Trade Commission requires care label on all garments
Specialized way to clean garments & remove stains
The Dry Cleaning Industry
30,000 dry cleaning facilities in the US
>5,000 in California
Mostly small independently owned shops located near residential communities
Dry cleaning implies that
garments do not get wet.
Dry cleaning is NOT DRY.
Clothes are immersed and
cleaned in a liquid chemical
solvent.
Early Cleaning Solvents
1930
1950
1970
KEROSENE, BENZENE,
WHITE GASOLINE
STODDARD PETROLEUM
PERCHLOROETHYLENE
Perchloroethylene – “Perc”
Used in >90% of U.S. dry cleaning facilities
Health Hazards of Perc
Skin, eye, respiratory
irritation
Nervous system
effects
Damage to liver,
kidneys
Proposition 65
Carcinogen
Reproductive toxin
Routes of Exposure
Perc can contaminate:
>75% of dry cleaning sites are contaminated (State Coalition for Remediation of Dry Cleaners - US EPA)
What is the government doing?
SF Grant Program
CA state law phases out Perc by- 2023.
Perc cleaners will have to switch to an
alternative technology
?
Alternatives to Perc
Hydrocarbon
solvent:
Stoddard
solvent
blend
▪ Contains aromatic
hydrocarbons (e.g. benzene, a
carcinogen)
▪ Neurotoxic, eye, skin and
respiratory irritation
▪ Potential concerns for
bioaccumulation and aquatic
toxicity
▪ Emits smog forming VOCs
Perchloroeth
ylene
▪ Carcinogen (California's
Proposition 65 list)
▪ Liver and kidney effects
▪ Neurotoxic, eye, skin and
respiratory irritation
▪ Persistent in the environment
▪ Mandatory phase out in
progress (Bay Area Air Quality
Management District)
1- Propyl
bromide
▪ Male and female reproductive
toxicant and developmental
toxicant (California's
Proposition 65 list)
▪ Neurotoxic, eye, skin and
respiratory irritation
▪ ILLEGAL per CA Fire Code
1204.1
▪ Flammable liquid (Class I)4,
NFPA rating 3
▪ Use without sufficient
stabilizer likely to cause
corrosion and damage to
cleaning equipment5
Hydrocarbon
solvents:
▪DF-2000TM
▪EcoSolv®▪Shell Sol
▪PureDry®
▪ Neurotoxicity, eye, skin and respiratory
irritation
▪ Potential concerns for persistence and
aquatic toxicity
▪ Complex mixtures which may contain
other ingredients of concern
GreenEarth® (D5)
solvent
▪ Suspected carcinogen, reproductive toxin
▪ Liver, immune and nervous system effects
▪ Persistent in environment; detected in fish
Common Perc Alternatives
Green Product or Greenwashing?
Hydrocarbon or petroleum solvents are made by
Health & Environmental Hazards
Eye, skin and respiratory irritation
Neurological effects
Can persist in environment and cause
aquatic toxicity
Emits smog forming volatile organic
compounds (VOCs)
Flammable
Green Product or Greenwashing?
Health & Environmental Hazards
Green Earth = liquid silicone solvent
decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5)
Suspected carcinogen, reproductive toxin
Liver, immune and nervous system effects
Persists in environment; detected in fish
Carbon Dioxide Dry Cleaning
High pressure system
cleans with liquid CO2
By-product of
industrial processes
No environmental,
health hazards
identified
Carbon Dioxide Cleaning with
Micell Technologies
Patent indicates possible
use of PFOA
(perfluorooctanoic acid)
Raises concerns for
endocrine disruption,
reproductive and
developmental effects
Persistence,
bioaccumulation
Professional Wet Cleaning
Cleans in specialized washers & dryers that
control revolutions, temperature, moisture
Cleaning with soap and water
Barriers to Adopting Wet Cleaning
•Fear garments will shrink, be damaged
•New process
•Cultural/language barrier
•Cost to convert
Greening the Cleaning Industry –
Building Partnerships
Wet cleaners
Distributors
Trade
associations
State demo
program
Local agencies
Greening the Cleaning Industry –
Raising Awareness
Workshop brings together stakeholders
Multilingual door-to-door outreach
Wet cleaning demonstrations
Greening the Cleaning Industry –
Creating Incentives for Cleaners
Regulatory Action – Perc banned by 2023
Cost competitive with other alternatives
Financial Incentives - CARB offers
$10,000/cleaner to convert to wet or CO2
$$
Consumer Outreach
Green Business Recognition
Key Moment to Act
Quantifiable environmental benefits of wet cleaning
vs. hydrocarbon cleaning:
Total GHG reduced (based on energy use): 3833 lbs
CO2/cleaner/year
Annual VOCs generated by hydrocarbon cleaners:
202 lbs/cleaner/year
Total hydrocarbon solvent used over 15 years: 935
gal/cleaner
