The impact on the environment As a part of its Environmental Management System, Cobar has developed a method to calculate an index by which the impact of a finished product on the environment is quantified. The index of the finished product is based on the index determined for every individual raw material.
The weighted average of all the raw materials in the formula of a finished product finally results in the Environmental Load Unit (ELU) of the finished product.
Cobar's ELU-system is based on the parameters originally established by a task force formed by several universities and international companies in Holland. The parameters have been published as 'Eco-Indicator 95'. Moreover, Cobar has started an ongoing program of fine-tuning this system, especially with regard to issues such as lead-free technology.
According to this system some well-known raw materials have the following ELUs:
|
Raw Material |
ELU |
|
Adipic Acid |
1.540 |
|
Isopropyl Alcohol |
6.400 |
|
De-ionized Water |
0.001 |
The publication of ELUs provides the customer with interesting information regarding the environmental impact of Cobar's products. For Cobar it is an important management criterion in the development of new, more eco-friendly products.
An example of the calculation of the ELU of an experimental product:
|
Calculation ELUs (Environmental Load Unit) of Intermediate Products and Premixes acc. NOH 9514 |
|
Date |
6 october 1997 |
|
By |
SLA |
|
Product |
Cream Flux XYZ |
|
Source
Pos Material |
% w/w |
ELU |
Total |
Remarks |
|
1 A |
34,4 |
16,24 |
5,58656 |
|
|
2 Adipic A |
5,9 |
1,54 |
0,09086 |
|
|
3 B |
2,1 |
3,85 |
0,08085 |
|
|
4 C |
48 |
1,45 |
0,696 |
|
|
5 D |
2,9 |
1,15 |
0,03335 |
|
|
6 F |
1 |
4,30 |
0,043 |
|
|
7 G |
2,4 |
1,62 |
0,03888 |
|
|
8 H |
1,75 |
3,53 |
0,061775 |
|
|
9 I |
0,038 |
7,15 |
0,002717 |
|
|
10 J |
0,005 |
7,55 |
0,000378 |
|
|
11 K |
0,004 |
9,35 |
0,000374 |
|
|
12 L |
0,003 |
16,24 |
0,000487 |
|
|
13 M |
0,5 |
1,44 |
0,0072 |
|
|
14 M |
0,5 |
16,55 |
0,08275 |
|
|
15 O |
0,500 |
3,60 |
0,018 |
|
|
Total Materials |
100,000 |
|
6,743181 |
|
|
Production |
|
El. Power |
0,004 |
0,67 |
0,00268 |
|
|
Total Production |
|
|
0,00268 |
|
|
Packaging |
|
HDPE |
0,000 |
0,15 |
0 |
Re-use |
|
PP |
0,000 |
0,17 |
0 |
|
|
Total Packaging |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Waste Treatment |
|
HDPE |
0,000 |
0,90 |
0 |
Re-use |
|
PP |
0,000 |
0,90 |
0 |
|
|
Total Waste Treatment |
|
0 |
|
|
General Total |
|
|
6,745861 |
|
|
