ENVIRONMENTAL
STATUS 2007
The company continues to move forward in all areas of environmental and safety management with a series of improvements building on the gains of previous years.
Since 1997 when Granwax moved into the current premises the scope of sales has moved into many different countries and legislation has become ever more complex and demanding. While increasing the number and amounts of products manufactured the company has exceeded the requirements of most environmental and safety legislation well before the required dates by as much as two years, in particular;
All polish and coating products have been Phthalate free since 1997
All new coatings products since 1997 have been based on renewable resources such as linseed or caster oils.
Water based equivalent (or superior) performance coatings have been developed for most applications to give specifiers and contractors the option of safe, environmentally friendly products.
All cleaning products are based on materials meeting the EU biodegradability standards laid out in the Detergents Directive 2005.
Where possible colours and perfumes have been removed from cleaning products to reduce their environmental impact and potential for allergic response.
All water based coatings exceed the requirements of EU VOC requirements for the 2007 and 2011 Decorative Paints Directive as well as current US federal and state laws.
All water based single pack coatings and the resin components of the two pack products are free of hazardous solvents, such as NMP, both to the environment and users. The total amount of solvent used has been cut by an estimated 5 tonnes in the current year, building on a 5 tonne reduction in 2005.
FUTURE INTENTIONS
During 2007 new water based products will be launched to complete all the possible application requirements giving alternatives for all our solvent based coatings products.
Continuous improvement of coatings and cleaning products will be an ongoing programme with safety and the environment leading the requirements of product development.