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Solvents (OSPA, HSPA, ESIG/ESVOCC)

OSPA: Oxygenated Solvents Producers Association
HSPA: Hydrocarbon Solvents Producers Association
ESIG: European Solvents Industry Group, a joint activity of OSPA and HSPA
ES-VOC-CG: European Solvents Volatile Organic Compound Co-Ordination Group, an industry forum fro solvent producers and downstream users.



Uses and Properties

Solvents are liquids which have the ability to dissolve, suspend or extract other materials. They make it possible to process, apply, clean or separate materials. They are petroleum derivatives and enable the processing, application, cleaning or separation of materials.

Major applications segments comprise paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, printing inks, toiletries and cosmetics, detergents and water treatment, household and car care, rubber and polymer manufacturing, metal and industrial cleaning, agrochemicals and oil seed / food extraction and dry cleaning.

The solvents´ industry substantially contributes to the economic and social welfare in Europe: it directly employs more than 10,000 people in Europe, but indirectly accounts even for more than 10 million jobs, with more than half a million European companies using solvents in the very diversified application segments mentioned above. More than 80% of these companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Solvents´ manufacturers across Europe have an estimated combined turnover of about €5 billion. Companies using solvents have an estimated combined turnover of more than €200 bn.

Issues and regulations
Regulations
  • National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD)
  • Gothenburg Protocol
  • Solvents Emission Directive (SED)
  • Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, formerly known as IPPC Directive)
  • (Deco) Paints´ Directive
  • Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
  • Classification, Labelling & Packaging (CLP)
REACH implementation
The following consortia have emerged from OSPA and HSPA and are managed independently by REACH Centrum Specific issues
  • For OSPA and HSPA: To foster the perception of the products represented by both OSPA and HSPA as valuable, eco-efficient, safe solutions which serve the needs of industry and solvents users including manufacturers and consumers of goods
  • For ESIG: To act as European focal point for all solvent-related issues and to manage these through a focussed communication, advocacy and product stewardship programme
  • For ES-VOC-CG: This industry platform brings togher solvent producers (ESIG) and about 30 downstream user associtions to intensely cooperate to facilitate legal compliance and to share best practices, especially in the area of health, safety and environment.
Contact/Further information
Dorothee Arns, Sector Group Manager
Tel. + 32 2 676 7374
Websites:
Esig
Glycol ethers

Membership
Arkema
BASF
Borealis
Celanese
CEPSA Quimica
Clariant
DHC Solvents Chemie
Domo Caproleuna
Dow Europe
Ercros
ExxonMobil Chemical Europe
Galp Energia
Haltermann (Dow)
Hellenic Petroleum
Ineos Oxide
Ineos Phenolchemie
LyondellBasell Industries
Neste Oil
Novacap
Oxochemie
Oxea Chemicals
Petrochem Carless
Perstorp
Polimeria Europa
Sasol Solvents
Sekab
Shell Chemicals
Total Fluides
OSPA Chairman: Roger Brayshaw, Dow
HSPA Chairman: Keith Mead, Petrochem Carless
ESIG Chairman: José Antonio Ruiz, ExxonMobil

More information
Publications
Multimedia

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