Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal.
Green chemistry involves applying innovative scientific solutions to real-world environmental problems with the aim of reducing pollution at the source as well as reducing or eliminating the negative impacts of chemical laundry products and processes on human health and the environment. This is more important than ever, particularly when you consider what chemicals are in laundry detergent.
Benefits of Green Chemistry
There are countless benefits in applying green chemistry principles across all commercial and industrial practices.
Human health:
- Cleaner air
- Fewer hazardous chemicals in drinking and recreational water
- Less use of toxic materials
- Less personal protective equipment required
- Less potential for accidents (e.g., fires or explosions)
- Fewer persistent toxic chemicals entering our food chain
- Less exposure to such toxic chemicals as endocrine disruptors
- Safer consumer products
Economy and business:
- Higher yields in amount of product used or intensiveness of processes
- Reduced waste and costly remediation
- Reduced plant size or footprint through increased throughput
- Improved competitiveness and consumer sales through green/sustainability initiatives.
Environment:
- Protection of flora and fauna
- Lower potential for global warming, ozone depletion, and smog formation
- Less chemical disruption of ecosystems
- Less use of landfills, especially hazardous waste landfills
- Fewer chemicals in the environment from intentional and unintended releases (including emissions during manufacturing) or by disposal.
Green chemicals should either degrade into innocuous products or be recovered for further use.
Green Chemical Laundry Systems
Green chemistry is an important consideration when it comes to commercial laundry operations. It’s important to consider what chemicals are in laundry detergents, their impact on the environment and their financial impact on business operations. When it comes to commercial laundry detergent, toxic chemicals such as chlorine, alkali and acid can be present in order to disinfect and remove stains.
Ozone laundry systems, such as Ozone Technologies’ OTEK System, reduces the need for these hazardous chemicals, allowing for greener laundry processes. Ozone systems also contribute to sustainability in a number of other key ways:
- Reduces energy use by up to 90% by operating without hot water
- Reduces chemical usage as ozone boosts the power of detergents
- Water savings of up to 40% with shorter wash cycles
- Reduces dryer gas use by up to 40% as ozone lowers water retention in linen.
Although ozone is discharged in wastewater as part of the laundry process, ozone can be considered a “green” substance. That’s because any dissolved ozone in laundry discharge water quickly converts back to oxygen.
Sustainable OTEK System by Ozone Technologies
With Ozone Technologies’ patented OTEK System, we can help reduce your emissions and laundry operating costs by up to 50% while boosting the performance of your washing machines and chemicals – it’s like a turbocharger in your wash. Book a free demonstration today or contact us to find out more.
