In recent years the circular economy model has gained heightened awareness in politics and industry, due to society’s growing appreciation and concern regarding sustainability. The shift from a linear economic model toward a system with closed loops, guides industries to use resources as efficiently as possible.
An Industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning process might not be the first thing that comes to mind when discussing an economic system with closed loops; however, upon closer inspection, the I&I cleaning process is precisely where innovation and improvement thrive. The I&I circular economy focuses on the sustainable usage of resources: those used for the cleaning process (water, energy, chemicals), as well as the items being cleaned.
This development aligns closely with digitalization and automation, which are pillars of the I&I industry, and yet are relatively newer concepts in household cleaning (Home Care) processes. Unlike household machines, industrial cleaning machines boast higher degrees of flexibility, enabling the cleaning processes to be more easily re-programmed; cleaning process innovations are directly implemented, removing the need to wait for next generation machine advancements.
Through its broad industry-dedicated portfolio, BASF Home Care and I&I Solutions offers its customers numerous ways to close their process loops, namely for the cleaning process by using the optimal ingredients and saving resources throughout the value-added chain.
The circular economy model requires fundamental changes with respect to behavior and the use of technology. Optimal solutions will only be achieved when the maximum number of parts in the value-added chain work together. When this is accomplished, additional value is created for all parties along the chain.
New products developed by BASF Home Care and I&I Solutions contribute to the circular economy approach. The main objectives are saving resources and/or keeping the cleaned items in the loop as long as possible, thereby avoiding waste.
The BASF interpretation of the circular economy concept follows two complementary approaches. The first, “KEEP IT SMART”, is designed to make processes and products more efficient (both for in-house production and for the customers’ production processes) by using raw materials efficiently, which leads to waste minimization and prevention. The second approach, the “CLOSE THE LOOPS” approach, aims to create a second life for products and materials
Urbanization and population growth are two global megatrends that are impacting how people spend their time: there is an increased number of activities that are not only taking place in shared spaces but also are taking place outside of the home. Laundry and food preparation are two such services that were once traditionally considered to be in-home processes; today, they are being replaced by I&I ones. More examples of this transformation abound and fortunately BASF offers solutions for all I&I market segments.
Food Service & Kitchen Hygiene:
The trend towards eating outside the home continue to rise, leading to an increased demand for cleaning in commercial kitchens and connected facilities. Restaurant-grade dishwashers, as compared to personal ones, clean in a fraction of the time: 2-3 minutes vs. 1-3 hours, respectively. A challenge facing the I&I industry is how to ensure that drying completion is not sacrificed for increasing number of plastic components washed in industrial dishwashers.
Another challenge facing formulators is how to reduce the amount of freshwater used per item cleaned. Water can be reduced; however, the amount of soil will stay the same, leading to decaying food soils that heavily foam.
BASF’s Plurafac® LF RA-P reduces water and energy consumption while defoaming the cleaning liquor and improving the drying of plastic parts, solving an industry-wide challenge.
As the collective conscious regarding sustainability grows, so too does the need for sustainable ingredients that contribute to a circular economy. BASF’s chelating agent Trilon® M offers considerable advantages for industrial dishwashing processes. The product is readily biodegradable and complies with the requirements for the EU Ecolabel – yet offers superb cleaning performance. Trilon M can be used to substitute STPP and phosphonates or other chelating agents with a less positive ecological impact. Within BASF’s chelate portfolio is Trilon® Ultimate 2G, an ingredient that can extend the lifespan of washed glasses. BASF’s wide offering of solid formulations is poised to continue contributing significant energy, costs, packaging, and space savings, while simultaneously increasing application safety.
Commercial textile cleaning:
In the industrial laundry space, the business model of one company owning, leasing out, and cleaning professional workwear or hotel and hospital linens is growing. Understandably, approximately 25% of these companies’ capital is tied to these textiles. Therefore, extending how long these items are “in the loop” is critical for improving sustainability and decreasing business costs.
Maintaining the integrity of the fiber is of the utmost importance due to its high replacement cost and the increasing need to close an additional “loop.”
Reductions of temperature, pH, and mechanical stress, coupled with a high-performing detergent, significantly decrease re-wash rates and ultimately contribute to the overall environmental impact.
Thanks to BASF’s protease enzyme Lavergy® Pro 104L, textiles can be cleaned at low temperatures of 20°C to 40°C without compromising on the overall cleaning performance. In milder washing conditions, textiles are protected, their service life prolonged. The enzyme is rapidly biodegradable, based on partially renewable raw materials, and fulfills the EU Ecolabel criteria.
Another critical factor that must be considered when washing textiles is the prevention of greying whites and other light colors. Linens rented out to hotels or hospitals, for example, need to be in an agreed-upon color range, otherwise they will bypass the sustainable impacts of the circular economy en-route to becoming waste when discarded too soon. With Sokalan® HP 20 BASF offers an effective solution to slow down the greying process and keep the textiles in use longer.
Building Care:
In modern buildings an increasing number of different surfaces needs to be cleaned. Material compatibility can play an important role in preserving the value of the cleaned areas. BASF supports its customers with deep knowledge of its product ranges’ material compatibility.
Another way to protect the cleaned surfaces is to reduce the mechanical impact. One way this can be supported is by using BASF’s Polyquart® Ecoclean Max, a starch-based polymer that enables the so called “easy to clean again” effect. After the first treatment with a cleaner containing this polymer the surface stays clean longer. The impact for the end-user is an easier clean and a longer time between cleanings.
There are many other examples of how BASF Home Care and I&I contributes to the needs of the circular economy approach. The company has not only designed but also subscribes to various sustainability concepts, ultimately transforming a linear economy into a circular economy.
BASF 2019
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