Linde Corporate Responsibility Report 2005 - Environmentally safe dry cleaning

Since the 1930s, the dry cleaning industry has typically used the chlorinated hydrocarbon perchloroethylene (also known as PERC). This solvent is particularly effective in absorbing fats and oils. However, it is also known to be extremely harmful both to humans and to the environment. This has a direct impact on those who wear clothing which has been cleaned using PERC. Due to the fact that this agent is capable of penetrating cement, wood, plastics and asphalt, it also poses a risk to those who live or work in close proximity to industries that deploy PERC. What is more, the substance decomposes at a very slow rate, and seeps deep into the groundwater.

Legislators have taken action. The EU Directive on volatile organic compounds (Glossary) strictly limits the use of chlorinated hydrocarbons such as PERC.

Stockholm, Sweden
Some revolutions occur behind closed doors – and open up radically new vistas. In the past, dry cleaners have typically used chlorinated solvents like perchlorethylene – which has now been prohibited in the U.S. Together with its partners, Linde has developed an environment-friendly cleaning method. The carbon dioxide it requires is a chemical industry by-product and does not have to be specially produced. Just one shining example of innovation at work.

The basic technology for CO₂ dry cleaning was developed in the 1990s as an environmentally compatible alternative to PERC; it was first commercially exploited in the United States. Here the use of pressurized, liquefied carbon dioxide with the addition of special detergents produces results comparable to those achieved using PERC – without its hazardous side effects for humans and the environment. Linde holds the license for the detergents which form part of this new process. In 2002, the Swedish Center for Preventing Environmental Pollution recognized the CO₂ cleaning process as the year’s “most valuable contribution” toward combating environmental pollution.

Linde acquired the European license for the new technology in 2003; this innovative cleaning process has since been further developed and refined.

The process we offer is economical and highly efficient. It requires some 30 percent higher investments, but uses one third less electricity, and absolutely no water or town gas. 98 percent of the carbon dioxide is recycled and can thus be harnessed for repeated use. We are firmly committed to the future of this method and are introducing our technology via a franchising system in the major European countries. This step-by-step process is being accelerated in light of its enormous market potential: of the 50,000 dry cleaning operators in Europe, which together handle 2.2 million tons of textiles every year, 85 percent are still using PERC.

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