Zero - Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – EU-Project - Case Study

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are released, for instance, from organic solvents emitted from industrial processes. VOC emissions can be carcinogenic, and contribute to climate change and destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer. They react with nitrogen oxides forming ozone and smog. Directive 99/13/EC states that the VOC emissions from the solvent using industry should have been reduced by 67% compared to the 1990 VOC levels. Furthermore the directive sets very strict limits (in some cases below 1 ppm) for the so called “R-labelled” VOCs, which contain for example different chlorinated VOCs.