Clariant presents the EcoTain® life cycle for more sustainable agrochemicals and higher crop yields

Date:04-23-2013

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, introduces the EcoTain® life cycle and labeling system to help customers in the crop protection sector to clearly identify its products offering “sustainable excellence at every step”.

Developed by Clariant, EcoTain is driven by the commitment to protect human, environmental and ecological health without compromising on performance and efficiency. The EcoTain claim “sustainable excellence at every step” is a promise that every product carrying the EcoTain label delivers advantages and benefits at each of its four life cycle steps: sustainable design; responsible process; safe & efficient use; and eco-integration.

Through the EcoTain life cycle, Clariant contributes towards the goal of higher crop yields for farmers by developing safer and more efficient adjuvants (Synergen®), dispersing agents (Dispersogen®) and emulsifiers (Emulsogen®) that make the best possible use of renewable resources.

Clariant’s Crop Protection business is one of the first Business Lines to present its eight most sustainable products under the EcoTain umbrella. The products, which fulfill the EcoTain requirements over their entire life-cycle, will be showcased for the first time at theInternational Symposium on Adjuvants for Agrochemicals (ISAA) in Brazil. Examples of the specific benefits of these EcoTain products at each life cycle phase include:

Sustainable design

Friendly, non-hazardous composition is a primary requirement for EcoTain products and involves the use of safer ingredients and renewable feedstocks wherever possible. EcoTain products used in crop protection are made using largely bio-based materials such as coconut fatty acids/alcohol, castor oil and naturally based solvents such as methylated seed oil.

Individual products, such as adjuvants Synergen GL 5, Synergen OS and the dispersing agent Dispersogen PG have a renewable share of around 95 percent.

Responsible process

Efficiency of chemical processes during production is key during this step to make production as resource-efficient as possible. A yield of around 85 percent and even higher ensures that less waste is generated during the manufacturing process, while safety and quality certification testifies to overall optimized processes. The sites that produce EcoTain products for crop protection are all certified for safety and quality (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001). Many of the products themselves, including the Emulsogen range, are produced in Germany, Spain, USA and Brazil. This reduces the distances that products have to be transported along with the accompanying impact on the environment.

Safe & efficient use

Safer, easier and more efficient handling is a significant advantage during product formulation and application. This ranges from improved human tox profiles, through reduced formulation complexity due to multi-functionality and reduced water consumption during application, to easy handling. An important benefit of EcoTain Synergen adjuvants, for example, is that they boost the efficacy of the final formulation so that end users ‘get more for less’.

Eco-integration

The environmental profile of a product defines how rapidly and easily it degrades as well as the impact it has on the environment. EcoTain products are hazard label free (according to GHS*) and contain very low or no VOCs. In addition, products such as Dispersogen PSL 100, Synergen GL 5 and Emulsogen MTP 070, among others are also readily biodegradable (according to OECD 301 standards) and have a negligible effect on aquatic life.

The environmental properties of EcoTain products are kept under continuous scrutiny to enable ongoing improvements.

Sustainable innovation

EcoTain represents Clariant’s approach to sustainability at the product level and is being systematically rolled out throughout the company. New sustainable ingredients are also currently in the pipeline and will soon be launched under the EcoTain label.

“EcoTain provides our customers with an easy method to identify the products that can help them to develop stronger and more sustainable crop protection products,” comments Silvia Ziebold, Global Marketing Manager at Clariant’s Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties. “Through this, it contributes to addressing the global challenge of ensuring adequate food production while maintaining food security.”