Global public health organisation NSF International and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) have published the first American National Standard for assessing the sustainability of water treatment chemical products, NSF/AWWA/ANSI 416: Sustainability Assessment Standard for Water Treatment Chemical Products.
Manufacturers and distributors, including repackagers and relabelers, of water treatment chemicals now have a framework for measuring and reducing the environmental impacts of their products, providing more sustainable purchase options to municipal water treatment facilities and industrial and consumer users of treatment chemicals.
To obtain certification to this standard, organisations must have implemented environmental and social management policies, and measure and document their water and energy use. They must also meet all pre-requisite requirements pertaining to product design, manufacturing processes, efficacy and corporate social responsibility, as well as optional criteria in these categories.
Organisations meeting these requirements can minimise the environmental and human impacts of their products and have the potential to reduce costs through more efficient use of materials, energy and water.
"NSF International’s 70-year history of protecting and improving water quality and the environment is reflected in this new standard, NSF/AWWA/ANSI 416, which helps manufacturers of water treatment chemical products measure, manage and reduce environmental impact and reduce cost," said Tom Bruursema, general manager of environmental and sustainability services at NSF International.
"Manufacturers can reduce their material, energy and water consumption, which contributes to improving sustainability."
"Supporting the development of a standard that encourages the production and use of more sustainable treatment chemical products provides another tool for our members striving to lower the environmental impact of their operations," said Paul Olson, senior manager of standards at AWWA.
For more information, please contact NSF.
