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Antifouling environmental impact needs to be measured during its all life spam, from manufacturing to recycling. Oceoprotec impact évaluation is based on 6 criteria, in order to provide stake holders with an accurate environmental footprint :
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Health : Oceoprotec coating is applied by applicators in a confined area. The painters use personal protection equipment adapted to this kind of working conditions.
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Transparency of information : all components used are registered by Oceoprotec© and its suppliers, in compliance with the REACH programe for Europe, and with the US authorities. Oceoprotec contains only one mineral biocide : Copper. Oceoprotec doesn't contain any chemical biocide.
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Use of non- renewable resource : epoxy resin (around 20% of the product) is made-up of petro-chemical components and therefore is a non-renewable resource. Copper part is also a non-renewable resource.
However Oceoprotec is developing a program to use recycled copper. Bottom line is to use by 2015 75% of recycled copper. Oceoprotec© is the only antifouling with the intent to use a recycled material - copper.
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Reducing V.O.C emission : Oceoprotec© has developped a solvent free epoxy that therefore doesn't release C.O.Vs during application, improving this way workers safety and contributing to a better environment.
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Reducing hull-cleaning operations : Oceoprotec© innovative concept contributes to bringing up a key change in boat cleaning practices. Whereas regular antifouling involves yearly full hull cleaning operations and the application of a new antifouling, Ocoprotec© eliminates most regular strong environmental impact operations, such as regular dry-docking, high pressure waterblast,wetrub, sandblast, and application of solvent and chemical based antifouling paints. The efficacy of Oceoprotec© is long lasting (more than 5 years). Oceoprotec© reduces the micro waste production dramatically, participating as much or maybe more than the antifouling itself in polluting oceans. The reductions of cleaning operations also allows decrease of fresh water consumption, which is a growingly important environmental factor.
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Respect for the environment : it is difficult to know the impact of copper based product released by antifouling coatings in the aquatic area in comparison with copper used by and released in the environment by winemaking industry, automobile industry, construction, médical, and many others…. (Ratio is 1 to 15). In 1998, the Copper Antifouling Task Force was created with the purpose to provide political power with scientific data demonstrating and measuring accurate impact of copper in the marine environment. € 25 000 000 have been spent on the evaluation of the copper impact on the health of human beings and the environment. These studies were finished in May of 2006 and they recommended the use of copper as an antifouling. Copper made elsewhere was part of the last list of 10 biocides held back in the course of the authorisation of the European Commission.
However, when combined with other chemical biocides, copper impact on the environment is greater.
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