Background Solvents have been used in industry for many applications. Every year in the EU, over 160 000 tonnes of solvents are used in garages and plants to remove grease and oil from parts before maintenance or cleaning. These solvents end up as waste, whether in solid, liquid or gas form. This waste has significant environmental consequences, notably through the release of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Solvent wastes require difficult treatment with regulations becoming tighter and increasingly expensive. European directive 99/13/CE stipulates that industries have to conform to the new regulations and reduce their VOC emissions. Furthermore, solvent presents risks at all stages of its life cycle from the oil platforms to its transport, use, recovery and disposal. There are increasing concerns about the health impact of solvents for the many people working with them on a daily basis, particularly from risks of burns or allergic reactions. European directive 98/24/CE guarantees to all users that the product they use is the least dangerous possible to perform a given task, at home as well as at work. Objectives The project aimed to replace traditional solvent degreasing systems with an innovation known as the Clean3 biological degreasing concept. This system uses an aqueous solution containing micro-organisms feeding on hydrocarbon chains that requires no special hazard labelling. The new degreasing operation has important environmental benefits. It produces no VOC emissions, is non-flammable and generates little waste. Furthermore it should be safer and more secure for users, thus improving health and safety at work. The project sought to test, adapt and spread awareness of the new technology. Its overall target was to obtain 10 percent market share and eliminate 22 000 litres of solvent. The project aimed to support the transfer of the technology across Europe through partners. Results This LIFE project successfully developed the Clean³ concept, offering a real alternative to solvents in the cleaning of industrial and mechanical parts. It is a very good example of biotechnology as a safer replacement of classical chemical products, although many challenges remain to meet the beneficiaries ultimate objective of a 10% market share. The new Clean3 biological degreasing concept was developed and tested by the beneficiary to take into account industrial requirements. The concept has three key elements: a filter, a booster and a machine moulded from polypropylene which operates at 35°C allowing a warm, comfortable and reliable application of the product. The Clean3Booster is a powerful aqueous-based degreasing solution that contains neither solvents nor hydrocarbons and is non-flammable and pH neutral. The Clean3Filter enables the regeneration of the booster through a process of bio-regulation. It is seeded with a bacterial flora which destroys hydrocarbons, transforming them into CO2 and water. These micro-organisms are mesophilic aerobic, non-morbific bacteria, which conform with European legislation. The Clean3Booster cleans the industrial or mechanical parts as well as any solvent-based system. The bacteria from the Clean3Filter then eat the grease held in the booster. The regenerated Clean3Booster can then be reused to clean new greasy parts, whilst the filter is replaced every 45 days. The result is a technically and economically viable concept which reduces waste by over 80%, and uses much safer chemical products. It can biodegrade up to 400 g of grease every 24 hours. The beneficiary found ten partners to ensure the transfer of the Clean3 Bio degreasing system, which is now known and works in 11 European countries. More than 50 trials of the new system have been carried out in the targeted countries and markets. Approvals of the system were obtained from two car manufacturers and two aeronautical manufacturers. The project saw 700 of the new systems sold. This can be translated into a saving of 277 000 litres of solvent and the same quantity of waste. During the project, 16 exhibitions and conferences were held in six European countries and more than 20 articles published in four European countries. The innovation won first prize from the French Environment Ministry and was part of the French delegation the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Nevertheless, the market share obtained by the new bio-technology was still only 0.18% at the conclusion of the project. A major challenge for the beneficiary remains to increase acceptance of the new system amongst relevant industries across the EU. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).