Background Great quantities of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are used as solvents in products such as paints, varnishes, wax and cleaning agents by Europe’s manufacturing and surface treatment industries. Exposure to VOCs can cause health problems and some VOCs are known or suspected carcinogens. Current technologies for controlling VOC emissions, such as active carbon absorption, catalytic oxidation and thermal incineration, have difficulties in efficiently treating varying chemical products with differing levels of VOC concentration. Equipment is therefore often built to cope with peaks in concentration, leading to oversized systems and excess energy consumption in operational phases with only a low concentration of organic components. Objectives This LIFE project aimed to build and demonstrate an innovative system for reducing VOC emissions from surface treatment factories. The proposed system was based on a regenerative thermal oxidiser plant for gas emissions, which applied a zeolite molecule filter at the inlet to remove potential peak solvent concentrations. The system also aimed to achieve significant reductions in energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Results Work progressed during the 30 month project succeeded in validating the new technology and LIFE support has facilitated a new, leaner and cleaner, processing system which combines unique filtering technology with a thermal regenerative oxidation system. The molecular filter of natural zeolites effectively adsorbs high concentration peaks of VOCs present in the air emissions, while small-load flows absorb solvent. This innovative filtration aspect of Renolit’s VOC reduction plant overcomes previous problems linked to tackling varying solvent concentrations common to printing processes. Furthermore, the molecular filter is totally incombustible and so avoids disadvantages of other active carbon absorption systems, such as fire hazards during deabsorption phases. Results from the pilot plant’s Integrated Emission Reduction Programme demonstrated VOC reductions of 98%, exceeding the initial target. The process generates only 8.5 mgC/Nm3, which is significantly lower level than the limit of 100 mgC/Nm3 defined in Annex IIA of Directive 1999/13/CEE. The plant’s high thermal efficiency allowed reduced fuel consumption and average operating costs were assessed at €6.98/h. The overall cost of VOC destruction using this new technology is estimated at €1.59/tonne, which compares extremely well against conventional approaches to pollutant destruction which can be as high as €15 000/tonne. These figures indicate that Renolit’s VOC reduction plant holds good demonstration value on the grounds, that it is transferable, cost effective and therefore competitive. It can be extended to any type of industry where production processes involve the general use of organic solvents, such as thermoplastics sheeting manufacturing, footwear manufacturing, dry cleaning, surface cleaning, coating, lacquers manufacturing and paint production. This new way to clean up VOC gas emissions provides small-medium sized companies with the possibility to implement feasible modifications that comply with Directive 1999/13/CE, related to the VOC emissions. Renolit continues to treat all VOC emissions from its factory using its LIFE-funded technology, which it believes will help improve its market position, both through improved efficiencies and exploitation of its new environmentally-sound credentials. Disclaimer : This « results » section should be considered as a draft until the Commission has completed its evaluation .