About ESIG

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Our structure

Vision & mission

Ours members

ESIG secretariat

Become a member

If your company is a solvent producer, consider becoming an ESIG member. Contact us anytime to learn about the benefits of membership and start an application.

Contact Us

Our Structure

ESIG is a joint activity of the European manufacturers of hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents.

Our primary objective is to equip our members with the necessary advice and guidance to ensure compliance with the most up-to-date legislation. Simultaneously, we encourage our members to share ESIG’s insights and recommendations with all stakeholders involved in the use or handling of their solvent products. Our overarching goal is to establish industry positioning and ensure that the regulatory framework pertaining to the manufacturing, storage, distribution, and usage of these solvents is rooted in sound science and best practices.

Organigram

General Assembly

The General Assembly takes place once a year. It brings together all our members to discuss and exchange the work programmes of all the groups.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the operational lead within ESIG.

Working Groups

Advocacy

This group represents the views of the hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents manufacturers vis-à-vis regulators, key stakeholders and downstream users. They collaborate with EU Institutions to develop or review key pieces of legislation.

Air Quality

The group was created to streamline the European solvents industry’s approach and activities regarding solvents VOC emissions and air quality and to tackle the upcoming challenges and opportunities of the European Green Deal.

It oversees the Solvents VOC emission inventories and maintains constructive working relationships with all stakeholders including UNECE Taskforces. In addition, it works closely with the ESVOC platform to ensure alignment and co-operation with the activities of the downstream users of solvents.

Communications

The group’s activities aim to share information and increase awareness for ESIG activities towards members and external stakeholders.  They supervise the production of all ESIG communication materials.

Product Stewardship

This group supports the European solvents industry and solvents users to protect health, safety and the environment when using solvents by providing content to the solvents@work materials.

Our vision & mission

Our vision

To be seen as the point of reference for the safe and sustainable use of solvents, enabling science-based decision-making for stakeholders and regulators alike

Our mission


Promote the safe and sustainable use of solvents

Advocate for the regulatory framework relevant to the manufacture, storage, distribution and application of solvents to be based on sound science and best practice

Provide advice and guidance across the value chain to comply with the latest legislation

Solvents in the scope of ESIG

ESIG only deals with ‘organic’ solvents, specifically oxygenated and hydrocarbon varieties. These two types are the most commonly used in Europe. Halogenated solvents consist of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, which fall outside of ESIG’s mission.

Hydrocarbon solvents

are typically used in applications where there is low solvency power and separation from water is required. They include substances like paraffinic, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Oxygenated solvents

are used when high solvency power is needed. They include substances like alcohols, ketones, esters, and glycol ethers. They can also be used in water-based formulations such as detergents and water-based paints.

ESVOC Coordination Group

ESVOC, the European Solvents Downstream User Coordination Group (originally European Solvents Volatile Organic Compounds Coordination Group) is a unique platform that brings together manufacturers and their downstream users trade associations to facilitate the implementation of relevant existing legislation. It currently consists of representatives of more than 30 different associations that meet once a year to exchange views, review the work programme and define strategies.

In addition, two sub-working groups provide advice and exchange best practices in different areas. One of them deals with industrial applications covered by the BREF Surface Treatment using Organic Solvents (STS). The other one deals with professional and consumer applications and addresses topics such as indoor air quality and secondary organic aerosol formation.

Our members

Become a member

If your company is a solvent producer, consider becoming an ESIG member. Contact us anytime to learn about the benefits of membership and start an application.

Contact us

ESIG secretariat

ESIG is run by a secretariat from our headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. We work closely with our colleagues at the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic).