The cost of changing: total cost assessment of solvent alternatives. 1994.

TURI Methods and Policy Report No. 6. The purpose of this project was to find companies who had implemented toxics use reduction by changing their cleaning processes or who needed assistance in analyzing options, and to use total cost assessment to show the economic merits or demerits of the alternative. Efforts were made to find cases which represented various industries and company sizes. Data from six case studies revealed the benefits of using a total cost assessment approach as well as interesting trends in the use of new cleaning technologies. The six examples came from companies of various size, product output, and use of solvents. The parts cleaned included stamped copper stock, machined brass, copper and aluminum, plated precious metals, printed circuit boards, galvanized steel. The motivation for these companies to pursue solvent substitution varied among each company. Corporate environmental responsibility and image paled the most significant role. The threat of enforcement actions and more stringent future regulations was seen as an additional driving force. All were concerned more with the regulatory and image repercussions than the financial burden of a new cleaning process. Consequently none had specific net present values, cost benefit ratios, or hurdle rate goals in mind at the start of the projects.

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