EU Policy
Spotlight on Ebola and Norovirus
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. The virus first
Sustainability
Safety and performance are at the core of the microbial control industry. Microbial control technologies are therefore the subject of extensive research, testing and registration. Our members lead in the productions of new and innovative applications by using advanced techniques to produce technologies fit for real-world conditions. The MCEC and its members are committed to the development and promotion of new sustainable solutions that improve the world in which we live.
Encouraging sustainability
There are a wide range of applications that microbial control technologies can help to ensure the lifespan of products. For example, microbial control is needed to prevent paints from breaking down during storage, losing all viscosity, texture and adhesion ability. Antimicrobials ensure that fewer natural resources are needed to replace products by extending their lifespan. The MCEC’s members are working to produce products that are efficient in their use of resources while safeguarding human health and the environment.
Advanced Microbial Control Technologies
Existing solutions have to be continually improved to enhance efficacy while validating that they are safe to use from both a health and environmental perspective and that they continually improve the efficacy and sustainability of processes and materials. Increasingly, advanced microbial control products are intended for recycling and reuse during a manufacturing process, thus minimizing waste and impact on the environment. Formulations are becoming more and more sophisticated and innovative, carefully balancing the required length of protection with speed of action and according to local conditions.
The treatments for paints are especially important because changes to our climate and the increased use of insulation materials in our homes, facilitate growth of microorganisms on the exterior walls of our houses. In Germany alone, the economic damage of microbial induced aesthetic defacement and bio corrosive deterioration is estimated to be between €8 billion and €16 billion per year. In many European countries, architects and building companies are legally obliged to provide buildings for their clients that are free of defects, which include coatings free of microbial-infestation, both on the interior as well as the exterior. This is but one example of how important microbial control technologies are to ensuring the sustainability of products.
Preserving Wood and Protecting our Forests
Wooden furniture and timber is present in our homes in everything from window frames and wooden paneling to the very structure of the buildings themselves. Microbial control solutions in the form of wood preservatives make their contribution to sustainable use by prolonging the working life of treated wood. As the wood lasts much longer it means fewer trees are chopped down, allowing more sensible use and management of our natural resources.
To properly protect wood that is used in and around our homes it is necessary to provide cost-effective, long-term protection against a wide spectrum of microbes—including algae and fungi. The microbial control products that are used extend the life of lumber by controlling rot due to fungi, mold and mildew. Timber treated with preservatives can last many years, even when it is subject to the rigors of harsh climates and extensive use.
