Eurocolori S.r.l. (www.eurocolori.com) is an Italian leading company specialized in the formulation, production and marketing of concentrated colouring pastes, mainly for decorative applications. Production is essentially focused on organic and inorganic pigments dispersion, in order to produce colouring fluid pastes to be used in paints and decorative coatings.

Eurocolori S.r.l. has echeved the ISO 9001-2000 certification for "Developing and producing colouring pastes". Its activity has been based on a Quality-Environment Integrated System certified ISO 14001:2004 / ISO 9001: 2000 since 25th July 2005 and the EMAS Environmental Certification achievement is ongoing. This company has also obtained the EPD mark for colorants and the ECOLABEL mark for VITASAN water-based paint.

Eurocolori S.r.l. has been the first European company to procure the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for "concentrated pigments dispersion" and to define "colouring pastes" as a product itself.
The company has therefore carried out a detailed analysis of the Life Cycle (LCA) of colorants, reducing the environmental impact and improving the eco-design.

Since 2002, Eurocolori S.r.l. has carried out a severe reduction in using those substances classified as harmful for the human health and environment during the products formulation, abolishing volatile organic solvents (VOC) completely and by using renewable, highly bio-degradable raw materials.
The company has worked out concentrated pigments (colorants) lacking of volatile organic solvents (VOC) and substances classified as dangerous for the human health and the environment, obtaining the EPD mark (the first in Europe). A unique colouring system for Eco-label paints has been studied in order to obtain the best environmental performance.

Quality-Environment Integrated System ISO 14001:2004 and 9001:2000 Certification; EPD Eco-labelling (www.environdec.com) for concentrated pigments (colouring pastes); Eco-label for "Vitasan Family Paint" water-based paint; EMAS certification ongoing; "Quality in Development 2005" prize, awarded by the Rotary Club International, Chamber of Commerce, University and Unindustria (an Italian association of Industrialists).

Eurocolori S.r.l. wanted to define, at European level, the "concentrated pigments" as a product in itself to cover the total lack of provisions. Eurocolori S.r.l. has therefore carried out a detailed analysis of the Life Cycle (LCA) of colorants, obtaining, first in Europe, the EPD mark and acquiring important information as for the development and eco-design of the new products, aiming to reduce as much as possible the environmental impact.

The full application of the EPD and Eco-label to the water-based "Vitasan Family Paint" has allowed Eurocolori S.r.l. to take the path of the "product integrated policy", aware that the environmental impact of its products varies according to different stages, from the raw materials production to the final use by the consumer.

This is why the exclusive Colouring System "Vitasan Family Deco" has been studied and developed, a system based on the use of Ecolabel kite marked water-based paints and EPD labelled Colorants: two Eco-labels officially recognized and put together to avoid that few drops of not certified colorant can damage the qualitative, eco- integrity of Ecolabel paints.

"Vitasan Family Deco" System finally results from the new Eurocolori S.r.l.'s approach to the formulation of its products. Indeed, by obtaining the ISO 14001, Ecolabel end EPD certifications, the company has also acquired the awareness, the instruments and, above all, the spur to conceive more and more green products, without losing sight of their entire Life Cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the final use by the consumer, who is therefore able to make a conscious and above all reliable environment friendly choice.

Eco-benefits actually verified :

1. no more use of volatile organic solvents (VOC), especially ethylene glycol, classified as harmful for the human health;
2. no more solvents emissions during the products manufacture and improvement of working conditions for people responsible of the production process;
3. severe reduction of the Plant's environmental impact as for atmospheric pollution is concerned: no more solvents atmospheric emissions;
4. no more use of gazes responsible for the green house effect;
5. no more harmful emissions and solvents while the consumer uses the product;
6. absence of substances classified as dangerous for the human health and the environment during the products formulation: use of renewable and highly bio-degradable raw materials;
7. severe reduction of the environmental impact related to waste production;
8. maximum increase of water usage during the products formulation to the detriment of solvents and other dangerous substances.

Eco-benefits in terms of eco-design, planning and management of the Production System:

1. carrying out the Analysis of the Life Cycle (LCA) of colorants;
2. achievement of the EPD labelling (www.environdec.com );
3. achievement of the Eco-label for "Vitasan" water-based paint;
4. carrying out the Integrated Quality-Environment Management System according to ISO 14001:2004 and 9001:2000, at present under implementation by EMAS;
5. through the achievement of the above Environmental Certifications, the acquisition of the awareness, the instruments and above all the spurs to plan more and more green products without losing sight of their entire Life Cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the final use by the consumer.

The most exclusive eco-benefit, therefore, consists in the new approach the Company has adopted to plan and develop new products: the awareness and direct expertise of the Ecolabel and EPD Certifications parameters through the Life Cycle Assessment are the foundations and guarantee to launch more and more green products on the market.

Products studied and planned in details: from the chemical formulation to the most efficient packaging to reduce the environmental impact as much as possible, giving the consumer the possibility to make a sustainable and, above all, reliable choice