![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
NPEP Success Story: Arrow
Arrow Reduces Naphthalene Use by 75%
Arrow is the world's leading maker of backyard steel storage buildings. The Wayne, New Jersey, based manufacturer coats, fabricates and produces a large variety of storage buildings with footprints ranging from twenty to four hundred and thirty-four square feet. Selling internationally through major home centers and mass merchants, Arrow buildings offer both galvanized and vinyl-coated steel finishes.
Arrow’s NPEP Goal
Arrow uses coatings manufactured and supplied entirely by outside vendors. Solvent constituents in the coatings are chosen by the vendors to achieve required coating performance. Following a period of “in-house” research for possible solvent substitutes and sources of naphthalene in coating, conducted in part as a response to the EPA NPEP program, Arrow challenged its vendors to reformulate a significant number of coatings with much lower concentrations of naphthalene. After additional research and product testing by Arrow’s vendors it was clear that reductions in naphthalene concentrations were possible. At this point, Arrow consulted with its vendors to begin the process of reformulating the solvent mix in the coatings.
Hurdles Faced
Potential hurdles were coating performance and possible cost issues. After the reformulation was complete, the cost basis was unchanged and required coating performance was achieved.
Waste Minimization Results
Arrow’s naphthalene baseline use was 65,000 pounds annually. The reduced usage goal set for calendar year 2008 was 30,000 pounds, an approximate forty-five percent reduction. The actual calculated naphthalene use for 2008 was 16,276 pounds - a seventy-five percent reduction.
Lessons Learned
Arrow has always been proactive with regard to environmental issues and compliance. The success here shows the clear benefit of partnership between the regulated community and the regulatory agencies.