With its new 100% environmentally responsible washing technology, Daoust Eco-Efficient Cleaners will no longer be using solvents derived from fossil fuels at any of its 120 locations.
Over the last two years, the Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners Group has risen to the challenge of converting 20 of its locations to become 100% environmentally responsible. This has considerably reduced the Québec company’s ecological footprint.
With its substantial investment in research and development, Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners has designed a new, natural cleaning process which uses only water and phosphate-free cleaning products.
This is an ecological solution and less harmful to health than dry cleaning which relies on perchloroethylene, an extremely volatile and potentially carcinogenic solvent.
Eliminating perchloroethylene
By eliminating the need for dry cleaning in part of its network, Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners has reduced its annual solvent consumption by almost 2,000 kilograms and has prevented the emission into the air of approximately 100 ounces of perchloroethylene each year.
Once the largest network of cleaners in North America has completed its ecological shift in 2022, it will have prevented the discharge into the environment of 480 ounces of hazardous particles, and 9,600 kilograms of solvents.
Begun in 2015, this green shift represents a major innovation for Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners because 80% of cleaners around the world use a process based on solvents derived from fossil fuels. And in fact, several competitors have failed in their attempts to develop more environmentally-friendly methods.
Less water means less electricity
This innovative solution also reduces the company’s water consumption. A dry-cleaning machine that can hold 40 pounds of clothing and uses perchloroethylene consumes 275 litres of water to cool its equipment during the distillation and drying process.
Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners’ new machine has a similar capacity but requires only 70 litres of water in a Professional Wet-Cleaning cycle.
Let’s not forget that electricity consumption by cleaners is also reduced. A dry-cleaning machine using perchloroethylene uses 15 kilowatt hours in one cycle. The Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners’ washing machine only requires 0.1 kilowatt hour for the washing phase and 2.3 kilowatt hour for the drying phase in a 50-pound machine.
A complete shift to green
This new, ecological mission for the Cleaners’ network is apparent in all areas of the company. The plastic wrapping material is biodegradable, the light bulbs used at its locations are LED who sell ecological products for household cleaning.
Daoust EcoEfficient Cleaners has met the challenge it initiated in 2015 when it began its shift towards green. An ecological, powerful solution is now available to all its customers in Québec.