NOB166 is committed to sustainable development

One of the United Nations initiatives to build a better present and future for our planet are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2015, the UN approved the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development. It has 17 objectives, which include, among other aspects, actions for climate change, innovation or sustainable consumption.

At NOB166 we want to contribute to the well-being of people and the protection of the planet, which is why we are involved in the 2030 Agenda (see article).

Environmental sustainability

Our products are formulated from silver compounds that release silver ions. These are encapsulated in an inorganic structure through a manufacturing process that uses nanotechnology.

Due to its antimicrobial properties, silver is widely used in consumer and medical products. This is because of its versatility and lower toxicity compared to other compounds that have a biocidal effect.

NOB166 should not be confused with other biocidal products that exist on the market. These compounds often use silver nanoparticles in their formulation, because smaller amounts of active are required to maintain a high biocidal capacity.

There are many issues raised about the safety of both silver ions and nanoparticles. Here you can see how NOB166 acts against microorganisms.

According to the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Recently Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), “Silver nanoparticles: safety, health and environmental effects and their role in antimicrobial resistance”, the toxicity of silver nanoparticles for human beings as well as the amount of silver released into the environment is low.

Silver ions

In the case of silver ions, the regulations that apply directly to NOB166, as with any other chemical substance that may be in contact with living beings and their environment, the authorities have set maximum amounts to guarantee the safety of both people and ecosystems.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established that the safe limit for  silver ions concentration in drinking water is 0.1 ppm / L. As we have explained previously, NOB166 uses natural (non-colloidal) silver as the silver ions source. Due to its silver content and its manufacturing process that keeps it encapsulated, the amount of silver ions it releases is well below the maximum allowed limit. Therefore, our product is safe for people and the environment.

NOB166, does not contain silver nanoparticles (or nanoparticles formed by any other material). Silver is associated with microparticles with a size between 0.7 and 22.0 microns, (for a particle to be considered nano, at least one of its dimensions must be less than 0.1 microns, which are 100 nanometers).

From the point of view of water discharges that contain NOB166, the silver ions contained in the effluents do so in the form of natural salts or metallic silver that can be recovered and that are always less than the amount allowed by the Regulations.

In fact NOB166 does not require hazard pictograms on its labeling.

Some of the benefits of using NOB166 products

Curbing global warming is everyone’s responsibility. That is why at NOB166 we want to help people and companies to take individual actions in order to tackle this problem. These small gestures provide great solutions that can lead to economic savings for our consumers. In turn, they improve their life quality and at the same time they fight against climate change, hand in hand with NOB166.

Save water

The water we use is obtained thanks to a series of processes (purification, purification, transportation, etc.) that produce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. The drinking water cycle involves an emission of 4 kg of CO2 per m3 of water consumed.

According to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of Spain’s Government, a 7 kg washing machine consumes between 42 and 62 liters of water per wash. As NOB166 prevents the growth of microorganisms on textiles for at least 7 days, it avoids the need of daily washing. So we not only will we save liters of water, a scarce resource, but we will also reduce our carbon footprint and consequently fight against climate change.

Reduce hot water consumption

Heating water involves a significant energy expenditure that results in CO2 emissions. Heating water to 65ºC implies an emission of 40 kg of CO2 per m3 of water, thus a negative impact which is 10 times greater on the environment than cold water. The washing machines heat the water thanks to an electrical resistance, responsible for the consumption of most of the energy used by the appliance.

NOB166 products work effectively in cold water, meaning  85% savings in energy consumption and a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

Increase washing machine usability and obsolescence

In Spain, the manufacture of domestic washing machines represents an impact of 31,580 tons of CO2 each year. This represents a pollution of 18 kg of CO2 for each new washing machine purchased (see article). When we wash with hot water, the mineral salts present in the water tend to precipitate in the form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), known colloquially as lime. This is embedded in the tubes, resistors and drum of our washing machines. The accumulation of lime causes that the washing is less efficient, more energy is consumed and the useful life of our appliance is shortened.

By being able to use NOB166 to protect our fabrics in cold water, we reduce the build-up of limescale in our washing machines. And we help these to work properly for longer, so we do not need to buy a new one, so we reduce the environmental impact.

Increase garments life cycle

According to the European Environment Agency, around 15-35 tonnes of CO2 are generated for each tonne of textile products produced. Therefore, to combat climate change it is essential to reduce our textile consumption habits, trying to make our garments last as long as possible.

The main degradation of textile fibers occurs during the washing of garments. To keep them in good condition, it is recommended to wash them with cold water, since hot water makes them more likely to deform, shrink or lose their color.

NOB166 by acting in cold water and protecting your fabrics against microorganisms for a week, it also helps to keep them in good condition avoiding frequent washing at high temperatures; Thus, it contributes to reducing the negative effect that the textile industry has on climate change.

These are some of the added benefits of our products, these are endorsed by certificates which guarantee their prolonged action and at the same time they contribute to sustainable development. With the use of them, we must not use disinfectants constantly. In this way, there is a decrease in the release of chemicals into the atmosphere.