In collaboration with the Aa and Maas Water Authority and a number of Spectro customers from the region, we successfully adapted our car and truck wash range earlier this year with regard to water-polluting substances.
ABM and water-polluting substances
The ABM (General Assessment Method) is a Dutch method for determining how water-polluting substances and products, such as cleaning agents, are. It looks at properties such as toxicity, degradability and bioaccumulation. Based on these, a substance or mixture is classified into category Z, A, B or C. For cleaning agents, the ABM is especially important when substances can enter the sewer system or surface water via a discharge. The classification determines what remediation effort is expected: the greater the risk to the aquatic environment, the more the emission must be prevented or limited.
Small adjustments made
To bring the full range of Category B or C (the two most favorable categories) into compliance, a few minor adjustments were necessary. These mainly concerned colorants, fragrances, and auxiliary substances, since the formulations in the base product were already formulated sustainably. This has now been extensively and positively tested in practice with a number of customers and has therefore been implemented. The relevant categories are now also included in the MSDS and on our website.
Project ‘Cleaning up, cleaning up’
With the motto ‘Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning’, the Dutch water authorities are paying more attention to this issue. Among other things, the industry association BOVAG is creating so-called ‘toolboxs’: instructions for entrepreneurs and staff at laundries.
For more information, see the following article:
https://www.aaenmaas.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/september/waterschap-producent-vinden-elkaar/
For further questions about this, please contact Spectro.