National Clothesline

Drycleaning industry perc consumption fell in 2003 to just 39 million pounds or about 2.9 million gallons, according to the annual survey of perc producers sponsored by the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA).

Annual reductions in the industry’s perc consumption have been a continuing trend for 25 years. David Cotter, executive director of TCATA, noted that improvements in equipment technology and work practices led to big reductions in consumption.

The same survey in 1979 showed the industry consuming 361 million pounds, or about 27 million gallons.

“Based on a continuation of that trend, it is safe to say that the industry will use less than 10 percent of the perc this year that it did in 1979,” Cotter said.

“However,” Cotter added, “not all of the reduction in 2003 can be credited to continually improving equipment performance. 2003 was a difficult year for the drycleaning economy with many operators reporting lower volumes.

“Although things began to improve somewhat in the fourth quarter, it was too little, too late, to really improve the year’s results, so some of the decline in volume last year was clearly related to economic conditions.

“In addition, the popularity of casual fashions means that drycleaners are seeing more garments that should be wetcleaned, and that, of course, reduces the pounds of clothes that are drycleaned.

“Lastly, some perc drycleaning capacity has been replaced with alternative solvent technologies, further affecting the overall demand,” Cotter said.

The annual survey was conducted for TCATA by Industry Insights, Inc. The 2003 results represent reporting from the four primary producers and importers of perc for use in the drycleaning industry: Dow Chemical Company, INEOS Chlor Americas, PPG Industries, and Vulcan Chemicals.

The results reflect 38.6 million pounds as reported to Industry Insights plus an estimated 225,000 pounds of imports from companies that do not participate in the survey. The estimate of imports used in drycleaning is based on import data generated by U.S. Customs.

TCATA represents companies who make and distribute equipment and supplies for the textile industry and has sponsored the survey since 1975. EPA has recognized the association for leadership in the Design for Environment Garment Care and Textile Care Program.