History

CLER (Council for LAB/LAS Environmental Research) formed with two US members; sister organization in Europe (ECOSOL, European Council on Studies on LAB/LAS) formed.

Studies presented at symposium in Aachen Germany affirm use of LAS; two studies presented by CLER/ECOSOL scientists; studies subsequently published in Tenside Surf. Det. (vol. 32, issue 2, 1989).

CLER/ECOSOL scientists publish two studies on LAS environmental safety.

Published study shows LAB safe for the environment; CLER scientists conducted study.

CLER/ECOSOL research (four studies) presented at major surfactants congress (CESIO).

CLER scientists present study on LAS safety in anaerobic sediments at World Detergents Conference (Montreux).

ECOSOL scientists publish paper on LAS removal in sewage treatment in Italy.

Life Cycle study published comparing all surfactants used in cleaning products in Europe; no surfactant found superior to LAS: ECOSOL members contribute data on LAB and LAS.

Dutch government says low environmental risk of LAS and other laundry components; ECOSOL sponsors data compilation on LAS; study published in 1999.

CLER publishes first issue of technical journal, The CLER Review.

OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), EPA complete health and environmental assessment of LAB, concluding “no need for further work” (low concern); CLER member company prepared data dossier and assessment; assessment available on UN International Program on Chemical Safety (ICPS) website (www.inchem.org).

Published study confirms environmental safety of LAS co-product (DATS, di-alkyl tetraline sulfonate); CLER scientists conducted study.

Volume 2 of the CLER Review published; includes four papers by CLER/ECOSOL scientists.

CLER publishes Vol. 3 of the CLER Review; five studies find LAS poses little or no threat to the aquatic environment.

CLER introduces comprehensive website, www.cler.com.

CLER expands membership; represents North and South American LAB producers.

CLER and ECOSOL unite at World Detergents Conference (Montreux) with first joint exhibition booth.

CLER publishes Vol. 4 of the CLER Review; includes two papers by CLER scientists.

CLER Publishes Vol. 5 of the CLER Review; six studies (one by ECOSOL member) demonstrate safety of LAS for terrestrial environment.

First studies demonstrating LAS anaerobic biodegradation reported at CESIO Congress, published in Vol. 6 of CLER Review; includes four studies by ECOSOL scientists.

Vol. 7 of the CLER Review is published; five studies re-affirm the safety of LAS in sewage bio-solids (sludge) used as fertilizer/soil conditioner in agriculture.

Vol 8 of CLER Review published; study by American Cleaning Institute demonstrates LAS in cleaning products safe for disposal to household septic systems; CLER scientists participate in study.

Published study confirms LAS anaerobic biodegradation; ECOSOL scientists are co-authors.

HERA Project conducts comprehensive health and environmental assessment of LAS usage in household products in Europe; concludes LAS “safe for man and the environment”; assessment published on project website (www.heraproject.com/) and published in Vol. 9 of The CLER Review; ECOSOL scientists assist with assessment.

OECD/EPA complete health and environmental assessment of LAS, concluding “low priority for further work” (low concern); CLER-led consortium prepared data dossier and assessment; assessment available on UN ICPS website (www.inchem.org) and published in Vol. 10 of CLER Review.

Vol. 11 of the CLER Review is published, featuring a new study (Cadiz Univ., Spain) demonstrating anaerobic biodegradation of LAS in marine sediments. CLER and ECOSOL scientists contributed two studies, one an updated safety assessment of LAS in agricultural soil and the other a review of the 2007 updated HERA Project report on LAS.

OECD/EPA complete health and environmental assessment of HAB (heavy alkylate bottoms, LAB co-product); assessment concludes adequate data available and low hazard potential (low concern); assessment published on UN ICPS website (www.inchem.org); CLER/ECOSOL prepared data dossier and assessment.

The LAB and Derivatives REACH Consortium, led by ECOSOL members, successfully registers all the members of the LAS value chain (LAB, HAB, LAB Sulfonic Acids and LAS) in the REACH chemicals registration program in Europe:

Data on LAB may be found at https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/15763

Data on HAB at: https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/15959

Data on LAS at: https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/15879

Data on LAB Sulfonic Acids (LAS Acid) at: https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/15438.

Vol. 12 of the CLER Review is published, featuring a study on the anaerobic biodegradation pathway for LAS (Cadiz Univ., Spain), confirming LAS anaerobic biodegradation in marine sediments.

LAS listed on EPA Safer Ingredients website (www.epa.gov/dfe/saferingredients.htm) as a substance that meets the criteria of the Designed for the Environment (DfE) environmentally preferred products program.

Vol. 13 of the CLER Review is published, featuring two studies by ECOSOL scientists.

CLER distributes an USB drive of Vols. 1-13 of the CLER Review at the CESIO World Surfactants Congress.

CLER publishes Vol. 14 of the CLER Review, featuring the LAS data (48 pages) from a comprehensive assessment of the environmental safety of the major surfactants used in North America; the assessment was prepared by the American Cleaning Institute.

CLER and ECOSOL sponsor joint exhibition booth at CESIO Congress.

CLER published Vol. 15 of the CLER Review, featuring two previously unpublished studies on LAS anaerobic biodegradation.

ECOSOL members merge with CLER

CLER expands its focus on Europe and beyond.

CLER publishes Vol. 16 of the CLER Review, featuring three published studies on the environmental safety of LAS and a previously unpublished commentary on risk ranking; full issue available on the CLER website.

CLER initiates program of outreach for new members.

CLER began regularly posting on their LinkedIn Company Page 

CLER sponsored an exhibition booth at the 2019 CESIO Congress and presented two studies on LAS anaerobic biodegradation (see Press Release)

CLER publishes Vol. 17 of The CLER Review.

CLER presents Lecture on Sustainability and Ecolabels

CLER provides Scientific Critique to EU Public Consultation