Solvents are a type of organic chemical that evaporate readily at room temperature, releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Many businesses use solvents in their day-to-day operations. For example, you may use solvents for cleaning and degreasing products and machinery, or dissolving, thinning and dispersing coatings, paints and inks.

Reducing and managing your use of solvents will help you comply with legislation, cut the cost of buying solvents and reduce your environmental impact. You may also be able to open up new business opportunities by creating products that have less impact on the environment.

This guide describes what organic solvents are and whether you need a pollution prevention and control permit. It also focuses on how and why you should monitor and manage solvent use, how to use your solvent emissions data and how to store solvents safely.