Appendix: Calculate your environment categorisation volume (ECV)

If your introduction has multiple end uses

Select one of the options:

• Use Equation 3
• Use Equation 4
• Use Equation 5  

You need to use equation 3 or 4 if you don’t know the total introduction volume for every end use for your chemical.

Equation 3: simplest method (multiple end uses; no RRF)

ECV = IV

IV = Introduction volume. This means the total importation and manufacture quantity of your chemical in kilograms (kg) in an AICIS registration year (1 September to 31 August).

Equation 4: intermediate method (multiple end uses; allocate the total introduction volume to the end use that has the highest RRF)

1. Look at the release reduction factor (RRF) table and identify which end use scenarios apply to your introduction.
2. Find the end use scenario that has the highest RRF value. Note: the highest RRF value represents the end use with the highest level of environment exposure.
3. Multiply the total volume of your chemical that you will introduce for that end use scenario in an AICIS registration year (1 September to 31 August) by the RRF value you found in (B). Do not just use the volume for one of the end uses.

ECV = IV x RRF

IV = Introduction volume. This means the total importation and manufacture quantity in kilograms (kg) of your chemical.

RRF = The highest release reduction factor value that applies to one of your end use scenarios (see table of end use scenarios and their RRF values).

Example of using equation 4

A company is introducing 12,000 kg of a chemical for multiple end uses. They do not know the volume for each end use:

• some chemical will be manufactured in Australia and exported for end use overseas (RRF for this end use is 0.05).  
• some chemical will be for end use in paints within Australia (RRF for this end use is 0.05).  
• some chemical will be for end use in fabric products in Australia (RRF for this end use is 0.4).  

With this scenario using equation 42a the highest RRF is 10.4.  

The ECV will be: 12,000 × 0.4 = 4,800 kg

Equation 5: detailed method (multiple end uses; multiple RRFs, calculate the ECV for each end use and add together)

Use equation 5 if:

• you know the annual introduction volume of your chemical for each end use
• you are willing to keep track of any changes to your introduction volume for each end use - this helps you make sure that the indicative environmental risk of your introduction does not increase.

Option 1: Use our online calculator

Go to our environment categorisation volume calculator

Option 2: Calculate manually using the equation

Instructions – calculate manually

1. Look at the release reduction factor (RRF) table and identify which end use scenarios apply to your introduction.
2. Select one of the end use scenarios and calculate the Environment categorisation volume using the instructions for equation 4.
3. Repeat B) for all of your end uses and then add them up to get your total Environment categorisation volume using the equation below.

ECV = (IV₁ x RRF₁) + (IV₂ x RRF₂) +… + (IV_n x RRF_n)

Note: IV_n = the introduction volume for end use ‘n’ 

Example of using equation 5

In this scenario, the company knows the breakdown of the volumes for each end use:

• 6,000 kg manufactured in Australia that will be exported for end use overseas (RRF for this end use is 0.05).  
• 5,000 kg for end use in paints within Australia (RRF for this end use is 0.05).  
• 1,000 kg for end use in fabric products in Australia (RRF for this end use is 0.4).

The introduction volume is multiplied by the RRF for each end use scenario before adding these together to get the total ECV.  

The ECV will be: (6,000 × 0.05) + (5,000 × 0.05) + (1,000 × 0.4) = 1,050 kg 

Release reduction factors (RRFs) for different end use scenarios

The RRF values range between 0 and 1. A low release reduction factor indicates that only a small portion of the introduction volume is likely to contribute to environmental exposure. A higher release reduction factor indicates that a higher proportion of the introduction volume could contribute to environmental exposure. 

Product definitions and examples from the RRF table

Adhesive and sealant products means an end use to fasten other materials together or stop the passage of liquid or gas. Examples include:

• glues  
• binders
• adhesives
• pastes
• sealants
• fillers
• putties
• solder and caulking compounds
• spray foam insulation

Apparel and footwear care products means an end use to care for apparel and footwear products intended for consumer and commercial use. Examples include:

• footwear polishes
• waxes and stains to waterproof and improve appearance and other desirable properties
• apparel surface treatment products for water, stain or flame resistance

Arts, crafts and hobby products means an end use in arts, crafts or hobbies. Examples include:

• crafting paints
• crafting glue
• adhesives (e.g. solder and hot-melt adhesives)
• fixatives
• finishing spray coatings and modelling clay

Explosive products means an end use for producing a sudden expansion, usually accompanied by production of heat and large changes in pressure. Examples include:

• pyrotechnics
• high explosives and propellants
• igniters
• primers
• initiatory
• illuminants
• smoke and decoy flares
• incendiaries

Fuel, oil, fuel oil additives and related products means an end use as:

• liquid fuel in containers used for cooking, heating or for power in vehicles or appliances, or
• a fuel additive to inhibit corrosion, provide lubrication, increase efficiency of use, or decrease production of undesirable by-products.

Examples of liquid fuels include:

• gasoline
• diesel fuels
• kerosene
• lamp oils

Examples of fuel oil additives include:

• stabilisers
• anti-knock agents
• corrosion inhibitors
• detergents
• fuel dyes
• oxygenates
• antioxidants
• odour agents

Lubricant and grease products means an end use in a liquid, paste or spray to reduce friction, heat generation and wear between solid surfaces. Examples include:

• engine oils
• transmission, brake and hydraulic fluids
• gear oils
• calcium, sodium, lithium, and silicone-based greases

Personal care products  – limited environmental release means an end use in solid or hardening personal care products (including cosmetics) that are primarily disposed of to landfill. Examples include:

• baby wipes
• facial tissues
• nail care products including nail polish and remover

Tattoo ink products means an end use in a combination of industrial chemicals that contains one or more colouring agents and is applied to the dermal layer of the skin for the purposes of colouring the skin. Examples include:

• pigments
• dyes
• resins

Paint and coating products means an end use to paint or coat substrates intended for consumer or commercial use. Examples include:  

• decorative coatings  
• automotive coatings
• transportation coatings
• wood finishes
• powder coatings
• coil coatings
• packaging finishes
• general industrial coatings
• automotive refinish
• industrial maintenance and protective coatings
• marine coatings
• thinners
• removers

Plastic and polymer products means an end use in production of plastics or polymers. Examples include:

• monomers
• initiators
• additives

Construction products not covered by other end uses means an end use in construction materials, except where another scenario covers the end use. Examples include:

• additives in cements and dry mortar
• additives to bitumen for road repair
• internal release agents for thermo-set laminating resins
• resins in particle board manufacture
• wood substitutes used to make mouldings
• resins used in the production of composite materials

Fabric, textile and leather products not covered by other end uses means an end use to impart colour and other desirable properties onto fabric, textiles, and leather products that are intended for consumer or commercial use.

These properties include:

• water/soil/stain repellence
• wrinkle resistance
• flame resistance

Examples of this type of product include:

• textile dyes
• textile finishing agents
• leather tanning products
• leather dyes
• leather finishing agents, leather conditioner and surface treatment products

Electronic products means an end use in the production of electronic components. Examples include:

• chemicals in vapour deposition
• electroless plating
• electroplating
• etching
• high vacuum evaporation/sputtering
• laminate processing
• soldering
• photolithography

Ink, toner and colourant products means an end use for:

• writing
• printing
• creating an image on paper and other substrates
• applying to substrates to change their colour or hide images

Examples of this type of product include:

• pigmented liquid
• toners or powders used in copy machines and toner/printer cartridges
• inks used in writing equipment
• inks for stamps and correction fluids and tapes

This category does not include pigments and colourants added to paints and coatings.

Air care products means an end use to odorise or deodorise indoor air in homes, offices, motor vehicles, and enclosed spaces and intended for consumer or commercial use. Examples include:

• aerosol sprays
• liquid/solid/gel diffusers
• air fresheners
• scented candles
• incense

Anti-freeze and de-icing products means an end use:

• as an additive to fluids, especially water, to reduce the freezing point of the mixture, or
• applied to surfaces to melt or prevent build-up of ice

Examples of this type of product include:

• anti-freeze liquids
• de-icing liquids (windshield de-icers, aircraft de-icers)
• de-icing solids (ice melting crystals)
• lock de-icers

Automotive care products means an end use (intended for consumer or commercial use) to clean and care for exterior and interior surfaces of automotive vehicles. Examples include:

• car waxes
• polishes
• waterproofing products for windshield or automotive window glass
• cleaners
• sealers
• car wash solutions
• vinyl/rubber/plastic protectants
• automotive carpet and upholstery cleaners
• wheel and tyre care products
• exterior trim protectants
• touch-up paint products

Cleaning and furniture care products means an end use (intended for consumer or commercial use) to:

• remove dirt, grease, stains, and foreign matter from furniture and furnishings
• cleanse, sanitise, bleach, scour, polish, protect, or improve the appearance of surfaces

Examples include:

• cleaners used on glass, floors, tub and tile, ovens and drains
• scouring powders
• dusting products
• waxes
• polishes
• stain repellent sprays

Laundry and dishwashing products means an end use in liquid, granular, gel or unit dose packets/tablets to:

• remove food residue from dishes
• remove dirt from textiles
• enhance properties of textiles
• remove stains from textiles

Examples include:

• dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents
• stain removers and fabric enhancers
• bleach
• rinse aids
• lime and rust removers
• dry cleaning products used in non-aqueous cleaning processes

Extractive products not covered by other end uses means an end use in:

• mining
• onshore drilling
• related activities such as extraction, cementing, hydraulic fracturing, refining

These scenarios do not include end use in offshore drilling. This end use is a designated kind of release into the environment (for which you do not calculate an ECV).

Paper products means an end use in paper production. Examples include:

• effluent treatment chemicals
• maintenance chemicals
• deposit and cleaning agents
• defoamers
• surfactants
• polymeric retention aids
• coagulants
• clay
• resins

Personal care products not covered by other end uses means an end use for cosmetic use, except those covered under the “personal care products - limited environmental release end use” scenario. Examples include:

• bath and shower products
• make-up products
• hair, oral and skin care products
• secondary sunscreen products
• deodorants
• perfumes

Photographic products means an end use (for consumer or commercial use) to take photographic images, develop and process film, and make photographic prints. Examples include:

• processing solutions (for developing, stopping, and fixing photos)
• chemicals used in the manufacture or processing of film or photographic paper

Water treatment products means an end use to treat water in cooling and heating systems (including industrial heat-exchanger systems) and potable water supplies. Examples include:

• chemicals used in pH buffers
• scale and corrosion inhibitors
• flocculating agents
• ion exchange resins

This scenario does not include end uses to treat municipal water supplies or other large-scale water supplies for human or animal consumptions or irrigation. These end uses involve a designated kind of release into the environment (for which you do not calculate an environment categorisation volume).