Dry Ice is an Environmentally Sustainable Cleaning and Transportation Solution

As environmental concerns continue to shape business priorities worldwide, companies are increasingly seeking ways to align their operations with sustainability goals.

One solution is dry ice blasting. But is this cleaning method truly eco-friendly?

The answer is a resounding yes! This blog will walk you through the facts, numbers, and proof that dry ice blasting is an eco-friendly cleaning solution!

What Makes Dry Ice Environmentally Friendly?

In an era where businesses are increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional cleaning methods, dry ice emerges as a solution that transforms industrial waste into an environmentally responsible cleaning method. Dry ice blasting is:

• Water-free
• Waste-free
• Chemical-free

Carbon Capture and Utilization: Giving CO2 a Second Life

The foundation of dry ice's eco-friendly credentials lies in its unique production process. Dry ice is manufactured from recycled CO₂ through a carbon capture and utilization (CCU) process. Rather than allowing industrial CO₂ emissions to enter the atmosphere, this waste carbon dioxide is captured at industrial and biogas facilities, recycled, and converted into a valuable cleaning medium.

The CO₂ that would have been discarded as waste is given a second life as a cooling and cleaning medium through premium CO₂ blasting equipment, creating an environmentally friendly cycle that benefits both business and the environment.

Water Conservation

Traditional sanitation processes often require excessive water use, contributing to resource depletion and wastewater management challenges.

It has been estimated that up to 40% of water used at industrial facilities is used for sanitation purposes.

Dry ice blasting requires no water. The industrial cleaning solution helps to preserve this precious resource while eliminating the environmental and health effects associated with chemical cleaning products.

Reducing Materials, Waste, and Chemicals

Traditional cleaning methods often rely on single-use products like rags, pads, and brushes that contribute to landfill waste. They also typically involve solvents that emit various man-made greenhouse gases. CO₂ is found naturally in our environment and using dry ice eliminates the emissions of several harmful man-made gases.

Dry ice blasting significantly reduces materials needed for cleaning operations. This waste reduction approach aligns with circular economy principles and helps companies minimize their environmental footprint.

Learn more about Dry Ice Blasting vs. Alternative Cleaning Methods

Regulatory Recognition and No Additional Emission Scoring

The use of dry ice for general cleaning or product temperature regulation does not add to your greenhouse gas emissions/CO₂e or carbon footprint calculation.

Regulatory agencies such as the EPA and CARB have commented on dry ice cleaning. Both agencies, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), note that cleaning with dry ice does not contribute to your greenhouse gas emissions score.

California Air Resources Board (CARB) has stated:

"Because dry ice is recycled CO₂, it will not contribute to your greenhouse gas score. In the calculation of a carbon footprint, CO₂ is accounted for at the producer level. It is not counted a second time at the point of use." This no additional emission scoring approach recognizes that dry ice utilizes already-existing CO₂ rather than creating new emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also confirmed that dry ice cleaning users are not required to report under current greenhouse gas reporting programs, further validating its minimal environmental impact.

So, if cleaning with dry ice isn’t the issue, where does the excess CO₂ in our environment come from?  Animal respiration is believed to add 28 million tons of CO₂ per day into the atmosphere. By contrast, the entire U.S. CO₂ industry can supply only 25,000 tons of dry ice per day, and 95% of this amount is from by-product sources, or less than 0.04% of the other sources combined.

Commercial CO₂ emissions, those industrial processes that provide the feedstock CO₂ to manufacture dry ice, are around 22 million tons/year or around 0.05% of the total emissions. That means the commercial CO₂ market represents 0.0000021% of the CO₂ in our atmosphere. That noted, the commercial CO₂ market (the source for dry ice) is not the major issue with overall global CO₂ emission issues. The emissions from dry ice blasting are negligible.

Sustainability in Cold Chain Management

Dry ice offers a compelling, eco-friendly alternative for cold chain shipping. Unlike refrigerated trucks that create emissions, dry ice produces no additional emissions. As it sublimates, the shipment gets lighter, which improves fuel efficiency for transport. By replacing resource-intensive gel packs, businesses can achieve a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to keeping goods cold.

In our dry ice production line, we have introduced the RE-CO₂ Recovery Systems. Our RE-CO₂ units capture revert CO₂ from the vent of a dry ice pelletizer and circulate it back into themselves. Within the recovery unit, the gaseous CO₂ is cooled and compressed to create liquid CO₂ that is then piped right back to the dry ice pelletizer. 

Our RE-CO₂ Recovery Systems allow dry ice producers to nearly double their dry ice output by collecting revert gas during production and recycling it to make more dry ice pellets with less liquid CO₂ (LCO₂). Offering a modular design and multiple liquefaction capacities, we ensure that you will drastically improve the conversion rate of LCO₂-to-dry ice.

Learn more about the recovery systems!

Monitoring Environmentally Responsible Cleaning

Dry ice blasting has entered the digital Industry 4.0 age of technology, offering a sustainable cleaning solution that can now be remotely monitored for optimal efficiency and environmental performance. Today, the entire cleaning process can be remotely monitored, using Cold Jet CONNECT.

This combines information into a narrative that enables better decision-making, accelerating your return on investment through increased machine efficiency and uptime. Keeping the blaster in top working condition and having insight into the cleaning process provides accurate cleaning times to facilitate better downtime scheduling as well as control cleaning costs.

The Bottom Line: Yes, Dry Ice is Truly Sustainable

The evidence is clear: dry ice represents a truly sustainable cleaning solution that addresses multiple environmental challenges simultaneously. By utilizing recycled CO₂ through carbon capture and utilization, dry ice cleaning prevents additional emissions while eliminating the negative externalities of traditional cleaning methods.

As companies increasingly focus on reducing emissions, reducing waste, and reducing materials, dry ice blasting stands out as a proven, environmentally friendly solution that supports sustainability goals while delivering superior performance.

Dry ice is more than just eco-friendly – it's a revolutionary approach that transforms waste into value, eliminates harmful chemicals, and supports the transition toward environmentally sustainable industrial practices. Solutions like dry ice blasting prove that innovation and sustainability work hand in hand to create a healthier planet for future generations.

We are committed to reducing materials, waste, and emissions from our business and equipment, from production to operation.

Contact Us!