Overall, around 145,000 tonnes of microplastics are estimated to be used in the EU each year. And 42,000 tonnes of these microplastics end up in the environment from products intentionally containing them. The largest contribution with up to 16,000 tonnes is made by granules from artificial turf pitches.
Homologation is the process by which a product or vehicle is certified as compliant with the technical and safety standards required for its use in a particular region or country.
Consumers or users shall be provided with information to use products as intended. Information about the risks inherent in a product is essential for safe use; especially where the risks are not immediately obvious.
Consumers or users shall be provided with information to use products as intended. Information about the risks inherent in a product is essential for safe use; especially where the risks are not immediately obvious.
Chances are that your product contains PFAS and PFCA! Restrictions are already in place. Some additional restrictions will come into effect early next year. PFAS are used in a wide variety of consumer products because of their unique chemical and physical properties.
Chances are that your product contains PFAS and PFCA! Restrictions are already in place. Some additional restrictions will come into effect early next year. PFAS are used in a wide variety of consumer products because of their unique chemical and physical properties.
Due Diligence has been, up to now, largely a matter of self regulation*. Some EU Member States already have Due Diligence legislation, but the problem is only that this legislation is either too sector-specific or only covers certain aspects of the Due Diligence.
Clothing may be subject to rain, water, oil or dirt. Clothing can be made resistant after treatment with repellents. Repellents resist or hold off unwanted substances from rain to oil.
During the processing of plastics and rubbers the present polymers are subject of various degradation processes such as oxidation, UV-damage or thermal degradation.
Adding antimicrobial additives is a method to create products that are resistant to the adverse effects of microbes. Examples of microbes are bacteria, mould and fungi. Microbes may change or deteriorate the mechanical or electrical properties of materials.
Static electricity is the situation where electrical charges remain on the surface of a material. Rubbing of two materials against each may cause these charges. The amount of electric charge depends on the two materials but everybody knows the effect that (plastic) combs may have on your hair or the static electricity
The aesthetics or performance of products may require properties such as “anti-scratch”. Anti-scratch additives are used when the surface of moulded plastics components must be both soft and scratch- resistant and also hard or tough enough to resist any damage to the surface from everyday use.
Plasticisers are also called softeners because of this, phthalates are a well known type of plasticisers. Plasticisers are added to polymers for the manufacturing of plastics. Plasticisers are mostly used in PVC, but a significant amount of plasticisers is also used in polymers like acrylics, polypropylene or
Flame retardants are chemicals added to plastics (including rubbers) and used to prevent ignition or spread of flame by the product (material) when there is a heat source in the vicinity of the product. Flame retardants are useful chemical additives but some of them are hazardous and therefore restricted or banned.
Plastics and rubber materials are both made from the same families of polymers. The polymers are mixed with a complex blend of materials known as additives. Rubbers are elastomers, these are polymers with an elastic property. This elasticity differentiates rubbers from plastics
Sweden has additional national rules restricting certain substances in chemical products and articles in addition to existing European restrictions on chemical substances.
There are many products which may be treated with biocides, what are the rules?