Voluntary emissions reduction programme: VECAP and SECURE

Industry has made extensive efforts to control HBCD emissions into the environment.

Emissions are now well controlled throughout the HBCD production process. In 2006, the sole HBCD production site in the EU reduced its total HBCD emissions to less than 0.4 grams per ton.

In 2006, HBCD producers in partnership with EPS/XPS producers launched SECURE (Self-Enforced Control of Use to Reduce Emissions), a voluntary emission reduction programme. The objective of this programme is to reduce the levels of HBCD in the environment through controlled emissions from plants using HBCD.

More than 95% of the HBCD is used by PlasticsEurope and Exiba members active in the EPS/XPS industry and is covered by a commitment to the "Code of Good Practice" which forms part of the SECURE programme.

The use of HBCD in textiles is covered under a separate industry programme.

Industry follows closely HBCD levels through a 10-year environmental monitoring programme. This programme should provide reliable information on temporal trends of environmental concentrations and how they can be linked to the emissions management programmes.

For more information on VECAP, please go to: www.vecap.info