BSEF - PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP FOR THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF BFRS

UK fire safety statistics on upholstered furniture demonstrate that where there are high levels of fire safety standards (and resultant increased flame retardant use), thousands of lives are saved. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are known to be one of the most effective flame retardant systems and, for many materials, there are no alternatives. BFRs therefore need to be used in many items, from upholstered furniture in cinemas to electronic plastics in the home and office, foam seating in trains and buses etc.

However, BFRs should not be found in the environment and concerns over brominated flame retardants being found in the environment are legitimate. In order to ensure that BFRs do not end up in the environment the industry is taking responsibility in making sure that emissions of BFRs are managed and controlled. By acting through VECAP and recycling programs, the brominated flame retardants industry is actively taking part in the process of making sure that BFRs are being managed in a responsible way.

Under the auspices of the OECD, the BSEF members signed a Voluntary Industry Commitment (VIC) in 1995.

In this context, BSEF member companies voluntarily committed themself to globally fulfill the binding agreements under the Responsible Care’s Product Stewardship Code. The purpose of this code is to make health and safety aspects and the protection of the environment an integral part of designing, producting, marketing, using, recycling and disposing of chemical products. Related to the production of brominated flame retardants, among other things, the following risk reduction measures have been taken: production with the use of Best Available Techniques (BAT) to reduce emissions and produce a product with a higher purity.

Following this voluntary binding code, a comprehensive approach to product stewardship has been developed by the bromine industry covering the life cycle of the product:

· Workplace exposure during production and use - studies
· Consumer exposure during use - studies
· Managing plastic waste containing BFRs – Recycling and Recovery studies
· Measuring levels in the environment – Environmental monitoring including trend analysis
· Reducing industrial emissions of producers
· Reducing industrial emissions of user industries

In 2002, our programme resulted in a 70% reduction of soil and water emissions in one BFR manufacturing site in the UK and in The Netherlands a BFR producer achieved 90 % reduction of soil and water emissions down to almost zero levels at their manufacturing. We also help our customers manage BFR emissions, ensure that emissions are treated and waste is collected to avoid that even small quantities of BFRs do not end up in the environment.

We view the environmental concerns related to BFRs as being entirely manageable, through reductions in their emissions from industry processes, and do not foresee a need for a phase-out of BFRs’ use which would compromise seriously the levels of consumer fire safety standards which the public today rightly expects.

EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM BY TYPE OF PRODUCT

1. Deca-BDE
BSEF initiated in 2000 the first detailed assessment of Deca-BDE levels in the aquatic environment of the Netherlands, which was conducted by the Dutch Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO). From the report published in 2002, it was clear that findings in the environment were point source related resulting from industrial production and/or usage and, although showing an increasing trend, remained far from posing any risk to public health. Further environmental monitoring is planned in key Deca-BDE user industry regions in Europe.

Already in 2002, BSEF launched an emissions reduction program for Deca-BDE. The objective of the program is to reduce levels of Deca-BDE in the environment through reduced emissions from industrial manufacturing and usage facilities.

In its initial phase, product flows and processes have been studied with 9 representative facilities in Europe, covering textiles as well as polymer applications. BSEF has commissioned an independent German scientific institute (GfA) to measure emission levels from these 9 industrial plants. In parallel, BSEF has initiated a customer survey in order to calculate realistic product emissions estimates for all EU countries for both the textiles and polymer applications.

For technical support to users BSEF will have available a Deca-BDE Code of Good Practice document for all user companies. This documents will describe the best way to handle, store and use the product, how to handle off spec batches and other waste materials (Filter dust, Filter cake, Sludge etc) and what to do with empty packaging waste, all with the intention to go to close to zero emission levels.

On the basis of the above, BSEF plans to establish joint commitments with the textiles and polymer industries in order to reduce emissions further.
The first set of Codes of Practices for the use of Deca-BDE by both the plastics and the textiles industry were developed in the United Kingdom in May 2004. In the course of upcoming months similar Codes of Practices will be developed, in cooperation with user industries, in other EU Member States such as Belgium, France, Italy, Germany etc.

- UK Code of Practice for the use of Deca-BDE in the plastics sector
- UK Code of Practice for the use of Deca-BDE in the textiles sector

2. HBCD
BSEF initiated in 2000 the first detailed assessment of HBCD levels in the aquatic environment of Northern Europe, which was conducted by the Dutch Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO). From the report published in 2002, it was clear that findings in the environment were point source related resulting from industrial production and/or usage and although showing an increasing trend remained far from posing any serious risk to public health. Further environmental monitoring in the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Germany and Scandinavia is ongoing.

Already in 2002, BSEF launched an emissions reduction program for HBCD. The objective of the program is to reduce levels of HBCD in the environment through reduced emissions from industrial manufacturing and usage facilities.

In its initial phase, product flows and processes have been studied with 8 representative facilities in Europe, covering textiles as well as polymer applications. BSEF has commissioned an independent German scientific institute (GfA) to measure emission levels from these 8 industrial plants. In parallel, BSEF has initiated a customer survey in order to calculate realistic product emissions estimates for all EU countries for both the textiles and polymer applications.
For technical support to users BSEF will have available a HBCD Code of Good Practice document for all user companies. This document will describe the best way to handle, store and use the product, how to handle off spec batches and other waste materials (Filter dust, Filter cake, Sludge etc) and what to do with empty packaging waste, all with the intention to go to close to zero emission levels.

BSEF plans to establish joint commitments with user industries in order to reduce emissions of HBCD further.
To download further informations click here.

3. TBBPA
BSEF initiated in 2001 the first detailed assessment of TBBPA levels in the aquatic environment in the Benelux, which was conducted by the Dutch Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO). From the report published in 2002, it was clear that findings in the environment were point source related and remained far from posing significant risk to public health. BSEF will continue further its monitoring programme.