As an industry, brominated flame retardant producers are committed to taking a pro-active approach to product stewardship, and particularly to the control of emissions during the production, application, service and end-life of our products. All parties involved in the production, handling, use and disposal of chemicals have a shared responsibility to ensure their safe management and use. By defining and pursuing common goals throughout the supply chain, the industry believes it can be beneficial at all levels, and to promote this a product stewardship programme has been developed: the Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme (VECAP).
VECAP substantially goes beyond legally required emissions controls. VECAP was developed in 2004 for use in the United Kingdom textile coating industry, and immediately proved effective at achieving substantial reductions in the emission of Deca-BDE to water. The programme has grown, and similar improvements have subsequently been achieved by the textiles and plastics industries in other EU member states. Today, VECAP has been extended to other flame retardants, and introduced in North America and Japan. Although instigated by the flame retardants industry, the programme is suitable for any industry handling powders and liquids, and forms the basis of a materials management system which can be applied toother chemicals in other industries.
For further information on VECAP, please click here.
In 2006, the HBCD producer companies, in partnership with EPS and XPS foam manufacturers. launched a product stewardship programme: "Self-Enforced Control of Use to Reduce Emissions (SECURE)". The objective of this programme is to reduce the levels of HBCD in the environment through controlled emissions from plants using HBCD. The programme is managed by EBFRIP, in conjunction with the members of PlasticsEurope and Exiba active in the EPS/XPS industry.
