BFR Alternatives: Best Business Practices
Historically, 80% of Deca-BDE use in the United States is in electronic products, with the majority of Deca-BDE used in black cased television enclosures. When the EU passed the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive in 2003 (which originally banned all PBDEs, including deca-BDE), it created new business opportunities for safer materials and chemicals and catalyzed new product development. NEC, for example, announced that they are using a biobased plastic that meets the highest flame resistance standards without the use of any potentially toxic chemicals that persist in our bodies or the environment. Dell, Sony, and Hewlett Packard all offer Deca free products.
Our research shows that due to the combined impact of market demand for BFR free products, and increased regulations on persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals, electronic companies are investing in new product designs that negate the need for BFRs.
Click here to download DecaBDE and BFR Substitution in the Electronics Industry: Leading Manufacturers are Moving Away from Bromine Chemistry in Computers and Televisions (PDF).
Our research also shows that companies are investing in alternatives that do not compromise fire safety for consumers. For more information, please download CPA’s fact sheet: Electronic Products Meet Fire Safety Standards without DecaBDE (PDF).
