TAGS: Flame Retardants Sustainability / Natural Solutions
FRX Innovations announces that it is stepping up its communication and education program to help customers, OEMs, and retailers, meet the upcoming Washington State Department of Ecology (“WSDE”) regulatory changes that will impact consumer electronics supply chains and materials design for companies active in the state, and therefore across the United States.
Aim to Replace Toxic Chemicals
The development comes as part of a broader safer products for Washington initiative, a pioneering set of laws that are aimed at replacing toxic chemicals in a range of applications with potential exposure for consumers.
WSDE issued its end of Stage 3 Draft Regulatory Determination Report to the State legislature to permanently ban the use of brominated flame retardants in all plastic casings across a wide range of electronics and home appliances used indoors.
Specifically, this action will affect high-touch electronic equipment such as televisions, smart speakers, computer monitors, and home appliances and will drive the conversion to more sustainable alternatives such as FRX’s line of
Nofia® flame retardant polymeric additives.
Chief executive officer, Marc Lebel commented, “
FRX has been anticipating the flame retardant industry’s inevitable shift away from toxic chemicals. Together with several global partners, we have thoughtfully developed a family of commercial materials choices that deliver market leading flame retardancy with environmental safety that the industry and consumers demand and deserve.”
Commercial Production Facility in Antwerp
FRX has been built on over US$120MM of investment and is in commercial production at its fully permitted facility in Antwerp, Belgium from where FRX is currently supplying its Nofia® flame retardant product line to a growing number of multi-national OEMs around the world.
Lebel continued, “
The proposed rule changes establishes the State of Washington as a leader in the U.S. affecting the flame retardant industry, since OEMs and national retailers seek products that are approved in all states across the country. This follows in the footsteps of similar regulatory changes in the European Union and New York State.”
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The proposed rules intend to ban brominated flame retardants as a class of materials from these uses. This would be the most aggressive legislation to date affecting the flame retardant industry. These changes, and likely others yet to be announced, are leading to an expansion of FRX’s customer base. We are thrilled that we invested early in additional capacity in our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant and are ready for the coming windfall in demand.”
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Source: FRX Innovations