In a ground-breaking move, the European Commission has adopted a regulation to ban organohalogen flame retardants in televisions and other appliances.
Organohalogen flame retardants are persistent chemicals linked to a variety of health concerns such as thyroid disruption, cancers and learning deficits. These flame retardants are often used in the plastics of electronics, where they can leach out and contaminate homes and workplaces. The new regulation will come into effect in 2021, protecting Europeans as well as workers around the world from unnecessary exposure to these harmful chemicals.
In a continued effort to reduce Europe’s carbon footprint and to make energy bills cheaper for European consumers, the European Commission have adopted new eco-design measures for household appliances such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and televisions. Improving the eco-design of products contributes to implementing the ‘Energy efficiency first’ principle of the EU’s Energy Union priority. The new measures include requirements for repairability and recyclability, contributing to circular economy objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of appliances.
For more information:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_5895
https://saferchemicals.org/2019/10/01/europe-bans-most-harmful-class-of-flame-retardants-in-tvs/