Legislation
Flame retardants containing halogens, and more specifically, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are widely used today.
Research indicates that PBDEs can damage the environment and accumulate in animals and humans. The banning of brominated flame retardants has been in progress for many years, driven by the concern of chemical bioaccumulation and dioxin formation on incineration.
Recognizing these threats, some U.S. state governments and the EU are introducing, or have already passed, legislation to stop the use of halogenated flame retardants in all applications. We have joined other concerned bodies and are committed to lobbying within the EU and USA for these changes. Please see our News page for details.
A major inhibitor for passing legislation to ban the use of all PBDEs is the lack of awareness of safe and effective alternatives.
MelaphosFR™ is a patent protected, halogen-free flame retardant and can be used to protect textiles from fire while maintaining their original material properties. It achieves improved performance and greatly reduces environmental impact over traditional flame retardant chemicals.
Dartex Coatings manufactures with REACH compliant raw materials and sells products that are compliant with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive [2002/95/EC].