ICL-IP launch systematic assessment for flame retardants

ICL-IP, a world leading producer of flame retardants and the largest producer of elemental bromine, unveiled a new science-based assessment tool for flame retardants at Chinaplas 2015 on May 22.

The flame retardant assessment tool, which is for use across all flame retardants, assesses the sustainability profile of individual flame retardants according to their application. ICL-IP have named the assessment methodology, SAFR, which stands for Systematic Assessment for Flame Retardants.

The launch took place at CHINAPLAS, the world’s largest plastics conference. ICL-IP presented the methodology behind SAFR and the potential for this new tool to be used by a broad range of stakeholders including those within and beyond the flame retardant industry. Ilan Elkan, ICL-IP’s VP of Sustainability and Advocacy, said: "This is a groundbreaking moment for ICL-IP as we unveil SAFR. We designed this tool as an important part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability, but for SAFR to truly fulfil its intended use, it needs to be adopted by all parts of the value chain, where it will enable purchasing decisions to be made based on the sustainable use of a product in a specific application.

SAFR is a step-change for the industry and marks a new level of transparency. Not only will our direct customers benefit but those up the user chain will be able to measure not only the hazardbnbut the exposure of any given flame retardant. This will allow them to make the most sustainable choice of flame retardant against a given application.”

SAFR utilises the latest available scientific data to assess each FR product according to its application, with the intention that this will lead to the use of the most sustainable, effective products appropriate for a given use or application.

Building on existing, accepted hazard criteria, the approach assesses the extent to which potential hazards translate into potential risks due to possible exposure to humans and/or to the environment during the service life of the flame retardant. SAFR provides a rigorous evaluation of flame retardants in their applications, thus providing users with a tool for selecting the most sustainable product for the intended use.

ICL-IP are in the process of reviewing their portfolio of flame retardants using SAFR, having already assessed more than 70%. This process will be repeated periodically, as dictated by the SAFR methodology. The SAFR tool provides one of four possible outcomes for each product assessed: uses that are ‘recommended’, ‘acceptable’, or ‘not recommended’ and ‘unacceptable hazard’. Flame retardants in applications, which have a rating of ‘recommended’ through to ‘not recommended’ are all usable; however users of flame retardants, which achieve a ‘not recommended’ rating will be provided the option of an alternative product with a ‘recommended’ or ‘acceptable’ rating.

ICL-IP products that have an ‘unacceptable’ hazard rating – including those that are still in the development phase – will be, and in many cases have already been phased out in co-ordination with the value chain.