The European Union prohibits the placing on its markets of PVC products containing lead. The European Commission has amended to Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)↗️.
The restriction applies to all PVC products that are not recycled in a closed loop. This means that PVC profiles containing recycled window profiles with lead additives from old windows are excluded from the restriction.
"The PVC window profile industry has implemented a closed
material loop over the past 25 years. Our production and recycling sites keep the PVC material in a traceable loop from PVC profile to PVC profile. Recycling PVC – and its legacy additive lead – in a closed loop has proven to be the most sustainable management of the material and substance. We welcome that the EU legislator acknowledges this fact, and we will continue to invest into this closed loop for our application," comments Carsten Heuer, EPPA President.
Unfortunately, there are no companies in Ukraine that recycle old plastic windows and doors. The issue of reusing construction waste during reconstruction has only recently raised. So far, there is no legislative initiative and no economic feasibility for the construction of a plant for recycling old metal-plastic windows and doors.
According to OKNA.ua, lead stabilisers increase the thermal stability of PVC during compounding and production. They also protect PVC from photodegradation. However, according to the European Chemicals Agency dossier, lead emissions from products made from PVC during their life cycle directly or indirectly contribute to human exposure to lead.
Lead is a toxic substance that affects the development of the nervous system, causes chronic kidney disease and adversely affects blood pressure.
Suppliers of EPPA abandoned lead as a stabiliser in 2004. They switched to using calcium-zinc stabilisers. In general, the EU industry has voluntarily phased out lead stabilisers and reported successful completion of the process in 2015. This VinylPlus programme covered the EU, Norway and Switzerland.
Photo: EPPA
EU bans PVC profiles with lead stabilisers
ID no: 22675
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