Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (21-11-2023)

News from Abroad

PRODUCT SAFETY

ECHA’s investigation fi nds toxic chemicals present

in childcare products

The European Chemicals Agency ECHA’s report provides elements
(ECHA) has found that substances to support the European Commission
causing cancer, genetic mutations or in the preparation of a potential future
harming reproduction are present in restriction. These include information
childcare products, such as car seats, on how childcare articles are defi ned,
bibs and baby changing mats. Its investi what the restriction could cover, poten-
gation will help the European Commis- tial derogations, recommended concen-
sion to prepare an EU-wide restriction tration limits and timeframes for im-
to limit these chemicals, with the aim plementation. The report also includes
of safeguarding children. views from ECHA’s Enforcement Forum
on how feasible it would be to enforce
ECHA’s investigation, drawing on CMRs were most often found in such a restriction.
information from 48 different sources, items like car seats, bibs, products
shows that substances which are related to toiletries, and bedding and The report will now be sent to the
carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for mattresses. Children may be exposed to European Commission, who will use it
reproduction (CMR) may be present these hazardous substances during use, to prepare a draft restriction proposal
in childcare products (articles). Metals for example through skin or oral con- under REACH Article 68(2). This
like cobalt and lead, along with phtha- tact, and are particularly vulnerable to procedure allows the Commission to
lates like DEHP, are the most common the harm caused by chemical substances prepare a restriction proposal with-
CMR substances found in childcare because of their small size, developing out involvement of ECHA’s scientifi c
products. physiology and behaviour. committees.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
Versalis begins construction of chemical recycling

plant in Italy

Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, integrated with the plastics pyrolysis
has begun construction of a demo plant product purifi cation technologies of
in Mantua, Italy to develop Hoop, its Technip Energies, a leading engineer-
proprietary technology for chemical ing and technology company, develop-
recycling of mixed plastic waste. Hoop ing a technology platform for advanced
stems from a joint project with Italian chemical recycling. The demo plant
engineering company, S.R.S. (Research will have capacity to handle 6,000-tpa
and Development Services). of secondary raw material, and is
scheduled to be up and running by
The venture is aimed at developing the end of 2024.
an innovative technology that comple-
ments mechanical recycling by trans- with Corepla (National Consortium for Hoop is the only Italian technology
forming mixed plastic waste into raw the Collection, Recycling and Reco- to have won an award from the 2023
materials to produce new virgin poly- very of Plastic Packaging) to enhance ‘EU Innovation Fund’, allocated by
mers. the value of post-consumer plastics the European Commission with a total
from national recycling collection. of €3.6-bn and focused on innovative
The project was made possible by low-carbon technologies – with 239
the collaboration – initiated in 2020 – The Hoop technology has been projects submitted and 41 total winners.

168 Chemical Weekly November 21, 2023

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