The negative effects of human activity – including pollution, climate change, natural resource depletion and biodiversity loss – not only cause environmental degradation, but also have negative effects on human health. Chemicals in products are on the EU policy agenda, particularly as the EU’s Circular Economy strategy seeks to ensure easier reintroduction of secondary raw materials into the economy without spreading problematic substances . ECOS calls for more stringent application of the existing chemicals legislation, and pushes for long-awaited nanomaterial-specific legislation. Our goal is to eliminate or minimise the use of problematic substances in (consumer) products in order to protect human health and the environment. We promote the development of ambitious requirements on problematic substances in product standards, as a well as a safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials.
Related campaigns: Alliance for Flame Retardant Free Furniture
The Alliance for Flame Free Furniture welcomes the ‘COVID-19 Regulatory Relief and Work from Home Safety Act’ passed by the United States congress and signed into law on December 27, 2020, requiring that all upholstered seating for furniture imported or sold in the US comply with the flammability test specified by the California Technical Bulletin 117-2013 (TB 117 – 2013), a smoulder test.
ECOS is looking for experts in the field of Chemicals across the entire value chain to provide us with technical and scientific input and represent ECOS position in the development of standards.
The Alliance for Flame Retardant Free Furniture welcomes the New Circular Economy Action Plan and calls on the EU institutions to address the unnecessary and unwanted use of chemicals which prevent circularity and climate goals, such as toxic flame retardants in furniture. They directly endanger people’s health, as they migrate out of products and may lead to an increase in fire toxicity.
