EU Legislation, Chemical Product Waste: Key Implications
Key Summary
• EU policy is pushing a circular economy focused on reparability, reusability and recycling
• The European Commission is assessing how chemical, product and waste laws interact
• Key issues include tracking substances of concern and managing recycled materials
• Electronics manufacturers face challenges with end of waste criteria and EU waste classification
• IPC is preparing a coordinated response for industry members to influence the consultation
The European Union promotes a “circular economy” with closed-loop production based as much as possible on reparability, reusability and recycling. But in order for more products to be recycled or reused, it is crucial to tackle the challenges at the source, by ensuring that the product design facilitates recycling, and by substituting, whenever feasible, hazardous substances with suitable alternatives. In this context, the European Commission recently asked stakeholders their opinions on the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation. The questionnaire drafted by the European Commission covers some key issues for the electronics industry, including the definition of ‘substances of concern’ and the tracking of these substances. Based on Commission’s communication on this subject, the aim of the questionnaire is to get stakeholders’ views on four issues posing obstacles to ‘the safe uptake of secondary raw materials’ and a number of related challenges: lack of information on substances of concern in products and waste; presence of substances of concern in recycled materials; difficulties in applying end-of-waste criteria; and unclear application of EU waste classification methodologies. This is one of the priority issues for the electronics industry in Europe, and IPC’s Senior Director of Europe, Nicolas Robin, is currently working with IPC members on a common response to the consultation. Please don’t hesitate to share your views and concerns. The deadline has been set for October 29, 2018. The European Commission’s key Policy Officer responsible for the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation, Enrique Garcia-John, will be one of the speakers at this year’s IPC IMPACT Europe on November 28-29 in Brussels. Register now to speak directly with high level EU decision-makers, make your voice heard, and better understand future EU legislative plans.
The goal is to design products that can be repaired, reused or recycled and reduce hazardous substances at the source.
They want industry input on chemical, product and waste legislation challenges that hinder safe recycling and secondary raw material use.
These are chemicals within products that may pose risks during recycling, reuse or disposal and require better tracking and transparency.
Manufacturers must navigate complex rules on chemical reporting, recycled material use and EU waste classification requirements.