Leaving out plasticizers completely isn’t possible. Without them, PVC is brittle and snaps like a dry noodle. Like the boiling water that softens the pasta, the chemical additives in PVC act like a lubricant between the molecule chains of the polymer and make the plastic as soft and supple as is required for the intended application.

Phthalates under REACH

Phthalates Plasticizers commonly used in soft PVC is Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is known as toxic substance to reproduction and has been listed as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under REACH*. It is essential to regulate them because the effects they can have on humans and the environment are very serious and often irreversible. The companies who are dealing SVHC as substances and also to their presence in articles has legal obligations; to communicate toward the downstream user and to apply for authorization by submitting Chemical Safety Report to ECHA**.

Starflex is fully ready for REACH in 2 ways

First, Starflex is producing the entire existent product range in Phthalate Free under the name of Starflex® Phthalate Free. All the downstream users of Starflex can buy and sell our PVC banner with no worry on the harmful substance for human, nor the Authorization procedure to ECHA.

Second, Starflex has initiated the Chemical Safety Report since ECHA has announced its inclusion of SVHC on 28th of October, 2008 for currently distributing conventional PVC banners. Starflex will fulfill its obligations for the authorizations before 11 June, 2010 so that downstream users of Starflex can deal with its product with confidence in commercialization and with caution in application.

*REACH stands for the Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. The REACH Regulation entered into force on 1st June 2007 to streamline and improve the former legislative framework for chemicals of the European Union (EU).

** European Chemicals Agency