Kemi to map hazardous substances in paper and rubber

19 September 2017 / Europe

The Swedish Chemicals agency, Kemi, is to begin work, this autumn, examining a number of common materials in consumer goods, to see what hazardous chemicals might be in them.

The five 'mapping' projects will look at :

chemicals in rubber and silicone;

chemicals in paper and paperboard;

chemicals in intimate hygiene products;

microplastic in chemical products; and

chemical requirements in ecolabelling.

A key aim is to find out if there are chemicals that need addressing which are currently unregulated, the agency says.

"By increasing knowledge about the chemical content of different materials, we can also make it easier for companies to replace problematic topics for better alternatives," says Erik Gravenfors, project manager at Kemi.

The agency is to report to the government in September 2018.

The work was commissioned by the government, and Kemi will use consultancies to carry it out. It forms part of the country's initiative for a non-toxic everyday environment.