Products
We have an extensive list of restricted substances that are banned from our products. In addition we have a list of relevant substances, to which we pay attention from a precautionary point of view.
Developing industry lists
We were at the forefront in the early 1990s in developing common lists used by electronics companies through the European industry association, then called EACEM.
More recently, we have been engaged in such activities as a global initiative to construct one list of chemicals of concern for electronics products, or standardization activities to define workable ways to sample and test electronics products for substances banned under EU Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, known as RoHS, which went into effect on July 1, 2006.
For harmonization of industry requirements towards the supply chain we work together with other companies under the umbrella of the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct (EICC).
Examples of voluntary phase-out (based on the precautionary principle)
Polyvinyl Chloride
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a polymer with properties that makes it suitable for many applications. However, there are stakeholders that focus on potential environmental side effects for instance unsafe recycling, outside well equipped recycling systems. The typical use for PVC is blister packs for small products. We banned PVC from product packaging in the mid-1990s because packaging can “go astray” and end up in the environment in an uncontrolled way, or be improperly treated during packaging recycling. Other applications are certain polymer parts in electronic products and cables.
PVC-free products
In 2008 we have started a pilot to replace PVC in certain consumer products aiming to have PVC free consumer product models on the market by year-end 2008. This has led to the introduction of a PVC free remote control (product code: SRP5002). Furthermore, several of our products such as the housings of our TVs, Senseo products and our oral healthcare products are PVC free. We are pursuing a phase-out of PVC by December 31, 2010, for consumer products newly put on the market after that date. The main challenge is to find PVC alternatives for cordsets and internal wiring which meet the same quality & safety standards as PVC based products.
Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)
All Philips products are designed with quality and safety in mind. In some cases there can be a conflict of interest between product safety regulations and environmental risk reduction.
In 1998 we began proactively restricting the use of flame retardants polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominatedbiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in many product categories anticipating the EU RoHS legislation.
Our policy is to have housings of Philips Flat TVs made from flame retardant materials by means of non-brominated flame retardants. We have fully delivered on this policy in Europe and are in full transition in other parts of the world. To plan for a phase-out of BFRs in the entire product and in all types of consumer products, we are continuing our research for alternative materials for bromine in components such as printed circuit boards.
BFR-free product pilots
In 2008 we have started a pilot to replace BFR in certain consumer products aiming to have BFR free consumer product models on the market year in by year-end 2008. Several of our products such as the housings of our TVs, Senseo products and our oral healthcare products are BFR free.
BFR phase-out
These pilots are intended to provide valuable information to support achieving a phase-out of BFR by December 31, 2010, for consumer products newly put on the market after that date.
Other chemicals
We pro-actively strive to eliminate substances of potential concern, including arsenic, all phthalates and antimony.
Arsenic
We have eliminated arsenic from television glass and other display products from 2008 onwards.
We are also looking at possibilities to eliminate other heavy metals typically found in such glass types. The end goal is to be using glass types that make the glass optimally recyclable at end-of-life.
Phthalates and antimony
All phthalates and antimony/antimony compounds will be eliminated by December 31, 2010, for consumer products newly put on the market after that date.
Beryllium
Where technological feasible we have banned Beryllium from our products.
Processes (manufacturing)
We have an extensive list of restricted substances banned during production processes. In addition we have a list of hazardous substances, which we strive to significantly reduce or eliminate, and a list of relevant substances, to which we pay attention from a precautionary point of view.
These lists for products and processes are available for download at the right side of this page.
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