EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Supplerende svar på spørgsmål 49: Spm. om, hvilke interessenter, virksomheder mv. ministeriet har været i dialog med i forbindelse med ønsket om at indføre et forbud imod anvendelsen af PFAS, til miljøministeren, kopi til udenrigsministeren

Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del
Offentligt

Date: 17.09.2021

Kind attention:

Mr. Martijn Beekman - Netherlands

Dr. Mandy Lokaj - Germany

Mrs. Jenny Ivarsson - Sweden

Mr. Toke Winther - Denmark

Mr. Audun Heggelund - Norway

Mr. Mark Blainey - ECHA

[email protected]

Through:

Pro-K Industrieverband Halbzeuge und Konsumprodukte aus Kunststoff e.V. (pro-K),

Städelstr. 10, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The members of pro-K mainly focus on processing of Fluoropolymers, part manufacturing and its

applications, the involvement of downstream users in PFAS process.

Subject:

PFAS restriction proposal & request for exemption of FLUOROPOLYMERS

Reference:

PFAS - Registry of restriction intentions until outcome (RoI) dated 15

July 2021

Dear Sir/Madam,

With regards to Registry of Intention (RoI) filed by 4 EU Member States (Germany, the Netherlands,

Sweden, and Denmark) & Norway for the restriction of PFAS, we, a member of fluoropolymer

downstream user industry, hereby, would like to share some salient facts related to the importance

of fluoropolymers, critical functionalities, performance and benefits of its applications to society,

while acknowledging concerns regarding PFAS emissions related to the use of fluoropolymers and

their end of life.

Registry of Intention for PFAS restriction was announced by ECHA on 15

July 2021, to prepare a

restriction proposal for PFAS. Fluoropolymers are also included in the scope. The restriction proposal

is intended to be submitted to ECHA by 15

July 2022.

Fluoropolymers are a distinct subset of PFAS and are inherently safe, non-mobile, non-bio

accumulative and non-toxic. Fluoropolymers are different from other PFAS as they

do not share the

toxicological and environmental profiles

associated with PFAS of concern. Fluoropolymers have

unique set of physicochemical properties,

they meet OECD polymer of low concern criteria, and are

considered to have

insignificant environmental and human health impact.

Fluoropolymers ensure safety, reliability, durability and critical performance in numerous

technologies, industrial processes and everyday applications that are important for human health,

safety, and the environment. With a unique combination of functionalities, fluoropolymers are

TRP SEALING SYSTEMS LTD

ETHERWOOD

OAD



OTHERWAS

NDUSTRIAL

STATE



EREFORD

HR2 6JU

Tel:

UK (0)1432-279366

Fax:

UK (0)1432-273017

DIRECTORS



J CHILDREN



R G CHILDREN



R A TOBEY



BANKERS



HSBC

1

BROAD

STREET

LEOMINSTER

HEREFORDSHIRE

REG OFFICE



NETHERWOOD ROAD



ROTHERWAS



HEREFORD



PLACE

REGISTRATION



CARDIFF N°

1588087

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Supplerende svar på spørgsmål 49: Spm. om, hvilke interessenter, virksomheder mv. ministeriet har været i dialog med i forbindelse med ønsket om at indføre et forbud imod anvendelsen af PFAS, til miljøministeren, kopi til udenrigsministeren

irreplaceable across many key sectors/applications. Alternatives to fluoropolymers, if exist, escalate

safety risks, carbon footprint, technology regression, and do not match the advanced performance of

fluoropolymers. Most importantly, restriction on fluoropolymers will make EU industry lose its

technological superiority over other economies and could put Europe’s climate and energy goals at

risk. Overall, fluoropolymers contribute heavily to Europe’s socio-economic status and are critical for

the betterment of the society.

The fluoropolymer downstream user industry acknowledges the concerns regarding PFAS emissions

due to the use of fluoropolymers and end of life processes. We wish to assure the authorities and EU

Member States that, we are implementing Best Available Technologies to ensure reduction in PFAS

emissions in a systematic way and eventually eliminating them to achieve EU’s sustainability goals.

Parallelly, we are consciously working on recyclability and reusability to meet circular economy goal.

Fluoropolymers play an important role in achieving EU Green Deal objectives and UN Sustainable

Development Goals (UN SDG) because of their vital use in Lithium-ion batteries, Green hydrogen,

Fuel Cell, Solar and Wind energy. No new-age technologies are possible without the use of

fluoropolymers. Restriction on the use of fluoropolymers would adversely impact implementation of

these technologies crucial for planet’s future as well as in all existing applications vital for the society.

Considering the benefits of fluoropolymer applications to environment and society, low PFAS

emissions and initiatives being taken by the processing industry to further minimize emissions and

closing the loop by implementing circular economy wherever possible, we request for a

complete

exemption of fluoropolymers from the PFAS restriction proposal.

Fluoropolymers processed by us:

FKMA, FKMG, FEPM

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………

Service application industries: TRP Sealing systems are a gasket manufacturer predominantly for

the Plate heat exchanger (PHE) sector although are also producing rubber to metal bonded gaskets

for the automotive industry including for new technology EV vehicles.

PHE are seen to be extremely important both ecologically and environmentally in terms of energy

recovery and clean ballast, FKM polymers are an important part in making this a sustainable

business sector

Sincerely yours,

Name and signature

Warren Febery

Technical Manager

TRP SEALING SYSTEMS LTD

ETHERWOOD

OAD



OTHERWAS

NDUSTRIAL

STATE



EREFORD

HR2 6JU

Tel:

UK (0)1432-279366

Fax:

UK (0)1432-273017

DIRECTORS



J CHILDREN



R G CHILDREN



R A TOBEY



BANKERS



HSBC

1

BROAD

STREET

LEOMINSTER

HEREFORDSHIRE

REG OFFICE



NETHERWOOD ROAD



ROTHERWAS



HEREFORD



PLACE

REGISTRATION



CARDIFF N°

1588087

TRP SEALING SYSTEMS LTD

ETHERWOOD

OAD



OTHERWAS

NDUSTRIAL

STATE



EREFORD

HR2 6JU

Tel:

UK (0)1432-279366

Fax:

UK (0)1432-273017

DIRECTORS



J CHILDREN



R G CHILDREN



R A TOBEY



BANKERS



HSBC

1

BROAD

STREET

LEOMINSTER

HEREFORDSHIRE

REG OFFICE



NETHERWOOD ROAD



ROTHERWAS



HEREFORD



PLACE

REGISTRATION



CARDIFF N°

1588087