Plastic compound manufacturers have a range of strict regulatory requirements that they need to adhere to if they want to ensure environmental and personal safety when it comes to their compounds.Each country has its own specific standards, although many plastic compound manufacturers ensure that they are also aligned with international safety and sustainability standards so that they can safely export their products.
If local standards and regulations are not met, the manufacturers could face penalties, fines, and liabilities. In this article, we discuss the importance of plastic compound manufacturers meeting industry regulations, as well as what that looks like here in South Africa.
What Should You Be Looking for When Buying from Plastic Compound Manufacturers?
When purchasing plastic compounds, you want to ensure that you support sustainable, ethical and trustworthy plastic compound manufacturers, but this can be tricky to do if you don’t know what you’re looking out for. Choose manufacturers that make use of lead-free stabilisers as well as cadmium-free stabilisers and additives. You also want the compounds to be free of mercury and bisphenol A.
The Importance of Adhering to These Standards
Certain chemicals and substances, such as mercury, are deemed unsafe for good reason. Barring the use of certain chemicals is done out of respect for the environment, and to protect factory workers, as well as those who may purchase the end product.
What is SAVA?
SAVA is an acronym for the Southern African Vinyl’s Association, which is an association committed to sustainability within the vinyl industry. Plastic compound manufacturers in South Africa should be members if they themselves care for and are considerate of the environment.
REACH Compliance
REACH is actually a European regulation but is often a requirement in other countries too. Being REACH-compliant means that certain chemicals are not used in the production of compounds. REACH ensures that major chemicals that are harmful to either humans or the environment are not used in plastic products.
RoHS Compliance
RoHS is also a European directive, which restricts the use of 10 specific substances when it comes to the manufacturing of plastic compounds, mostly specifically towards electrical and electronic equipment.
Here at Innovative PVC Compounds, we pride ourselves on being compliant with all industry regulations and standards. Our CEO sits on the Board of SAVA and is committed to being a leader in sustainability within the South African PVC compounds industry. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with purchasing your compounds from a sustainable source with IPC.
Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
