VECAP was initiated by some EFRA member
companies and the UK Textile Finishers
Association (TFA), who introduced a Code of
Good Practice in 2004. The TFA called on the UK
textiles industry to audit their processes and
take action to reduce emissions of the flame
retardant Deca-BDE. Over the years, the
voluntary initiative has expanded to include the
potential for emissions from flame retardants to
air, water and land for HBCD, TBBPA and EBP.
Ten years after the launch of the programme in
2004, EFRA member companies and users
continue to adhere to the good environmental
practices encouraged by the scheme in order to
reduce potential emissions of flame retardants.
The initiative is now a globally recognised product
stewardship scheme that enables flame retardant
producers and users to go beyond regulatory
requirements to control the potential for
emissions of flame retardants.
FlAME REtARDAntS
Flame retardants are substances incorporated
into materials such as plastics and textiles to
prevent or slow down the spread of fire and to
make materials self-extinguishing from fires.
Flame retardants play a crucial role in providing
people with more time to escape from fires, and
fire-fighters with additional time to respond.
Modern homes, offices and public spaces
contain highly flammable materials
9
. While the
increased use of plastics, composites, foams and
synthetic fibre-based fillings has transformed our
spaces into practical, comfortable and more energy
efficient living environments, it has brought with it an
increased risk of fire as many of these polymers can
be highly flammable. Brominated flame retardant
technologies work efficiently in a wide range of
materials and have become an important component
in products to improve reaction to fire in plastic
cables used in electronics, cars and public transport,
in polyurethane foam in furniture, in synthetic textiles
used in cinemas and theatres and insulation foams in
housing and public buildings.
A gloBAl PRogRAMME
The programme has now been adopted by
users in Europe and across the world who
commi t to the scheme by signing up,
responding to the survey questionnaires and
implement ing the recommendat ions to
reduce emissions. Best practice documentation
10
is supplied to users to help with the implementation
of best practices on site.
north America
A significant number of Deca-BDE, HBCD,
and TBBPA users have committed to
implementing the VECAP programme
The VECAP programme has been promoted
by individual BSEF members to users of
brominated flame retardants in Mexico
Asia Pacific Region
General commitment in the region to
implement VECAP for brominated flame
retardants
The programme is being actively promoted
by BSEF members in Japan, for HBCD and
also for other brominated flame retardants
Individual BSEF members also took on the
initiative in China, Singapore, Thailand,
Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan
More information on the global programme is
available on
www.vecap.info
More details on how the programme works are
available in Chapter 4.
EVolutIon
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Fast Facts on Fire Safety and Flame Retardants
http://bit.ly/1i6dkvx
10
VECAP best practice material:
http://www.vecap.info/publications-2/
Now available in more than seven languages
VECAP 2013
European Annual
Progress Report
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