China Polyurethane Industry Association, in collaboration with 24 Chinese leading OCF manufacturers, has recently put forward a Joint Declaration on the Elimination of Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs). These OCF manufacturers are committed to stop using SCCPs component.
Chlorinated Paraffins and Application in OCF
Chlorinated paraffins are chlorinated derivatives of paraffin hydrocarbons. Depending on the length of their carbon chains, they are categorized as short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs with carbon chain lengths in the range C10-13), medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs with carbon chain lengths in the range C14-17), and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (LCCPs with carbon chain lengths in the range C18-28). Chlorinated paraffins are valued for their low volatility, flame-retardant properties, and good electrical insulation, and are widely used in the production of cable compounds, flooring materials, hoses, synthetic leather, rubber, and more.
In OCF products, chlorinated paraffins role as plasticizers. Some OCF manufacturers used to reduce OCF production cost by excessive dosage of chlorinated paraffins, resulting in decreased adhesive performance and increased susceptibility to powdering.
Hazards of Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins
SCCPs, with the shorter carbon chains, are semi-volatile and can evaporate into the environment or adhere to environmental particles at room temperature, leading to long-distance migration by its biologically toxic and bioaccumulative properties. Long-term presence of SCCPs in the environment is harmful to the animals and humans, impacting the immune and reproductive systems.
Global Elimination of Production and Use of Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins
Since 1980, European Commission, Canada, and the World Health Organization(WHO) have successively conducted research evaluating the environmental behavior of chlorinated paraffins and their risks to human health. The results indicate that SCCPs possess persistent and toxic characteristics. In 2012, Canada identified all chlorinated paraffins as harmful to human health and prohibited their manufacture, use, and import in the country. In 2017, SCCPs were formally included in Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), initiating a global phase-out of their production and use.
Phasing out Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in China
China’s chlorinated paraffins production reaches nearly 1 million tonnes annually, involving hundreds of manufacturers. Due to the wide-ranging applications and complex composition testing of chlorinated paraffins, studying their impact has been a lengthy process. Nonetheless, as one of the contracting parties to the Stockholm Convention, China is making its efforts to phase out SCCPs.
On December 29, 2022, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the List of New Pollutants under Key Control (2023 Edition), to be implemented starting from March 1, 2023. The List specifies that after the exemption period ends on December 31, 2023, the production and use of SCCPs for waterproofing, flame retardant paints, adhesives, and toys will be prohibited.
On June 6, 2023, MEE, together with other ministries, issued the Announcement on Environmental Risk Control Requirements for Five Persistent Organic Pollutants such as PCNs. The Announcement once again explicitly states the prohibition on the production, use, import, and export of SCCPs, with the exemption period ending on December 31, 2023.
Banning SCCPs – OCF Industry Moving Toward A Green Future
Starting from January 2024, the OCF industry is prohibited from using SCCPs in China. This signifies a shift towards a greener future, imposing higher requirements on the raw material quality.
Banning SCCPs is Just the Beginning – What’s Next?
From October 9 to 13, 2023, the 19th meeting of the POPs Review Committee (POPRC-19) was held in Rome, at the FAO headquarters. During the meeting, scientists unanimously agreed that MCCPs should be considered hazardous chemicals and recommended their inclusion in Convention Annex A. For Chinese OCF and other downstream products industries related to chlorinated paraffins, the ban on SCCPs is just the beginning. As global research and regulatory initiatives on chlorinated paraffins continue to progress, MCCPs may undergo a similar phase-out trend as SCCPs.
