On October 28, 2021 the European Council adopted a proposal to protect human health and the environment from some of the most harmful chemicals in waste—Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

mposed limits may be especially significant for the manufacturing industry since POPs include:

• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), mostly found in fuel lines, gaskets, mechanical bearings, waterproof textiles and fire-fighting foams;
• Pentachlorophenol (PCP), mostly found in treated wood and textiles.

Although direct use of the above POPs in manufacturing has been discontinued, they are still present in some products processed in the automotive, rubber and textile industries. Materials from second-hand components are recycled and reused in the production process. In addition, POPs can sometimes be found in aftermarket services components.

Should the Council and European Parliament accept the proposal, it will likely trigger significant changes in the manufacturing industry’s existing business models. POPs will inevitably have to be removed from supply chains.

The European Council’s proposal is the next step toward implementing the Green Deal and moving toward a clean, circular economy. POPs remaining in the ecosystem cause gradual emissions and pollution, especially of the soil, which consequently adversely impacts the environment as well as human health. The long-term plans of the European Commission concerning waste management include minimizing waste through the highest-possible material recovery while simultaneously eliminating toxic substances and waste in which POP limits have been exceeded.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have concerning the impact of the Green Deal on a particular economic sector.