Library

Safer Consumer Products (SCP) has compiled a list of alternatives to PFASs in carpets and rugs to assist manufacturers looking for substitutes. The alternatives have been grouped into two categories: non-chemical and chemical alternatives. Products and manufacturers are listed but they are not endorsed by SCP and the safety of the alternatives has not been assessed.

This article reports on the outcome of an African regional workshop on generating support for phasing out lead in paint. The workshop recommended a lead limit of 90 ppm. In Nigeria, the 90 ppm lead standard has been in place since 2016 and a roadmap on lead paint elimination and management has been adopted.

A company may choose to substitute a chemical to improve the safety or environmental footprint of a product or material.  In other cases, the primary reason may be to improve functionality, but it is important to ensure that substitute chemicals do not carry unintended health or pollution risks.  This guide form the European Chemicals Agency provides an overview of how to identify harmful substances and ensure that substitution practices are effective in improving safety and reducing chemical impacts.

OECD have compiled a range of frameworks, guides and toolkits are available to support sound chemical substitution processes.

A guide from ChemSec aiming to simplify the process of chemical substitution

This guide is produced by the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.The substitution guide is aimed for all businesses who want to start working on systematic chemical work. It might be best suited for small and medium-sized companies that are just starting their work. The guide does not address any specific industry, but the examples and templates are developed for producing companies and companies that work with trade in goods.

The substitution guide provides practical advice and recommends tools and resources that are relevant to the goal of each step. Some resources can be used in several steps, so they are mentioned several times so that you know how the resources are intended to be used.

The Portal provides information to supporting efforts in substituting hazardous substances and assisting in finding safer alternatives. 

Updated list of restricted substances that building materials and products can be checked against.