OREANDA-NEWS. BASF is one of the first European manufacturers to have switched its entire portfolio of polystyrene-based insulation products for the European market to a new flame retardant, nine months ahead of the deadline laid down in the EU REACH Regulation on chemicals. Both EPS (expandable polystyrene) products (Styropor(r) and Neopor(r)) and XPS (extruded polystyrene) products (Styrodur(r)) will be manufactured in Europe using a polymeric flame retardant (PolyFR), which has a much better environmental profile than the HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane) used in the past.

According to Giorgio Greening, Global Business Unit Styrenic Foams : "By switching to PolyFR, we can guarantee the supply of eco-efficient thermal insulation products for sustainable building projects in the future. Energy efficiency in the commercial and residential construction sector is now a bigger challenge than ever for the entire value chain. As far as Styropor and Neopor are concerned, it is our job, as a raw material manufacturer, to supply our customers, i.e. insulation material manufacturers, with a high-quality material with optimal properties." BASF completed the switchover to the new flame retardant in close liaison with its customers. BASF had already switched most of its EPS range by March of this year and has already supplied customers throughout Europe.

Another PolyFR manufacturer has recently announced that it has started up a new production line. This means that the global demand for PolyFR can be satisfied.