1 Applied EcoDesign Chemical Content and Substances Prof. Dr. Ir. Ab Stevels Chair of Applied EcoDesign Design for Sustainability Dept. Design Engineering, School of Industrial Design Delft University of Technology

2 Outline 1.Why consider chemical content Drivers Enablers 2.Hazardous and environmentally relevant substances 3.The Philips Approach of Chemical Content 4.Societal discussions: example lead free soldering 5.Conclusions

3 The role of Substances / Chemical Content Role is functionality. Flame retardants Solder Additives in plastics Corrosion protection Components functionality (“dopes”, electrolytes) “Smaller, smarter, lighter, stronger” Keep functionality / life cycle perspective in mind!

4 Why consider chemical content? Drivers Customer health and safety aspects emotion about chemicals Legislation/regulation mandatory elimination of substances (Hg, Cd, Pb, other) waste problems NGO’s/ consumer organizations Chemical content ranks very high on priority lists Company focussed actions

5 Why consider chemical content? Enablers Science and technology more insight in potential toxicity and hazardousness avaliability alternatives (lead-free, halogen free) Suppliers Move in the field (as well) Cost / quality effects on sales end-of-life costs, recyclability

6 Know what your talking about What substances are in your product? What is the chemical form, what are the concentrations? What is the opinion/perception of the outside world? How can we improve? eliminate substitute lower concentration

7 Hazardous and environmentally relevant substances, I Five types of hazardous 1.Scientifically proven to be hazardous in a certain form and a certain concentration for humans, animals and/or ecosphere 2.Likely to be hazardous according to 1 but not proven (precautionary principle applies) 3.Legislated / regulated by authorities ‘hazardousness’ (=legal opinion) 4.Banned by companies because of ‘hazardousness’ (=company policy) 5.Perceived to be hazardous by environmental organisations and/or parts of general public/customers

8 Hazardous and environmentally relevant substances, II Examples of hazardous categories 1.Mercury, dioxin 2.Brominated flame retardants, CFC (ozone depleting) 3.CRT’s in the USA, CFC (ozone depleting) 4.Cadmium 5.PVC in Europe (Greenpeace, 30% of general public)

9 The Philips chemical content activity Runs now for 15 years huge effort, because suppliers did/ sometimes still do not understand are reluctant/do not want do not give (right) info Environmental indicators for key components and materials are known, all suppliers/subcontractors involved Obvious improvements done + compliance with laws achieved proactively further progress hampered by lack of eco-efficient alternatives

10 List of substances to be banned Cadmium and compounds Mercury and compounds Asbestos (all types) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB’s) and biphenyl ethers (PBBE’s) Chlorophenylsbiphenyls (PCB’s) terphenyls (PCT’s) Pentachlorophenol (PCP) Polyvinylchloride and –blends (PVC), for packaging only

11 List of substances about which information is to be providedand which are to be decreased More than hazardous: also recycling, marketing, cost relevance. Derived from substances list all around the world (addressing all kinds of environmental aspects). Selection (40 out of more than 1000) of substances relevant for the customer electronics industry. Introduction of thresholds toxicity chemical analysis practical reasons

12 Component inf.:component (family):type number: supplier:comp. weight: CompoundThreshold present  Antimony and – compounds 10   Arsenic and – compounds 5   Beryllium and – compounds 10   Cadmium and – compounds 5   Chromium and – compounds 10   Cobalt and – compounds 25   Lead and – compounds 100   Mercury and – compounds 2   Metal carbonyls 10   Organic Tin 10   Selenium and – compounds 10   Tellurium and – compounds 10   Thallium and – compounds 10  Questionaire about banned and relevant substances

13 Component inf.: component (family):type number: supplier:comp. weight: CompoundThreshold present  Asbestos (all types)10   Cyanides10   Benzene1   Phenol (monomer)10  Toluene3 Xylene5  Polycyclis aromatic hydrocarbons 5   CFC’s and halones 0  … Questionaire about banned and relevant substances

14 Chemical content procedure Questionnaire and explanation sent to supplier Message: to know to improve not to forbid Answer/ certificate given Answer/ certificate checked Environmental Indicator (E.I.) given E.I. in database/ on lists

15 Environmental indicator E.I. Env. releaseDescription 9YesComplete and reliable info; no relevant substances 6AllowedContains environmentally relevant substances in concentrations above thresholds of EACAM list; but no banned substances TTemporarilyContains no banned substances, other substances unknown RRejectedContains banned substances BlankPendingNo (complete) environmental information available

16 Components/ materials Special attention regarding environmental aspects for: Switches Cables and wiring Pigmented plastics PWB laminates Electromotors Springs Flame retardant plastics in e.g. brackets connectors transformers encasing Electrolytic capacitors

17 Environmental certificate The information will be treated confidentially Supplier: Material (family): Trade name: Return completed to : Philips Div. Purchasing Eindhoven, The Netherlands If valid tag Supplier warrants that in the above indicated components as used by Philips Consumer Electronics BV and/or its affiliated companies no substances are present from the Philips Consumer Electronics List of Hazardous Substances or, if present, are below the listed concentration levels. Suppliers confirms that the above indicates components as used by the Philips Consumer Electronics BV and/or its affiliated companies contain the following materials from the Philips Consumer Electronics List of Hazardous Substances with concentrations above the listed levels. (please indicate chemical(s) concerned, and concentration in ppm value on above mentioned list) Supplier warrants that no other substances are present in the supplied components or, if present are below the indicated concentration levels as mentioned in the above List, as submitted to the supplier. Name: Supplier’s Company Stamp Function: Date:

18 Internal successes Banned substances under control Number of fully released components and materials dramatically increased Know what we are doing (transparency) Chemical content has been useful tool to reduce code numbers and to achieve economy of scale/ global purchasing

19 External successes Compliance with laws (Europe, elsewhere ) done pro- actively Communication/answer to questions (however, cannot score as a company, prefer to do it via associations) Environmental image of Philips is very good, also in the substances domain

20 Societal discussions on chemical content Lead-free soldering as an example: The drivers strongly prefer lead-free The enablers are mixed: Science and technology: there are alternatives Suppliers: have to change, generally resists Money: lead-free costs more

21 Lead-free soldering, environmental perspective Also environment itself is ambiguous about lead-free solder Emissions worse (more energy needed) Resources worse (silver, tin, bismuth more scarce than lead) Actual toxicity in end-of-life phase is depending on scenario solder in end-of-life fractions: lead is no problem solder in mixed plastics leads to big problems (incineration, landfill)

22 Lead-free soldering, the balancing act Basic for operation should be science/ rational Societal concerns are for real Industry is no “natural talent” in green In wealthy societies a lot of people buy on basis of perceptions (“image”, incl. environmental image) not on basis of performance

23 Decision making of lead-free soldering 1.Know what you are talking about – get the facts 1.chemical content 2.money, transformation costs 3.environmental effects conclusion: doubtful 2.Look at the external world 1.customers 2.legislation 3.what are the competitors conclusion: go for it 3.Study the technicalities 1.basic principles 2.pilots conclusion: it can be done

24 Lead-free soldering, decision and execution 1.Philips Consumer Electronics targets for replacement of lead containing solder by the end of Developments in the outside world will be closely monitored 3.Decision on lead-free to be implemented in the roadmap: each Business Creation Unit to have at least one lead-free product in 2002

25 Lead-free soldering, conclusion 1.Lead-free soldering is a typical example of environmental dilemma’s 2.Lead-free is an example where emotions overrule science/ ratio 3.It has been a though decision

26 Conclusions 1.Substances/ chemical issues to stay 2.Science is a too small basis to tackle the subject (genuine concern and emotion) 3.Alignment, balance with other environmental items needed (EU, US, … to improve) 4.The Philips approach allows to tackle the subject; it is a huge effort but it works! 5.A lot of Societal-discussions, lead-free soldering to proceed.