Durable Labelling
Recent legislation from the European Parliament for both motor vehicles (ELV Directive) and electrical equipment (WEEE Directive) has been introduced to prevent waste from these items when they have reached the end of their useful life. These directives set targets for the collection, recycling and recovery of all types of vehicles and electrical products.
Self-adhesive laminates manufactured by UPM Raflatac are processed by label converters into labels, which may be used on motor vehicles and electrical equipment.
Part of these directives restricts the use of certain chemicals in these items, which applies to all components that are used in them. One aspect concerns the restriction of six hazardous substances, which are lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and the flame retardants PBB (polybrominated biphenyls) and PBDE (polybrominated diphenylethers).
None of these substances are used in the manufacture of self-adhesive labelstock. However, there may be small trace amounts of the heavy metals present.
An analysis has been carried out with regard to RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC. The results obtained showed that typical laminate values are:
- Lead less than 2ppm
- Cadmium less than 2ppm
- Mercury less than 2ppm
- Hexavalent Chromium less than 2ppm
- PBB (polybrominated biphenyls) less than 5ppm
- PBDE (polybrominated diphenylethers) less than 5ppm
Conformance to the Restriction of certain hazardous substance (RoHS ) Directive 2002/95/EC