# Opportunities to Reduce Third Party Testing Costs for the Plastics Industry Consumer Product Safety Commission April 3, 2014

## Founded in 1937, SPI is the only U.S. trade association representing all segments of the plastics industry.

# MISCONCEPTION: All plastic materials used in children’s products must be tested to ensure compliance with phthalate limits. 

# REALITY:

• The restricted ortho

- phthalate plasticizers may be intentionally added to flexible polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and thermoset polyurethanes to make these materials flexible.

• The restricted ortho

- phthalate plasticizers will NOT be added to rigid plastic materials (Shore “A” Hardness ≥ 90), nor will they be present in these materials as contaminants at levels higher than 1000ppm

.
• The restricted ortho

- phthalates are incompatible with many plastic materials (e.g., styrenics , polyolefins ), and these materials are made flexible by other means.

May contain phthalates > 1000ppm Will not contain phthalates > 1000ppm

# Plastic Materials that May be Excluded from Testing

• Rigid plastics with Shore “A” H ardness ≥90

• Acetal / polyoxymethylene (POM) homopolymer

• 1,3,5

- trioxane, copolymer with 1,3

- dioxolane ( acetal / polyoxymethylene (POM) copolymer)

• Acrylic ( polymethylmethacrylate and polyacrylonitrile )

• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymers (ABS)

• Butadiene

- ethylene resins

• Butene

- ethylene copolymers

• Ethylene copolymers

• Ethylene acrylic acid copolymers

• Ethylene

- propylene copolymers

• Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers

• Ethylene vinyl acetate vinyl alcohol copolymers

• Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers

• Ionomers

• Liquid crystal polymers ( hydroxybenzoic acid copolymers)

• Nylon/polyamide

• Olefin thermoplastic elastomers (such as EPDM)

• Polybutene

# Plastic Materials that May be Excluded from Testing

• Polybutylene terephthalate

• Polycarbonate

• Polyesters

• Polyethylene (LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE, HDPE and UHMWPE)

• Polyethylene terephthalate

• Polylactic acid

• Polyphenylene sulfide

• Polypropylene

• Polystyrene

• Polytetramethylene glycol

- dimethyl terephthalate

- 1,4

- butanediol copolymer (polyester elastomer)

• Propylene

- ethylene copolymers

• Silicone rubber (pure)

• Styrene

- butadiene copolymers

• Styrene

- butadiene

- styrene rubbers (SBS/SBR)

• Styrene

- acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN)

• Vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate copolymers

• CMYK Process Inks

# MISCONCEPTION: C ross
- contamination may lead to the unintentional presence of phthalates in excess of 1000ppm in a variety of plastic products.

REALITY: Manufacturers have strong incentives to avoid
cross
- contamination of rigid plastics with phthalates or with flexible PVC that may contain phthalates.
Destruction of resin

Off

- gassing from chemical reaction Corrosion of equipment

Facility evacuation Poor technical performance

# SPI’s Recommendation to Reduce Testing Costs
SPI respectfully requests that the Commission:

• S pecify that rigid plastic materials with Shore “A” Hardness of 90 or greater will not contain the restricted phthalates in excess of specified limits.

• Publicly identify the many types of plastic materials that are known not to contain the restricted phthalates in excess of specified limits.

# Thank you!

Kyra Mumbauer Senior Director, Global Regulatory Affairs SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association O: 202

- 974

- 5214 C: 202

- 427

- 4472 kmumbauer@plasticsindustry.org