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” Hardness ≥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: Cross-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:

• Specify 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