Fluoropolymers – A key to Europe’s strategic autonomy
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Fluoropolymers Product Group. We hope you have had a good rentrée. Certainly a lot has taken place in the European regulatory and policy world over the summer break. Read on to find out the latest about and from the fluoropolymers sector.
This issue at a glance:
- Feature article: Fluoropolymers and European Strategic Autonomy
- Regulatory updates
- Draghi report: banning PFAS would hurt European clean energy sector
- Meetings of SEAC and RAC
- New EU Commission to present “Chemicals Industry Package” to simplify REACH, address PFAS
- German Chancellor Scholz calls for “pragmatic” approach to PFAS
- Upcoming events
Do not hesitate to reach out should you wish to showcase the socio-economic, industrial, technological or environmental importance of fluoropolymers to your sector.
With kind regards,
Ronald Bock, Chairman, Fluoropolymers Product Group
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Fluoropolymers enable European strategic autonomy
Europe has been increasingly working to strengthen its strategic autonomy in recent years. That means making Europe more independent in critical economic sectors.
Last June, the 27 national leaders gathered in the European Council spelled out where the focus should be in the EU’s Strategic Agenda for 2024 to 2029. This calls for not only diversifying supply chains but also “build[ing] up our own capacity in sensitive sectors and key technologies of the future” such as defence, space, semiconductors, health, net-zero technologies, mobility, chemicals and advanced materials.
As it happens, fluoropolymers are crucial in all of these areas. As a diverse and advanced group of materials with extremely strong chemical bonds, fluoropolymers are resistant to heat, water and corrosives, and thus able to withstand the most demanding environments. This makes them ideal to make many devices more durable and essential to a wide range of applications, including the production of semiconductors, 5G networks and power grids.
Fluoropolymers also have numerous critical applications in the field of energy. They enable the flow of electricity in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Fluoropolymers can also form specialised membranes enabling the production of green hydrogen fuel cells that power modern transport, such as buses and trucks, and help extend the lifespan of solar and wind technology by protecting against harsh conditions and insulating against electrical failures. Taken together, fluoropolymers are simply essential to Europe’s energy autonomy, renewable energy transition and net-zero ambitions.
What’s more, fluoropolymers also contribute to European countries’ defence and aerospace efforts, being found throughout military-industrial bases supporting mission-critical component production and supply. In the area of health, countless medical devices that save lives every day depend on the purity of fluoropolymers to ensure that they are sterile and durable in the most delicate of conditions.
Emission control is a major concern and legitimate question when it comes to complex industrial chemical production processes such as fluoropolymer manufacturing. As a solution, fluoropolymer manufacturers have announced a voluntary commitment to significantly reduce non-polymeric PFAS emissions from Europe-based fluoropolymer manufacturing by 2030.This industry-led initiative goes further than current EU requirements, effectively setting the highest standards for fluoropolymer manufacturing worldwide.
Strategic autonomy is about the very concrete work of making sure Europe can keep itself powered, healthy, competitive and secure. Fluoropolymers play a critical role in sustaining the cutting-edge industries that can make this possible. In short, this remarkable class of materials is one of the keys to Europe’s strategic autonomy. And this need not come at a cost to the environment: fluoropolymers can be made, used safely and handled responsibly across their entire life cycles.
REGULATORY UPDATES
Draghi report warns banning PFAS would hurt European clean energy sector
Mario Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank, has presented his long awaited report on the future of Europe’s competitiveness. The report presents a wide range of measures to boost competitiveness, investment and innovation in Europe. Draghi has been critical of overregulation undermining competitiveness, including in the area of chemicals.
The report argues that “[r]isk assessment of EU regulation may not always be based on actual exposure, imposing additional constraints on products and processes,” specifically citing the PFAS restriction proposal as an example. It notes that banning PFAS “would impact the use of substances needed to produce clean technologies (batteries and electrolysers), for which there are currently no alternatives.”
The findings of the report will contribute to the Commission’s work on a new plan for Europe’s sustainability and competitiveness, as well as the development of a new Clean Industrial Deal.
RAC and SEAC discuss PFAS restriction proposal
ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) held meetings from 16 to 20 September. At the RAC meeting, regulators discussed PFAS in waste emissions; textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel, carpets (TULAC); food contact materials and packaging; and petroleum and mining.
New Commission to present “Chemicals Industry Package” to simplify REACH, address PFAS
Von der Leyen has presented her proposed team of commissioners-designate for the next five-year mandate. Sweden’s Jessika Roswall has been nominated to be commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy. As detailed in Roswall’s mission letter, she would work with Stéphane Séjourné of France, designated to become executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy, to prepare a new “Chemicals Industry Package” to simplify REACH and provide clarity on PFAS.
Scholz calls for “pragmatic” approach to PFAS
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a “pragmatic” approach to PFAS during a visit to a chemical production site in late August. “In the European Union, Germany will push for a pragmatic approach that does not hinder Germany’s industrial development … but promotes it,” Scholz said. The statement comes amidst industry concern that a total ban would severely impact sectors and applications for which no alternatives are yet available.
Chancellor Scholz reiterated his position during a speech at the Chemistry & Pharma Summit on 12 September 2024. He called for an accelerated searched for alternatives to PFAS, while adding that where no alternatives exist their use must remain possible through transitional periods and exceptions. Scholz said the German government rejects a total ban on entire groups of chemical substances.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Plastic Treaty Talks: Updates and the View to the Finish Line | online, 4 October 2024.m
- European Sustainable Chemicals Conference| Brussels, 19 November 2024
- Chemical Recycling Europe Forum | Brussels, 27 November 2024