Fluoropolymers: Enablers of Europe’s Competitiveness Compass
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the latest edition of the FPG newsletter!
My name is Caroline Andersson and it is my pleasure to be serving as the new director of the Fluoropolymers Product Group.
Together with the whole FPG team, I aim to effectively serve the entire fluoropolymers industry and to make the case for the importance of these advanced materials crucial to Europe’s industry, competitiveness, sustainability and strategic autonomy.
With the Competitiveness Compass, the EU has set its sights on securing a sustainable and innovative economy in Europe. Fluoropolymers will be critical to fulfilling this ambition.
2025 is looking to be a critical year for European chemicals policy as the von der Leyen II Commission finds its stride. The Commission is expected to present its Clean Industrial Deal in the first quarter of this year and the Chemicals Industry Package in the fourth quarter. And, of course, the discussions over the PFAS REACH restriction will continue.
Be sure to subscribe and share this newsletter to receive the latest news on FPG’s activities and the European regulatory space impacting fluoropolymers.
With kind regards,
Caroline Andersson, Director, Fluoropolymers Product Group
This issue at a glance:
- Dialogue: The key to informed and balanced policymaking.
- Regulatory updates
- Competitiveness Compass: New EU rules to cut red tape and foster innovation in chemicals.
- France: REACH reform should send “clear signals” in favour of investment and innovation
- Upcoming events
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Dialogue: The key to informed policymaking
At FPG, we believe sound policymaking depends above all on balanced and inclusive dialogue to achieve well-informed and effective regulatory outcomes. Only in this way can all voices and all relevant factors be considered, whether economic, environmental, sanitary, scientific, or other.
As such, we were pleased when the European Commission recently reaffirmed its commitment to upholding EU treaty provisions for open, transparent, and inclusive dialogue with representative associations and civil society in the context of the PFAS restriction proposal.
FPG supports the high level of participation in the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) consultation process. As part of the REACH process, public consultations are an essential, legitimate and inclusive mechanism for all interested parties both within and outside of the EU.
The PFAS substance group includes approximately 10,000 substances within which fluoropolymers only represent a small fraction. The substantial volume of input from diverse stakeholders highlights the complexity and importance of this issue as well as the unprecedented scope of the restriction. Now as ever, dialogue is key to adopting a well-informed and balanced approach that considers all aspects!
REGULATORY UPDATES
Competitiveness Compass: New EU rules to cut red tape and foster innovation in chemicals
Restoring Europe’s competitiveness has been the major theme of Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as president of the European Commission. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, von der Leyen said the EU’s new plan to boost the economy, the “Competitiveness Compass,” would aim to increase productivity and innovation, overcome skills and labour shortages, and reduce red tape.
Presented earlier this week, the Competitiveness Compass outlines a range of upcoming measures to reduce administrative burden and foster significant industries. Among these will be a Chemicals Industry Package in the fourth quarter of this year. The package would include a revision to REACH aiming to bring “a real simplification on the ground” and ensure “faster decision-making on important hazards, as well as sustainability, competitiveness, security and safety”
What’s more, the Commission would present an Advanced Materials Act sometime in 2026. This would provide a framework to “support the whole lifecycle” for advanced materials, “from research and innovation to start-up creation until manufacturing and deployment.”
The fluoropolymers sector looks forward to seeing these proposals come to light. Given their unique properties and contribution to key technologies such as microchips, mobility, fuel cells, batteries, energy storage, robotics, secure connectivity and defence, there is no doubt that fluoropolymers are advanced materials. With the right framework in place, fluoropolymers can be fully leveraged as part of Europe’s quest for competitiveness and sustainability.
France: REACH reform should send “clear signals” in favour of investment and innovation
The French government is pushing for the reform of REACH as part of a series of measures to simplify EU regulation. France wants to prioritize REACH reform to strengthen health and the environment while also simplifying administrative procedures. The reform should “send clear signals to economic actors in favour of investment and innovation.”
Given the importance of REACH, the French government argues the reform should not be undertaken too hastily. Rather, there should be “an in-depth consultation to meet the expectations of stakeholders” and an impact assessment to “take into account the current economic situation.”
The memo detailing the measures also calls for a regulatory pause, re-examining and revising current legislation, and targeted changes in areas such as sustainability reporting, banking and state aid. An EU “omnibus” proposal presenting various initiatives for administrative simplification is expected on 26 February.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- US Fluoropolymers Conference | Fort-Myers, Florida | 3-5 February 2025
- Meeting of RAC | 3-7 March 2025
- Meeting of SEAC | 3-7 and 10-14 March 2025
- C5 PFAS Summit Europe | Brussels, Belgium | 13-14 March 2025
- AMI PFAS Workshop Europe | Brussels, Belgium | 2-3 June 2025