Phthalates Plasticizers and Soft PVC
Soft PVC, with its wide range of properties, is especially suitable for a large number of applications. It is resistant, for example, to harsh weather conditions and to sunlight. It is easy to process and insensitive to cold. The uses of phthalates plasticizers include almost all products made from soft PVC such as floor coverings, films, cable insulations, truck tarpaulins, insulating or sealing compounds and flexible banners in the sign industries.

Leaving out plasticizers completely isn’t possible. Without them, PVC is brittle and snaps like a dry noodle. Like the boiling water that softens the pasta, the chemical additives in PVC act like a lubricant between the molecule chains of the polymer and make the plastic as soft and supple as is required for the intended application.

Phthalates under REACH
Phthalates Plasticizers commonly used in soft PVC is (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is known as toxic substance to reproduction and has been listed as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under REACH*. It is essential to regulate them because the effects they can have on humans and the environment are very serious and often irreversible. The companies who are dealing SVHC as substances and also to their presence in articles have legal obligations; to communicate toward the downstream user and to apply for authorization by submitting Chemical Safety Report to REACH.

EXTENDFLEX is fully ready for REACH in 1 way.
First, EXTENDFLEX is producing the entire existent product range in Phthalate Free under the name of EXTENDFLEX,Phthalate Free. All the downstream users of Starflex can buy and sell our PVC banner with no worry on the harmful substance for human, nor the Authorization procedure to ECHA.

*REACH stands for the Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. The REACH Regulation entered into force on 1st June 2007 to streamline and improve the former legislative framework for chemicals of the European Union (EU)