Number
039-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Electricity, steam, gas water supply and sewage treatment
Building and construction work
Manufacture of rubber products
Manufacture of plastics products, including compounding and conversion
Function
Insulators
Other
Process
High (mechanical) energy work-up of substances bound in /on materials and/or articles
Product category
other
Application
Cable sheathing
Abstract
A Danish producer of cables has developed cable installation without lead, PVC and phthalates. The new cable type NOPOVIC® is based on a mixture of non-halogen polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymers with added non-flammable minerals like magnesium and aluminium hydrates.
Substituted substances
Lead, metal
CAS No. 7439-92-1 EC No. 231-100-4 Index No.
Chemical group
Metals
Classification: hazard statements
H360FD May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child
H362 May cause harm to breast-fed children
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 2B carcinogen (IARC), neurotoxic cat. 4 (Vela et al.) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
CAS No. 9002-86-2 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Polymers
Phthalates
CAS No. EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Phthalates
Alternative Substances
Ethyl-vinyl-acetate, eva
CAS No. 24937-78-8 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Copolymers
Polyethylene, PE
CAS No. 9002-88-4 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Thermoplastic polymers
Polypropylene
CAS No. 9003-07-0 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Polymers
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
CMR
physical hazards
Hazard Assessment
Substances to be substituted: By substituting the PVC with other plastics, lead and phtalates are avoided. Lead is included on the REACH restriction list, according to Article 73 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006 (REACH Regulation). There is no group entry for phthalates in Annex VI of CLP regulation. Specific phtalates, e.g. BBP or DEHP, are considered as endocrine disruptors and toxic for reproduction under REACH and are therefore included in the REACH authorisation and restriction list. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Alternative substances: The alternatives ethyl-vinyl-acetate, polyethylene and polypropylene have no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). » Check the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)
Description of Substitution
This example is an extract from the booklet: "Hazardous Chemicals Can Be Substituted" by the Ecological Council in Denmark. You can download the booklet from the link. NKT cables have three production sites in Denmark producing different types of cables. The most commonly used isolating material for installation cables during the last 50 years has been PVC stabilised by lead and softened by phthalates. In 1993 NKT-cables was able to present the world´s first lead-free PVC installation cables. In 2001 this was legally followed by a ban on cables containing lead. Concurrent to this elimination process, fire-retarding materials were developed as alternatives to PVC used in installation cables and in flexible wires. In 2002, the company received an EU environmental award in the category "Green products" because of their work on PVC-free and halogen-free products. In 2001, the entire wire and cable system was converted into a phthalate - and halogen free version. Only a few products still contain the PVC material because some customers still request this. In 2004 the substitution of PVC reached a level of more than 40%. Advantages: Reasons for substitution of lead stabilised phthalate containing PVC are - Avoiding an annual use of 2,500 tonnes phthalates and 10,000 tonnes PVC containing approximately 100 tonnes lead compounds. - PVC is made from vinyl chloride which may cause cancer. PVC is softened by phthalates, of which the most commonly used is DEHP. - In situations of fire the new cable type is both safer and a better material for human health compared to PVC cables. NOPOVIC does not release any corrosive vapours, which in turn will give rise to formation of hydrochloric acid. When burning, only a light smoke is produced. This means that visibility is not limited, emergency escapes can be found more easily and rescues are facilitated. A disadvantage is that the new cables are more expensive than the PVC cables. All types of smoke - including smoke from NOPOVIC is dangerous.
Case/substitution evaluation
See advantages and disadvantages in the case description. The use of lead, phthalates and PVC is a great risk to human health. The substitution in this case study is successful because the alternatives have no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation) and are therefore less dangerous.
State of implementation
Full capacity
Date and place of implementation
2001 in Denmark
Availability ofAlternative
Available
Producer/Provider
Type of information supplier
Producer / distributor
Contact
https://www.ecocouncil.dk/ The Ecological Council (Det Økologiske Råd) is a Danish NGO founded in 1991. Their main objective is to promote a sustainable development, where environmental concerns, social justice and human well-being are main focal points.
Type of publication and availability
Publication freely available
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
Peter Sinsherimer Cyrus Grout Pollution Prevention Education and Research Centre Urban and Environmental Policy Institute Occidental College September 2004
Date, reviewed
December 11, 2020