Number
205-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of bulk, large scale chemicals (including petroleum products)
Manufacture of rubber products
Manufacture of plastics products, including compounding and conversion
Manufacture of textiles, leather, fur
Function
Plasticizer
Process
Other
Product category
polymer ppaations and cimpounds
Application
Plastic for food packaging, toys and medical equipment
Abstract
Danisco has successfully developed a bio-based plastic softener on the basis of castor oil and acetic acid. According to studies the product shows no adverse effect on human health or the environment, and has found applications in production of food wrapping, medical equipment and children’s toys. Novel applications are being tested, one of them being vinyl flooring.
Substituted substances
Phthalates
CAS No. EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Phthalates
Alternative Substances
Acetic acid
CAS No. 64-19-7 EC No. 200-580-7 Index No. 607-002-00-6
Chemical group
Organic acid
Classification: hazard statements
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Castor oil
CAS No. 8001-79-4 EC No. 232-293-8 Index No.
Chemical group
Fatty acid ester
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
ED
Hazard Assessment
Substances to be substituted: Some phthalates are endocrine disruptors. Several phthalates are restricted under REACH and listed in Annex XVII Alternative substances: Citric acid, anhydrous and castor oil have no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). All the chemical alternatives were assessed against hazards in hazardous Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC) and are not listed in the database.
Description of Substitution
The development of the product grew out of an unrelated test project on emulsifiers, where one of the employees noticed some interesting characteristics exhibited by the castor oil product. Danisco knew that some of theircustomers were looking for substitutes and encouraged by this finding they embarked on the project of developing an actual product. One of the major challenges forthe companyhas been the approval of the product. It was a new material, and the effect on human health and the environment had to be surveyed in a number of toxicological and ecotoxicological studies. All studies show that the producthas no effect on human health and the environment. A particularly positive aspect is that there are no endocrine disrupting effects, which is the largest problem associated with some of the phthalates that the product can substitute.It has been approved, among other uses, for use in plastics without any restrictions or any specific migration limit (how much may be released) according to Directive 2005/79/EC (on plastics that come into contact with food). The product was tested by 5-10 of the company'scustomers, securing that it worked before making larger investments in the production. The primary target production areas were food wrappings, children’s toys and medical equipment, since consumers usually are willing to pay extra for safer products.The alternative product still costs 2 to 2.5 times more than phthalates, but Danisco currently cooperates with the Technical University of Denmark, and the University of Aarhus runs a project under the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, focusing on how to manufacture the product or similar substances in a cheaper way. The interest in bio-based renewable materials have turned attention tothe product in vinyl flooring production, with the aim to contribute to a better indoor climate. The product is currently sold under the name GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE™, and is approved to be used in food packaging, and other products, in EU, USA, South America and most of Asia. The product is fully bio-degradable.
Case/substitution evaluation
An interesting and applicablealternative to phthalates produced from castoroil and acetic acid that has found its way to the market. The product can substitute most phthalates 1:1 without major process changes.A number of widely used phthalates (DEHP, DIBP, BBP, DBP) are on the REACH authorisation list. The concentration of these phthalates in products produced and placed on the market after 7th of July 2020 is limited below 0.1% by weight by a restriction REACH (Annex XVII, entry 51).
State of implementation
In use
Availability ofAlternative
On market
Producer/Provider
https://www.du-fuer-danisco.de/
Type of information supplier
Authority
Producer / distributor
Type of publication and availability
Free publication, EN version can be downloaded
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
The case is based on interviews published via The Danish Ecocouncil in "Hazardous chemicals can be substituted- development since 2006". (May 2012)
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021