Hazardous substances

Legislation is an increasingly applied mechanism to reduce the use of hazardous substances, primarily in the EU, Japan, China and California.

Electrolux is concerned about potentially hazardous substances for four primary reasons:

1. Chemicals may have a negative impact on health and the environment. Consumers demand products that are safe to use. Our objective is to deliver safe products and manage production safely, while protecting the environment.
2. Some substances can have a negative impact on the recyclability of products.
3. Chemicals can be harmful for the working conditions of our employees.
4. Substances may result in hazardous waste, increasing disposal costs.

Electrolux is a downstream user of chemicals and most of the chemicals are handled as preparation in the manufacturing process.

The Electrolux response

• Restricted Materials List (RML). Its purpose is to specify the chemicals which are banned, of concern and restricted in our products.
• We regard REACH, an EU regulation for the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals, as an important tool in ensuring safe products, safe production and environmental protection. In 2007, Electrolux in Europe established a central chemical office to effectively manage the implementation of the REACH legislation.
• We are working towards the elimination of the use of chlorinated solvents in our production facilities.
• We have been phasing out both CFC and HCFC in new markets such as China and Brazil. HCFC is still in use in small amounts only in Brazil, and efforts are ongoing to entirely phase out the substance there.