Decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE) is a highly effective brominated flame retardant which increases resistance
to fire and allows more time to escape. It is used to prevent fires in textiles, in the transportation sector
(e.g. automotive and aviation industries) and in construction and building (e.g. wires, cables and pipes).
DECA-BDE
Participation in the programme remained
high despite an increase in the percentage
of total volume being distributed to second
l ine users. The team wi l l continue to place
importance on working with new users not
yet fami l iar with the VECAP methodology to
ensure an increase in their participation
rate going forward.
Participating sites reported total potential
emissions to be less than 0.3 metric tonnes
per year.
2012 SURVEY RESULTS FOR DECA-BDE
The fol lowing results relate to the survey
carried out in 2012, based on 84%
coverage of the volume sold in 2011 by
EFRA member companies.
2009
(% volume sold)
2010
(% volume sold)
24%
8%
76%
Volume covered
by the programme
92%
Volume covered
by the programme
2011
(% volume sold)
10%
90%
Volume covered
by the programme
2012
(% volume sold)
16%
84%
Volume covered
by the programme
FIGURE 1:
Deca-BDE 2012 survey results
2008
< 4
Survey year
2011 Total Volume Sold
(metric tonnes per year)
Total Potential Emissions
(metric tonnes per year)
2009
< 1.5
2010
< 1.5
2011
< 0.5
2012
< 0.3
5000-7500
5000-7500
5000-7500
7500-10000
2500-5000
uptake of best practices among users of
Deca-BDE, which continues to cover a high
level of the volume sold.
The slight increase in potential emissions to
water reported is related to the fact that since
2011, the majority (52%) of the volume covered
has been sold to textile applications while
previously this only represented 37% of the
volume covered. As this involves a water based
process, by default, the potential water
emissions were slightly higher compared to the
plastics compounding application.
2012 POTENTIAL EMISSIONS
TO AIR AND WATER
In 2012, the survey revealed that potential
emissions to air remained low at 12 g/t,
representing a 52% decrease in the last 5 years
of reporting. This can be attributed to the strong
The Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme
ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2012
6
VECAP PROGRESS REPORT 2012
FIGURE 2:
Percentage of volume covered by the programme