Plastic products must be manufactured and used without harming people and the environment

Because... We do not accept that manufacture and use of plastic products has negative consequences for health and the environment. What we believe: All plastic enterprises must introduce environmental, health and safety, and energy management systems. All plastic enterprises must have a green smiley from the Danish Working Environment Authority. The authorities must ensure efficient chemical supervision of plastic products marketed in Denmark.   The EU chemical legislation - REACH - will be an efficient tool to gain more knowledge about chemicals and to promote supervision of the use of chemicals.   As far as possible, harmful chemicals should be substituted, however considerations of quality of life must be included in the overall choice of solution. Outsourcing plastic manufacture must be in accordance with European environmental standards, working environment standards and safety standards.   This is what we will do: Together with manufacturers, knowledge institutions and authorities, we will elucidate knowledge about the chemicals used to manufacture plastic products. We will also cooperate on elucidating how harmful chemical impacts are best avoided, taking into account an overall assessment of the consequences, including whether substitution should take place. Through guidelines and specific advice, we will help our members to a green smiley from the Danish Working Environment Authority. We will increase the number of plastic enterprises with environmental management by offering advice and providing tools. We will promote energy optimisation at our members through communication of energy management systems, the EU RECIPE project and groundwater cooling technology.

Did you know that...?

All plastic enterprises have environmental approval

The environment authorities carry out regular supervision that enterprises comply with the terms of the environmental approval on emissions of air pollution, waste water, noise, etc.

Environmental management is widespread

As a tool for environmental improvement, for example, minimisation of industrial waste from processes and energy improvements, environmental management is widespread among plastic processing enterprises. Certified environmental management is far more widespread among enterprises which process plastic in the plastic industry than among enterprises subject to approval in general.

Strict supervision of plastic products

Plastic enterprises manufacturing products that come into contact with food must have a supervision programme ensuring that materials and objects intended to come into contact with food comply with food legislation. Together with other organisations and the Veterinary and Food Administration, the Danish Plastics Federation has prepared a set of guidelines for enterprise's work with this supervision programme.

Soft PVC saves lives

Prematurely born children get their nutrition through a thin tube, which goes through the nose and the food pipe down to the stomach. The worst thing that can happen with this tube is that it bends and even ties a knot on its way down. In order to avoid this, the tube is made of PVC plasticised with phthalates, which prevent this tendency. Despite many attempts, we have not yet succeeded in finding another material which can meet the strict requirements for this product. And consideration for the newborn's wellbeing has higher priority than any risk using phthalates might have.

Groundwater cooling saves energy

During the past 10 years, a number of refrigerators have been installed in Danish plastic enterprises, where groundwater is used for indirect cooling of industrial cooling water. In the cooling plant, reductions in energy consumption of up to 85 per cent have been achieved compared to traditional cooling installations without the use of groundwater.

Fewer industrial accidents than in the rest of Industry

The Danish Plastics Federation is considerably ahead of the rest of industry in respect of the number of industrial accidents. In 2007 the Danish Plastics Federation had 9 per cent fewer accidents than the industrial average.

Open wounds and sprained fingers and feet constitute the majority of industrial accidents in the Danish Plastics Federation.