EU's Restriction of Hazardous Substances: RoHS – How may RoHS Affect your Business?

In addition to the EU chemical policy: REACH,  it may be good to be aware of the European Union’s RoHS Directive, Directive 2002/95/EC. 
Being both REACH and RoHS compliant are important steps towards sustainability.  RoHS is not an actual regulation, but rather a directive from the EU. [6] The difference between a regulation and a directive is that a regulation have a binding legal force throughout every EU member and enter into force on a set date in all the member states; whereas, Directives "lay down results that must be achieved but each Member of the EU is free to decide how to bring the directive to national laws" [7]. The RoHS must however be met by any business who wants to manufacture in, sell in the EU, or import from the European Union [6]. It's recommended to learn about RoHS and REACH prior to sourcing packaging. Knowledge about the RoHS directive and the REACH regulation can help result in sourcing the most sustainable and effective packaging solution for your product.

Questions answered in this article:

- What is the RoHS Directive?

- Is my business affected by RoHS?

- Why is RoHS  important to Packaging?

RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS restricts the use of specific hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. Hazardous materials can pollute the environment and expose humans to toxic substances that may be harmful. RoHS focuses on electronic waste and the affect of that waste. RoHS outlines the maximum permitted concentrations that are allowed. Materials and substances that are restricted under RoHS are the following chemicals:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd), 
• Hexavalent chromium (CrVI), 
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), 
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE),
• and four different phthalates (DEHP, BBP, BBP, DIBP)[1].

The RoHS directive’s goal is to also decrease the amount of hazardous material ending up in landfills [2].

Parkway Plastics Inc. is RoHS compliant which mean that our manufactured jars and caps are eligible for export/import to the European Union. When it comes to purchasing wholesale Plastic Jars from a US Manufacturer, you can be sure to know that Parkway’s Plastic Jars and Caps are eligible for re-sale in the European Union in ordinance with RoHS. 

The maximum levels under RoHS are [3] :

Lead (Pb): < 1000 ppm

Mercury (Hg): < 100 ppm

Cadmium (Cd): < 100 ppm

Hexavalent Chromium: (Cr VI) < 1000 ppm

Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): < 1000 ppm

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): < 1000 ppm

Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): < 1000 ppm

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP): < 1000 ppm

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): < 1000 ppm

Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP): < 1000 ppm

Who if Affected by RoHS?

1. Manufacturers

2. Importers

3. Exporters [4]

Do I need to meet The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)? 

Here’s a list:

It’s recommended that you deepen your knowledge of the RoHS Directive if your product falls into one of the categories below:


The following product categories are impacted by the RoHS Directive:

1. Household Appliances such as refrigerators, washers, stoves or air conditioners

2. Small Household Appliances such as vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, coffee makers, and irons.

3. Computing and Communications Equipment, like computers, printers, copiers, phones.

4. Consumer Electronics, such as TVs, DVD players, stereos, video cameras, etc.

5. Lightening like lamps, lightening fixtures, light bulbs.

6. Power Tools: drills, saws, nail guns, sprayers, lathes, trimmers, blowers.

7. Toys and Sports Equipment –  video games, electric trains and treadmills, etc.

8. Automatic Dispensers, vending machines and ATM machines

However, there are exceptions... these products that are currently exempted from RoHS:

• 1. Medical Devices and Equipment
  
• 2. Control and Monitoring Equipment
  
• 3. Products for National Security Use and Military Equipment
  
• 4. Some Stationary Industrial Tools
  
• 5. Some Light Bulbs / Batteries
• 6. Some parts for Electronic Equipment on market before July 1,2006 [5]

Packaging may need to comply with the RoHS directive even if its not the actual product but the packaging of that product. It is always recommended that you know what your packaging consist of, including the chemicals of that packaging. Parkway Plastics Inc. is RoHS compliant so that you can be sure that your packaging will meet the standards set forth by the RoHS directive.


To sum it up, RoHS regulations limit, bans or restricts use of chemical substances (lead, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyl, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants) in electronic and electric equipment through the European Union. Let Parkway help you come up with RoHS compliant packaging for your electronic & non-electronic products today!

Make Import & Export Easier by Sourcing Product Packaging from Parkway Plastics, Your RoHS Compliant Jar and Cap Manufacturer &  Supplier!

Parkway's RoSH Statement

READ NEXT: CHEMICAL REGULATIONS & DIRECTIVES: 1. EU’s CHEMICAL POLICY - REACH – How REACH can Affect Your Business.

[1] http://www.rohsguide.com/rohs-faq.htm - 10/25/2016

[2] http://www.conwire.com/blog/rohs-and-its-impact-on-your-business/ - 10/25/2016

[3] http://www.rohsguide.com/ - 10/25/2016

[4] http://www.rohscompliancedefinition.com/rohs-compliance-faq.html - 10/25/2016

[5] http://www.rohsguide.com/rohs-categories.htm - 10/25/2016

[6] http://www.nefab.com/en/insights/rohs-how-does-it-... - 10/26/2016

[7] http://www.usda-eu.org/eu-basics-questions/differ... - 10/26/2016).