APEAL members strive to continually improve their methods of production to ensure that Steel for Packaging is manufactured in a sustainable and compliant way.
REACH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHROME-FREE PASSIVATION ALTERNATIVE
REACH is the European Union’s wide ranging and far reaching chemicals regulation aiming to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while ensuring good function and competitiveness of EU chemicals industry and the internal market.
Hexavalent chromium substances, that are used globally for the passivation of steel for packaging, were identified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). Passivation is the process by which the growth of tin oxide is controlled on tinplate.
Subsequently, these substances were included onto the REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list). This means that their continued use is subject to a time limited approval, with the ultimate aim to ensure that the use of these substances is completely replaced.
Chrome Free Passivation Alternative (CFPA) is an innovative, alternative technology developed by APEAL members as a replacement to the use of hexavalent chromium substances.