SAFR^®-A Systematic Assessment for Flame Retardants

Flame retardants allow inherently flammable materials to meet rigorous fire safety tests. From everyday electronics to airplane plastics and cinema seating, flame retardant materials are an essential part of safe, modern living. But fire safety should not compromise safety for human health and the environment. SAFR^® is a tool that measures the sustainability profile of individual flame retardants based on their use. \

ICL’s approach to dealing with materials like flame retardants is fairly unique. They have taken an umbrella approach at designing and developing tools and an infrastructure to help customers evaluate the product choices and different applications. I find that very unique in the industry to be actually reaching out to the customers and providing tools to help assess the different possibilities in different choices."
John Warner, the president and CEO of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry (Nov 2019)

The SAFR® framework provides an evaluation of flame retardants in their applications, enabling users to select the most sustainable product for the intended use. By using the latest available scientific data and building on accepted hazard criteria, SAFR® incorporates an estimated exposure component based on the level of contact to humans and/or the environment and measurable potential emissions of flame retardants during their use.

As the SAFR^® platform matures, it is gaining recognition and being adopted by ICL’s customers and business partners, as well as by leading professional institutes. As sustainability is a key topic ICL is improving its SAFR^® tool. SAFR^® already sets users on a more sustainable path regarding in-use protection and employee safety. In addition, we are planning to add chemical attributes that identify the best choice for End of Life, Recyclability and Re-use. This will make the SAFR^® tool better equipped to support the Circular Economy.

I hope that in the future we see ICL’s tools and methodologies find their way into different industry sectors, because I think it is a very useful approach.” John Warner, the president and CEO of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry (Nov 2019)

The assessment of a given flame retardant with SAFR^® leads to the identification of:

Uses that are either recommended, acceptable or not
recommended, or
Unacceptable hazard in which case alternatives should
be identified.

How we assess exposure:

The SAFR® exposure assessment involves a two tiered approach. It considers both:

The frequency of contact during the intended use (e.g. TV, computer, car seats, insulations boards);
The potential emissions of the flame retardant used due to either migration to the surface (blooming), leaching or volatilization.

The methodology behind SAFR® is available for any interested party upon request to ICL-IP. For more information, please see the SAFR® website.

In February 2020, the SAFR^® methodology for measuring blooming was accepted as an ASTM, the American Society for Testing and Materials, and is now publicly available:

“Standard Test Method for Determination of the Blooming of Brominated Flame Retardants onto the Surface of Plastic Materials by Ion Chromatography”, ASTM D8280.

A member of ICL’s value chain, Campine, together with ICL-IP, developed a similar methodology based on SAFR® to assess the potential exposure to their product, Antimony Trioxide (ATO), which is used as a synergist, acting as a radical stabilizer that delays the ignition.

Sustainability Reporting Disclosures:

Disclosure: 103-3

SAFR^®-A Systematic Assessment for Flame Retardants

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SAFR®-A Systematic Assessment for Flame Retardants

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SAFR^®-A Systematic Assessment for Flame Retardants