California’s Sustainable and Safe Furniture Fire Safety Success Story: new fire statistics data
New Californian fire fatality data confirms that furniture fire safety regulatory reform, which reduced the use of chemical flame retardants, have not resulted in an increase in upholstered furniture related fire deaths. Showing effective, safe and sustainable fire safety that protects the public from exposure to harmful chemical flame retardants is possible.
The battle to tackle POPs in UK waste: stark findings from the Office for Environmental Protection
Challenges in the management of POPs waste in the UK will continue for years to come but regulatory changes offer hope. Read about the Office for Environmental Protection’s POPs waste research and Fidra’s calls to accelerate regulatory reform and other solutions to address this growing problem.
New consultation on UK furniture fire safety regulations now open
The UK government have launched a new long-awaited consultation on proposed changes UK furniture fire safety regulations, which could enable the reduction in use of harmful chemical flame retardants.
Use of flame retardants and the dangers of increased fire smoke toxicity to UK firefighters’ health
The use of certain chemical flame retardants in UK consumer products, including furniture, mattresses, textiles, electronics and building construction materials, increases fire smoke toxicity, posing a danger to firefighters’ safety and long-term health without increasing fire safety
A commentary on the new Environment Agency flame retardant scoping review
Environment Agency Flame Retardant report does not sufficiently highlight high volume flame retardants currently under close scrutiny in the European Union.
Updated Furniture Fire Safety Regulations: Too little too late
Progress to protect babies from exposure to harmful chemicals in certain UK furniture products, but stronger imminent changes needed to reduce the use of flame retardants.
New Report: Plugging the Chemical Transparency Gap for a Safer Circular Economy – Furniture supply chains
Our new report highlights the urgent need for chemical transparency throughout furniture supply chains to ensure safe and sustainable product design.
Disposal of waste upholstered domestic seating: the chemical burden on UK councils
Waste upholstered domestic seating has been found to contain legacy chemical flame retardants banned under the Stockholm Convention. Following rulings from national environmental agencies, this waste furniture must be separated and incinerated. Though a step forward in protecting the environment and human health, this has placed extra resource demands on local councils.
Persistent chemicals in healthcare mattresses raise concerns
A study carried out by the environment agency has found high levels of toxic chemicals, including chemical flame retardants (CfRs) in mattresses used in hospitals and health care institutions.
New evidence demonstrates Furniture Fire Safety regulations must address smoke toxicity
Why are chemical flame retardants added to furniture if they do not improve safety? New research explores the toxicity of smoke and gases released from burning flame retardant-treated furniture.