LIFE-FLAREX meets in Prague to assess safer flame retardants for the textile industry

Submitted by Ariadna Detrell on 07 January 2020

The LIFE-FLAREX consortium gathered in Prague for its sixth project meeting on December 17th and 18th. The meeting hosted by CLUTEX was held at ATOK headquarters, one of CLUTEX members.

The consortium reviewed in depth the progress of all the actions of the project.  Several points were treated with utmost detail; particularly, the ongoing industrial trials where the consortium are gathering the data for the Life Cycle Assessment and the Risk Assessment that will be used to assess the human and environmental risks and impact. The partnership also reviewed the progress on the skin penetration of the different products in order to assess the toxicological potential.

Thus far, the consortium has conducted industrial tests in Italy, at TF2000 and Fini-stampa Giordanetto, and at Czech Republic, both at Inotex and Tylex Letovice. In the coming weeks, the partnership will conduct industrial trials at Bonditex, E.CIMA and Pertex in Spain to complete the different assessments.

Other important aspect discussed during the meeting was the strategic plan for promoting substitution towards safer chemicals in the textile finishing process. All partners share a common vision and strategy to involve the different regions of the project and to seek regional synergies with ongoing programs and authorities. It is important to highlight best practices and experiences that companies can relate to in order to make an effective communication that can engage other companies to follow and lead.

During the lasts stages of LIFE-FLAREX, the consortium will prepare several communication materials including the Layman’s report and a FR Green Procurement Guide to communicate to companies and to the public the different results of the project.

LIFE-FLAREX team during the project meeting in Prague

The meeting included a review of the different dissemination and communication activities that have been performed during the first half of the project. It is noteworthy the presentation of the project at several international conferences including ITMC in Morocco and ITMA 2019 in Barcelona.

Additionally, on the first day of the meeting, a workshop with Czech textile companies was held prior to the project meeting. The aim of the workshop, led by Leitat Technological Center, was to disseminate current results obtained during the laboratory tests and engage companies to apply substitution of hazardous chemical from finishing processes.

Nora Boisseree during the workshop with CLUTEX members

Lastly, the consortium set the dates for the project final meeting and final event for June 17th to 19th in Alcoy, Ontinyent and Valencia in order to present the main results to companies and policymakers.

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