top of page

UK Scientific Consensus

Consensus Statement on the use of Flame Retardants in the United Kingdom authored by 12 of the leading scientists in environmental health in the UK

UK Government

The UK Government in 2019 published the Environmental Audit Toxic Chemicals in Everyday life. Fire retardants were of particular concern. 

Ikea

Ikea achieve meaningful fire retardancy by using techniques and materials with flame retardant properties eg wool. Ikea only use chemical flame retardant additives where they are effectively compelled to do so by local legislation. Such as in the UK and Eire.

Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune ran an expose in the US about the excessive use of flame retardant chemicals in furniture. It resulted in a change of law - the US no longer need to use these forever chemicals in their sofas and chairs. And the articles are a great read.

Breast Cancer UK

Breast Cancer UK and the Cancer Prevention Society have both joined a UK Government committee tasked with updating the UK Furniture and Fire Safety Regulations 1988. However despite the good work of these charities, the majority of the Government committee members are industry bodies and to date there has not been the major overhaul of the legislation that is required to halt the use of these forever chemicals in UK furniture.

Chemtrust

Chemtrust explains that there is an ineffective substance evaluation process for chemicals including fire retardants. One fire retardant, DBDPE started to be evaluated in the EU in 2012 and no decision has yet been published despite clear evidence that it is both persistent (does not break down in the environment) and bioaccumulative (builds up as a body burden in humans, or in organisms).

European Parliament

We cannot tolerate the presence of persistent organic pollutants in materials and waste otherwise there will be no circular economy and no sustainable textiles but an economy of toxic recycled products, quote, Martin Hojsik

HBO
 

HBO ran a documentary "Toxic Hotseat" showing that the US firefighters pushed for the elimination of forever chemicals as they exacerbated the release of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide in a fire situation.

FIDRA

FIDRA, an environmental charity promote effective and sustainable fire safety through intelligent product design and chemical transparency. Read more on their website

bottom of page