1. EU tightens limits for hazardous substances in recycled plastic On 24 July 2025, the European Commission adopted an amendment setting limits for five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) under the EU Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (EU 2019/1021). The aim is to strengthen the protection of human health and the environment. In particular, the new regulation lowers the maximum permissible concentrations of PBDEs – namely TetraBDE, PentaBDE, HexaBDE, HeptaBDE and DecaBDE – in recycled materials, especially in products such as toys, children's articles and household goods made from recycled plastic material. Limits for mixtures and articles containing recycled materials: [...]

On 30 July 2025, the European Commission issued an official recommendation for voluntary reporting (non-listed) SMEs to use the VSME standard as a guide for sustainability reporting. What is special about this reporting standard?  The VSME standard is not as comprehensive as the ESRS Set1, but covers the most important KPIs and sustainability topics. The modular structure of this reporting standard – consisting of a basic and an extended module – gives companies considerable flexibility in shaping the content of their reports. In addition, the company can focus on the areas that are actually relevant in its sustainability report. [...]

DataCross offers a central platform for recording, managing and evaluating material-related product data. The integrated customer report summarises all relevant information clearly and enables targeted evaluation with regard to legal requirements, for example based on the REACH or RoHS regulations. Your advantages at a glance: Fast evaluation: Automated processes simplify the analysis of bills of materials (BOMs) and supplier data. High transparency: You receive a clearly structured report on the material compliance of your products. Legal certainty: The report serves as proof for customers, authorities or internal audits. Increased efficiency: Less manual effort with consistently high data quality. Whether [...]

tec4U-Solutions GmbH has been recognized as one of Germany’s TOP 100 most innovative medium-sized enterprises. The award ceremony took place on June 27 in Mainz, Germany, as part of a nationwide summit honoring the most forward-thinking SMEs. The selection process was based on a rigorous scientific evaluation, and tec4U-Solutions stood out in the area of external collaboration and open innovation. Their solutions ensure that climate-friendly, non-toxic, and sustainable products are brought to market. The company has established itself internationally as a leading expert in product- and company-level sustainability, offering practical and reliable tools tailored especially to the needs of [...]

Material compliance refers to adherence to legal and normative requirements regarding the ingredients, manufacture and disposal of materials and products. Companies must ensure that their products comply with international regulations such as REACH, RoHS, SCIP database, conflict minerals regulations and other environmental and chemical directives. Our consulting services in the area of material compliance cover the following topics: Analysis & evaluation of material conformity Checking compliance with legal requirements (e.g. REACH, RoHS) Risk analysis and gap analysis of existing processes Strategy consulting & implementation Development and implementation of compliance strategies Development of a sustainable compliance management system Data management [...]

1. Commission to revise EN IEC 63000 DIN EN IEC 63000 is an international standard that specifies the technical documentation requirements for demonstrating compliance with restrictions on hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Test reports to confirm or substantiate the presumption of conformity are not mandatory, so that a statement of conformity based on the supplier confirmation is the standard case in practice. The revision order serves to adapt DIN EN IEC 630000 to the state of the art and to implement Decision 768/2008, which is intended in particular to clarify the issue of a mandatory test report. [...]

When it comes to material compliance legislation, lawmakers are caught in a constant balancing act: on the one hand, they must achieve societal goals—namely protecting human health and the environment from harmful substances; on the other, they need to preserve the manufacturing capabilities of industry. To do so, they define rules that specify who is affected and how, often including compliance requirements, temporary provisions, or exemptions. However, the actual path to achieving compliance is typically not spelled out in legal texts. Instead, this is left to standards, technical guidelines, and implementation documents—commonly referred to as the state of the [...]

Companies must take responsibility for ensuring their products are manufactured without harmful substances. To achieve this, they need to establish strategies and processes that support compliance. The Material Compliance Officer plays a vital cross-functional role within the company’s organizational structure.Their primary responsibility is to coordinate the implementation of material compliance requirements across various departments. In addition, they serve as a key source of information and expertise—both internally and externally. I. What Is a Material Compliance Manager or Officer? The Material Compliance Officer holds a cross-hierarchical role within the company, acting both as an internal knowledge provider and as a [...]