HBCD Project
Enhancing Environmental Performance in the Expanded and Extruded Polystyrene Foam Industries in Turkey Project
What is Hexabromocyclododecane?
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a bromine-containing flame retardant used as an additive in polymer applications, providing fire protection during the service life of vehicles, buildings or furnishings, as well as protection during storage. The main global use of HBCD is in the production of expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS and XPS) foam boards used for insulation in the construction industry. However, it is also used as a flame retardant in the textile industry and in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment, albeit in small amounts.
HBCD was listed in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention in 2013 with special exemptions for the production and use of expanded (EPS) and extruded (XPS) polystyrene in buildings. Turkey utilized this exemption between 2013 and 2018, giving manufacturers in the industry time to transition. After the expiration of the exemptions, the use of HBCD in our country was prohibited under the By-law No. 30595 on Persistent Organic Pollutants of 14 November 2018.
Enhancing Environmental Performance in the Expanded and Extruded Polystyrene Foam Industries in Turkey Project (HBCD Project)
The Enhancing Environmental Performance in the Expanded and Extruded Polystyrene Foam Industries in Turkey Project is funded by GEF, implemented in collaboration with UNIDO, and executed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
The purpose of the Project is to eliminate the use of HBCD in line with the obligations of Turkey under the Stockholm Convention and the Turkish legislation.
Accordingly, the Project aims to gradually replace HBCD with environmentally sound alternatives and enhance institutional, regulatory and technical capacity in the EPS and XPS foam industries in Turkey.
Component 1: Regulatory strengtening, capacity building, stakeholder awareness and verification of environmentally sound alternatives for the replacement of HBCD
Outcome 1.1: Up to date non-proprietary information respecting HBCD alternatives and ficilitated access to them provided and broad stakeholder awareness on the issue communicated
Outcome 1.2: Regulatory capacity support for control and enforcement to sustained HBCD phase out delivered
Outcome 1.3: Measures for the control and environmentally sound management of HBCD containing waste implemented
Component 2: Elimination of HBCD use in the EPS sector in Turkey
Outcome 2.1: Pre-blended polystyrene (PS) producers have required technical information and capability to complete selection and production of alternative flame retardant containing production
Outcome 2.2: National EPS Association (EPSDER) is technically supported in its programing to provide collective information and supporting laboratory capability for members on the use of alternative flame retardant in all stages of EPS production
Outcome 2.3: Complete phase out of HBCD use in domestic production of pre-blended polystyrene production used in the EPS sector directed to national markets is achieved
Component 3: Elimination of HBCD use in the XPS sector in Turkey
Outcome 3.1: XPS producers have required technical information and capability to complete selection and production of alternative flame retardant containing production
Outcome 3.2: National XPS Association (IZODER) is technically supported in its programing to provide collective information and supporting laboratory capability for members on the use of alternative flame retardant in all stages of XPS production
Outcome 3.3: Complete phase out of HBCD use in domestic production of XPS production used in the XPS sector is achieved
Component 4: Monitoring and Evaluation
Outcome 4.1: Outcomes from project activities assessed and lessons learnt disseminated for sustainable replication