The 3rd Technical Workshop on “Alternative Flame Retardants” within the scope of the Project on Enhancing Environmental Performance in Expanded and Extruded Polystyrene Foam Industries in Turkey (HBCD Project) was held on 01 March 2024.

Relevant institutions and organizations and representatives of the beneficiary companies of the HBCD Project participated in the 3rd Technical Workshop held at Point Hotel in Ankara in cooperation with our Ministry, İZODER, and EPSDER on March 1, 2024.

The technical workshop started with the opening speech of Mr. Nihat Yaman, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change (MoEUCC), Directorate General of Environmental Management, Head of Chemicals Management Department. Then, It continued with the panel titled “The Effects of Alternative Flame Retardant Use on Insulation Products” moderated by Timur Diz, İZODER Secretary General. Mr. Tolga Özkan from Aschem, a Project beneficiary company operating in the EPS sector, and Mr. Alp Akif Akdaş from Dynamic Isı, also a Project beneficiary company operating in the XPS sector, attended the panel. They participated as speakers and shared their experiences during their alternative flame retardant trials.

In the first session titled “Alternative Flame Retardant Studies and Product Improvements”, Mr. Kaan Dalı from Isochemicals presented “Past, Present, and Future of Flame Retardants and Additives for XPS and EPS”, and Mr. Ronald Wilner from Oceanchemicals gave information to the participants on the topic “Flame Retardants Used in EPS and XEPS/XPS”.

In the second session of the workshop, the topic “Monomeric and Polymeric Flame Retardant Alternatives” was discussed. In this session, Mr. Dr. Patrick Jacobs from Lanxess presented “Sustainable Fire Retardants for Polystyrene Foams”, and Mr. Lou Bing from Shandong Sunris shared information about the “Alternative Flame Retardant China experience”.

In the afternoon program of the workshop, an institutional visit was made to TENMAK Boron Research Institute (BOREN). Within the scope of the institution visit, TENMAK Boron Research Institute (BOREN) officials gave information to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change personnel, HBCD Project stakeholders, and beneficiary company representatives on the studies carried out within the institution, and the laboratories within the institution were visited.