Extended sunset date for TOTM and new plasticizers added to ASL

Due to disruptions in the material transition and identification of a suitable alternative, we have agreed to extend the sunset date by an additional 5 months.

GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals is the tool used to identify a pathway to safer alternatives to be used in certified products. All substances achieving a GreenScreen benchmark are assessed by licensed profilers accredited by Clean Production Action to carry out Green Screen Assessments. In TCO Certified, substances achieving a GreenScreen benchmark 2 or better are accepted for compliance with the criteria for non-halogenated substances.

The plasticizer TOTM originally received an approved GreenScreen benchmark 2. However, this benchmark was later challenged by another licensed GreenScreen profiler. After a peer review of an independent organization, the benchmark was reduced to a benchmark Unspecified.

On this decision, we removed the benchmark for the plasticizer TOTM and set a sunset date of up to 12 months to give industry time to replace or reassess with new data. The sunset date for the plasticizer TOTM (CASNR 3319-31-1) is now September 1, 2021.

NOTE! Once a chemical is removed from the TCO Certified Accepted Substance List it may no longer be used for new certifications.

A new plasticizer has been added to the TCO Certified Accepted Substance List and can be used in certified products. Chemical name: Coconut Oil Polyester.

The benchmark score of this substance can be found on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List.

For more details on how to add chemicals to the TCO Certified Accepted Substance List for non-halogenated flame retardants, plasticizers or process chemicals, contact Stephen Fuller, Senior criteria manager at TCO Development.