US specialty chemical company Albemarle has announced it will discontinue production of the flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and focus on supplying its polymeric alternative GreenCrest. HBCD is a prohibited substance under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and was banned in Europe under REACh legislation as of mid-2015. However, there is a five-year exemption for the use of HBCD in expanded or extruded PS (EPS/XPS) foam in building insulation, its biggest use worldwide.

The polymeric version is said to be a drop-in replacement for HBCD as it is not classified as bio-accumulative or toxic. Albemarle’s vice president of bromine specialties product management, Troy DeSoto, said the company will ensure a seamless transition to GreenCrest but also continue to support its HBCD customers in accordance with contractual obligations.

GreenCrest is based on technology licensed from Dow Global Technologies and has been commercially available since the first quarter of 2013. In February 2016, Albemarle entered into a long-term supply agreement with Israel Chemicals (ICL) for GreenCrest. The companies have a manufacturing joint venture for the polymeric flame retardant (PFR) at two ICL plants in the Netherlands and Israel. Other manufacturers such as BASF, Chemtura and Dow Chemical have also been switching to PFRs.