Have you ever wondered what goes into making everyday products more resistant to fire? From construction materials to batteries or textiles to smartphones, flame retardants play a key role in enhancing the safety of countless consumer and professional goods, often without us ever realising they’re there. But as materials science advances and expectations around product safety and sustainability evolve, new questions arise: can we enhance fire resistance properties while also keeping these products safe for people and the environment?
This question is at the heart of a new research project that our team is proud to undertake in collaboration with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as part of the activities of the European Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON). The project investigates the current state of knowledge regarding nanomaterials used as or integrated into flame retardants, which is a topic that has gained popularity as the search for innovative, high-performance, and more sustainable materials intensifies. In fact, scientists and manufacturers are exploring whether nanomaterials could offer new ways to slow down combustion or reduce the spread of fire in products potentially replacing or complementing traditional flame retardants, some of which are increasingly restricted due to their environmental persistence or toxicity.
Through this study, our team will perform a structured and comprehensive review of available scientific literature, reports, and expert insights to better understand the presence and role of nanomaterials in flame-retardant applications. The work will examine what types of nanomaterials are currently being used, how they function, and in which products or industries they are more promising to be utilised in the future. We will also look at how these materials compare to more conventional flame retardants in terms of effectiveness, safety, and environmental impact, including their role in recyclability and circular economy considerations.
Another key aspect of the project is to reflect on how well existing European regulatory frameworks, such as REACH are equipped to assess these materials. Indeed, nanomaterials often present specific challenges when it comes to classification, risk assessment, and lifecycle analysis. Thus, by identifying potential gaps or areas of uncertainty, this study is expected to help regulators and policymakers to prepare for future developments in this field and support science-based decision-making.
This partnership with ECHA strengthens Innovamol’s dedication in providing regulatory science with high-quality data and analysis. It also enhances our contribution to the field’s understanding of the intersections of sustainability, safety, and innovation. Our goal is to help ensuring that advancements in materials science continue to be in line with environmental and public health objectives by helping to clarify the ways in which nanotechnology is being used. In a world where materials are constantly evolving to meet new performance and regulatory demands, staying informed is essential.
“We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims” – R. Buckminster Fuller