Plating and
Sustainability
Because plating uses chemicals, some people worry about their impact on the environment. Today’s plating, however, has evolved into a technology that is safe and secure for both the environment and human health. In this chapter, we will learn about plating and sustainability.
Environmental Regulations.
Since the 2000s, a succession of regulations aimed at environmental protection have been established, primarily in Europe, and companies are being pressed to respond. The following are some representative examples of such environmental regulations.
ELV Directive
ELV Directive
This prohibits the use of lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium in
the materials and components used on automobiles.
RoHS Directive
RoHS Directive
In principle, it is not possible to sell any electrical or electronic components that contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE).
WEEE Directive
WEEE Directive
To reduce waste, products put on sale must be made easier to recycle.
REACH Regulations
REACH Regulations
In principle, all chemical substances must be
registered, evaluated, authorized and restricted by the European
Chemicals Agency. (ECHA)
These are all regulations related to items manufactured or sold within Europe. Even if the manufacturing takes place in a different region, compliance with the rules is necessary if the products are to be exported to Europe.
Of course, plating technology must also respond to these regulations. From here, let’s look at the environmental measures taken in plating.
Environmentally Friendly Plating Technology.
To meet global environmental regulations, modern plating has shifted toward safer, cleaner, and more sustainable processes.
Wastewater Treatment
A crucial aspect of mitigating the environmental impact of plating is the reduction of the volumes of waste liquid (liquid that are discarded because they can no longer be reused). Uyemura has adopted a chemical treatment method to ensure compliance with industrial estate standards and legal regulations.
We have learned about plating and sustainability. Research and development is being conducted of alternatives even for substances that have been considered essential to plating until now, and progress is being made in the further mitigation of environmental impact. The evolution of plating technology will continue, for the realization of a sustainable society.