What is BPA?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is used primarily in the manufacture of polycarbonate (PC) raw material plastic. PC is a plastic that is often used in mouldings for food packaging; for example in drinks bottles.
BPA however can on rare occasions be found in other plastic materials – this is why Kenwood check all plastic components in contact with food.
What is the concern about BPA?
BPA is a chemical that in sufficient doses can mimic the action of the human hormone oestrogen. This can cause health problems to humans.
When PC is manufactured the BPA content is consumed by the raw material manufacturing process, however small quantities of BPA can migrate from PC plastic over time, or when exposed to excessive heat or conditions outside of normal use. Many consumers are concerned about exposure to BPA, especially for infants, from this migrating, which has led to some countries already legislating about the levels of BPA in baby bottles.
What have Kenwood done about BPA?
Chemicals and hazardous substances legislation
What is REACh?
Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals legislation.
This legislation controls chemicals and substances. For our business it defines the safe levels of certain substances within the products, packaging and spare parts we place on the market.
What is RoHS?
Restriction of Hazardous Substances legislation.
This legislation restricts hazardous substances within the products we place on the market.
What we do to control substances
We hold declarations from our supply chains to show that every product complies with REACh legislations before products are put on the market.
We hold declarations from our supply chains to show that every component complies with RoHS legislation before products are put on the market.
A product will not be sold until we hold test reports and or declarations that show the parts comply with both legislations.
Tests are done by expert independent laboratories. The laboratories use scientific machines that very accurately check compliance so that when the test shows a PASS result we know we comply with the appropriate legislation.
We have management systems in place to regularly police hazardous materials, these include declarations from our supply chains, factory audits and on-going product surveillance tests.