Products
The Group’s business concept is to provide products and solutions that seal, damp and protect in demanding environments. Accordingly, Trelleborg’s products have many areas of application that directly or indirectly enhance the environment, health and safety or that serve to protect the environment.
Examples include:
• Components that reduce vibration and noise in vehicles,
• O-rings that prevent emissions of gaseous substances from fuels and solvents,
• Water hoses that minimize bacterial development in closed water systems,
• Sealings for windows and doors that reduce energy consumption in buildings,
• Rubber membranes used in landfills to prevent leakage of environmentally hazardous substances,
• Chemical and fire-protection suits used in connection with fires and environmental accidents.
Trelleborg’s commitments with regard to product responsibility are principally governed by the Group’s Code of Conduct (Product quality and safety), the Environment, Health and Safety policy, and legislative and customer requirements relevant to each product area, customer group and market.
Each business area is in charge of product-responsibility matters and product development, since requirements differ considerably between various customer and product segments, and consequently, it is important that these matters are adapted to each market. Ultimate responsibility is borne by each of the Business Area Presidents. Each line manager is responsible for ensuring that personnel with responsibility for these matters have the relevant training and access to current information on laws and other requirements, in addition to market and customerspecific requirements and systems. When developing new products, consideration is always given to legislative and customer requirements as well as environment, health and safety aspects in the manufacturing stage and in the user stage where relevant. The development work is generally conducted in cooperation with the customer.
Many of Trelleborg’s products are used in demanding environments, which places considerable demands on input materials. To achieve the desired properties, various additives are used. Some of the substances used are classified as environmental and/or health hazards. Trelleborg works continuously to gradually substitute these substances with alternatives that are better in terms of the environment and health. Examples of materials that have been partially or entirely substituted are substances containing hexavalent chromium, lead, cadmium, toluene, polyaromatic oils and solventbased substances for surface treatment.
The overwhelming share of the Group’s products entail very limited risks in their application. However, the Group also develops products and systems for certain safety-critical environments. Trelleborg conducts extensive safety efforts regarding products manufactured for particularly demanding environments or which otherwise entail increased risk. New and existing products are systematically analyzed and evaluated, with the focus on safety-critical products. The Group continuously assesses and responds to the risks that may be associated with new types of products and new applications.
Trelleborg provides product information in the form of labeling, safety data sheets, IMDS declarations and environmental product declarations corresponding to the requirements specified by each customer or market. Usually, these requirements encompass a declaration of input substances and their properties in terms of the environment, health and safety directives pertaining to waste management and, where applicable, instructions to ensure the safe use of the product. Many customers, including those in the automotive and construction industries, have specific requirements pertaining to the products’ environmental properties and input components. Chemical-restriction lists, specific to particular industries or customers, are also common.
In accordance with the European directive on end-of-life vehicles (the ELV Directive), vehicle components are subject to recycling requirements. Consequently, in accordance with requirements from world-leading automotive manufacturers, Trelleborg supplies environmental declarations in line with GADSL (Global Automotive Declarable Substances List) in the joint data system IMDS (International Material Data System) for all products supplied within this segment. For further information concerning IMDS, see
www.mdsystem.com.
In connection with the imminent implementation of the EU’s new chemicals legislation, REACH, there will be greater demands placed on the reporting of constituent chemical substances in all products sold in the European market. The use of certain chemicals will be restricted in the long term. Trelleborg is primarily affected as a downstream user and only in limited instances as a direct importer of chemicals.
With regard to Trelleborg’s marketing communications, the company is a member of the Association of Swedish Advertisers and follows its ethical rules, which extend further than only regulating the business relationship between the advertiser and agency. These rules also regulate the responsibilities of the parties toward the community, citizens, consumers, employees, colleagues and investors. Advertising shall be compatible with social, financial and environmental aspects.