Bona Products NMP-free - What's That?
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Recently Bona finish and primer packages appeared with a small symbol of a drop with a note “NMP-free“ which means “the one which does not contain NMP“. This is an important mark for the international concern Bona since one of the main features of its production is its human and environmental friendliness. What is NMP? NMP is the abbreviation for N-Methyl Pyrrolidone, an organic solvent which has been used in the manufacture of polyurethane floor finishes for the last 25 years. |
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NMP has previously been classified as an irritant, Xi. New studies carried out on NMP have revealed that the substance has “reproductive toxicity” which in this case means that it poses a risk to the fetus of any pregnant woman who comes into skin contact with liquid NMP. The EU committee has therefore proposed that NMP, and products containing more than 5% NMP, should be reclassified as “Toxic” or “T” with any labeling including the risk phrase “irritates eyes, respiratory system and skin. Can cause harm to the unborn child”. The EU hasn’t taken any decision yet, but thereafter, each member state must adopt the revision into its national legislation within 18 months. What does Bona do? Since the new information about NMP came to Bona’s attention the company has been focusing all its research into eliminating NMP from the manufacturing process. The company has already been able to reformulate their most important products, Mega and Traffic, which now for time have been sold without NMP with same high quality as before (or better). This means that Mega and Traffic are included in Bona’s NMP-free product range where the primer Prime Classic, the top coat Flow, and the filler Mix & Fill all have been NMP-free for some time. There are already several million square meters coated with Bona’s NMP-free generation. To the NMP-free product range Bona could recently add Wood Floor Refresher, Gel, Prime Intense and Sportive Primer, Sportive Finish, Sportive Paint, Sportive Cleaner and Cleaner Plus. Bona still have a few NMP-containing products but since they have made considerable progress with these they are counting on being able to deliver all their products – that will remain in the product mix - NMP-free before the EU Commission makes its decision about reclassification. Bona will not be re-labeling these products until then but urge their customers to carefully follow the directions and instructions that already appear on the product label and in the safety data sheet. Vilniaus Parketas asks all sales representatives to hand safety data sheets and instructions to keep our customers well informed. |
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