Literature evidence on the brominated flame retardant content in plastics of construction, of textiles/furnitures and of non-food packaging : should they be sorted before recycling ?

The objective of this study is to bring information to check if sorting of plastics of construction, of textiles and of non-food packaging is necessary before reuse in circular loops. Data from literature on these plastics has been gathered from 8 publications and reports plus one report quoting 6 other reports or publications from 2013 to 2018. Published data are heterogeneous, and are presented by sample, with synthesis table (n, min, media, mean, max, centile for 1000 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg). Data of total bromine and antimony are also presented. The global literature data collected here show that approximately 8%, 16% and 9% of the reported concentrations of plastics from building materials, textile products and non-food packaging exceed the EU concentration limit of 1000 mg/kg of regulated BFRs. Samples from continental Europe (69 out of 85 for construction plastics and 36 out of 55 for plastics for textile and furniture equipment) have very low concentrations, excepted four samples from Switzerland, Norway and Sweden. These findings should be checked by characterization campaign to decide if sorting of these plastics is necessary before recycling