Environmental legislation comparisons

In comparison with other ecotoxicity tests employed for implementation of environmental legislation (e.g. IPPC), the species utilized for the MARA test are less sensitive. 

Ruthenium catalysts cannot compete with nickel catalysts for sugar hydrogenation on a direct comparison of catalyst cost contribution because of the difference in metal value. However, environmental legislation and the increasing cost of waste disposal and waste water treatment is changing the situation and presenting opportunities for ruthenium catalysts for the future. 

The European Parliament has set out where it believes EC policy should focus in tackling the environmental and health problems posed by PVC. In a resolution adopted in April, it called for a phase-out of lead and cadmium stabilisers, legislation to ensure the separate collection of discarded PVC products, and a complex strategy for substitution of PVC based on life-cycle comparisons with competing products. 

Major competitive materials for PP and their crude advantages/disadvantages over PP are given in Table 3. This table is for broad comparison only. In many cases, polymers are filled or modified to improve properties or to reduce cost which makes the distinction between the properties of two polymers for a particular application quite blurred. Consequently, choice of a particular material for a given application will require a careful study of the product requirements, material properties and other commercial, environmental and legislative issues. 

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