Sustainable Innovation: Flash4 Ensures Prop 65 Compliance

Black River Falls, WI — November 11, 2024 — Important regulatory change that may impact your business, even if you are outside California and Washington. Certain products you have purchased from us may contain components soon to be regulated under California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65) and Safer Products for Washington. These regulations require warnings about significant exposures to chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Specifically, some products contain Bisphenol S (BPS), identified as a potential reproductive toxicant. Starting December 29, 2024, businesses in California must adhere to warning notice regulations for products containing BPS in quantities exceeding safe harbor limits.

The specific BPS-containing products affected include the following direct thermal (DT) facestock materials from Flash4:

025NT             024NT
024DT             022PD

We prioritize product safety and transparency. We offer a range of BPA and BPS-free products with unique phenolic developers, compliant with Proposition 65 and Safer Products for Washington. We are committed to providing reliable phenol free substitutes for products containing BPS.

If you are purchasing uncoated products from us, you don’t need to worry about these new regulations. Those stock items do not contain any BPS and are already compliant.

If you’re purchasing coated products, we’d love to explore new phenol free options with you. Our latest products are BPA-free and free from intentionally added BPS, offering excellent resistance to print image fading. These innovative, phenol free products provide great protection at an affordable price, benefiting both your budget and the environment!

What is Proposition 65? Enacted in November 1986, Proposition 65 requires businesses to warn California residents about significant exposures to chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. California must maintain and update a list of these chemicals, which has grown to about 900 since 1987. The official title is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.

What is Safer Products for Washington? The Safer Products for Washington program, enacted in 2019, aims to reduce toxic chemicals in consumer products. It identifies and regulates priority chemicals in five-year cycles, imposing restrictions or reporting requirements based on the availability of safer alternatives. The goal is to minimize toxic substances by favoring safer options.

As illustrated in the print comparisons below, our new phenol free option is highly esteemed, fully compliant with all standards, and offers superior protection.

Please contact Flash4 to get a quote for your current direct thermal supplies with these new materials. Rest assured that your labels will meet upcoming regulations, ensuring the safety of both your employees and customers.