ZVO: Focus on the BREF and Chromium(VI) Restrictions
At the regular meeting of the ZVO’s Department of Environmental and Chemicals Policy (RUCP) on August 14, 2026, two topics were clearly the focus this time: the STM-BREF and the ongoing SEAC consultation on the restriction of chromium(VI).
The STM-BREF process is now entering its decisive phase. The final meeting of the European information exchange is coming up. The basis for this is the current “Revised Draft 1” and the associated BAT Conclusions. This is where things get concrete—because what ultimately appears in the BREF and the BAT Conclusions must later be implemented in the facilities. It is therefore not only crucial that requirements look plausible on paper; they must also be technically feasible, operationally implementable, and their effects must be verifiable. This is precisely what the ZVO continues to focus on. Even more pressing at the moment is the REACH restriction on chromium(VI). On August 12, 2026, the ZVO submitted its statement on the SEAC consultation. At the same time, prepared comment templates were made available to members. These were supplemented by AI prompts that companies could use to develop their own contributions tailored to their specific situations. The rationale is simple: An association’s statement is important. However, it does not replace the experiences of individual companies. When assessing transition periods, technical alternatives, customer approvals, investments, or impacts on supply chains, concrete examples from companies are particularly valuable.
ZVO’s Environment and Chemicals Policy Division Plans Consultation Session
The meeting also focused on the division’s project portfolio. Existing topics were continued, new approaches discussed, and additional working groups prepared. This includes, among other things, a project group on the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation). The practical relevance remains crucial: projects should emerge where common problems faced by member companies can be addressed collaboratively in a meaningful way. The RUCP consultation session at the 2026 ZVO Surface Technology Days is also taking shape. A highlight will be a high-profile presentation from the VCI. The second key focus is the ZVO’s PR campaign, which has now reached an advanced stage of development. It is explicitly intended not to be confined to a few select committees, but to involve the entire membership. The consultation session offers an important first opportunity for this: to inform, discuss—and get as many members on board as possible. The department has therefore already discussed the specific preparations and how to approach the topic.
Contact details and information on the companies and institutions presented here can be found in our interactive surface technology industry directory.