Understanding the Chemical Composition of Products
Manufacturers, importers, and brand owners are increasingly facing stricter requirements regarding product safety and chemical substances. Heavy metals, fluorine, and PFAS, in particular, are drawing increasing attention from governments, customers, and regulators.
Normec supports organizations with independent laboratory analyses of products and materials. Our analyses provide insight into the presence of heavy metals, fluorine, and PFAS, giving you reliable data for quality control, product development, compliance, and due diligence processes.
Heavy Metal Analysis
Heavy metals can be found in a wide variety of products, raw materials, and other materials. Depending on the application, these substances may pose risks to people and the environment or result in restrictions under laws and regulations.
We test for, among other things:
- Zinc (Zn)
- Copper (Cu)
- Nickel (Ni)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Lead (Pb)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Chromium (Cr)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
- Selenium (Se)
- Arsenic (As)
- Cobalt (Co)
- Fluorine
Normec’s test results are recognized worldwide and can be used for certification, reporting, product development, and regulatory or marketing claims.
Certification for Heavy Metals and Fluorine
Testing for heavy metals and fluorine is often conducted in the context of compostability, biodegradability, and environmental certification. Depending on your product and market, we test according to various international standards.
We test according to, among others:
- EN 13432 (Europe)
- NF T51-800 (France)
- ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 (U.S.)
- CAN/BNQ 0017-088 (Canada)
Each standard has its own limit values for heavy metals, with EN 13432 being one of the strictest standards.
What does this mean for you?
- You comply with international standards and certification requirements
- You prevent negative impacts on the environment and compost quality
- You can substantiate your certification and claims
- You gain insight into the chemical composition of your product
- You’ll avoid problems with certification or market access
Fluorine Analysis
Fluorine analyses are used to determine the presence of fluorine-containing compounds in products and materials. These analyses can provide valuable information about the composition of materials and often serve as a first step in broader chemical investigations.
Normec performs fluorine analyses on a wide range of product groups and materials. The results can be used for quality control, product development, and risk assessments.
PFAS Testing on Products
PFAS is a collective term for thousands of chemical substances used for their water-, grease-, and dirt-repellent properties. Due to increasing concern about potential environmental and health risks, regulations surrounding PFAS are being further tightened worldwide.
Normec performs PFAS screenings and analyses of specific PFAS compounds on products and materials. This provides you with insight into the presence of PFAS and gives you the information needed to assess risks and substantiate compliance issues.
PFAS testing supports, among other things:
- Product safety assessments
- Supplier and supply chain audits
- Due diligence processes
- Product development
- Compliance investigations
- Preparation for future regulations
For which products do we conduct analyses?
We test for heavy metals, fluorine, and PFAS in, among other things:
- Packaging materials
- Plastics
- Textiles
- Consumer products
- Building materials
- Coatings
- Industrial products
- Raw materials and semi-finished products
Custom research for specific product groups is also available.
Why test products for heavy metals, fluorine, and PFAS?
The presence of chemical substances can impact product safety, compliance, and market access. By gaining timely insight into the composition of products, you can avoid surprises during audits, customer inspections, or certification processes.
What are the benefits?
- Insight into the chemical composition of products
- Evidence of product safety and sustainability
- Support with laws and regulations
- Assurance for customers and regulatory authorities
- Risk management throughout the supply chain
- Preparation for future regulations
Expertise in chemical analysis
Normec is an independent and globally recognized laboratory for compostability, biodegradation, ecotoxicity, and chemical analysis. Testing for heavy metals and fluorine is often part of the certification process for compostable and biodegradable products.
We provide support in conducting tests, interpreting results, and preparing reports for certification and product development.
Would you like to learn more about testing for heavy metals, fluorine, and PFAS?
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Frequently Asked Questions About Testing for Heavy Metals, Fluorine, and PFAS
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Normec is recognized by certification bodies worldwide. You can use our reports for certification, research purposes, marketing claims or legal substantiation, depending on testing conditions and quality control.
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Our main office is located in Ghent, Belgium. For American customers, we also have a branch office in Kettering, Ohio.
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Compostability is a broader concept than biodegradation. A product that is compostable is always biodegradable under composting conditions. But a biodegradable product is not automatically compostable because disintegration, material properties and ecotoxicity are also assessed.
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Yes. Depending on the research question, we can perform both screenings and analyses of specific PFAS compounds.
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Yes. The results support organizations in compliance processes, supplier assessments, product development, and risk management.