Technical Summary ⚙️
Industries that rely on mechanical coatings are undergoing an important transformation in light of new legislation aimed at reducing the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) and the associated endocrine disruptors. The SAFE-ED Coatings project, led by FAKOLITH with the participation of AIMPLAS, focuses on developing safe coating systems free of BPA with undetectable migration rates (less than 1 part per billion), while maintaining the performance required in direct and indirect applications with food, water, and construction.
The process relies on selecting raw materials that comply with the new standards and applying advanced testing methodologies that meet European legislation, which imposes safety requirements with unprecedented strictness.
The Industrial Challenge in Confronting Bisphenol A 🔥
Bisphenol A is one of the chemicals that recent studies have shown can negatively affect the hormonal and reproductive systems of humans and animals. International concern over this substance has increased, leading to intensive regulatory reviews, especially by bodies such as EFSA in Europe, which recommended reducing the acceptable daily intake by up to 100,000 times compared with previous levels.
This trend is reflected in new laws such as Directive (EU) 2020/2184 and Spanish Royal Decree 3/2023, which target all products and systems that come into contact with food, beverages, and drinking water, in addition to various industrial and consumer products.
SAFE-ED Coatings Project: Advanced Solutions for Safe Coatings 🏭
In response to these challenges, the SAFE-ED Coatings project was launched, coordinated by FAKOLITH and with technical participation from AIMPLAS, with the aim of developing new coating systems that deliver high performance while reducing or eliminating the migration of endocrine disruptors to levels below 1 part per billion.
The project focuses on four main coating systems suitable for direct and indirect contact with food, beverages, drinking water, as well as construction applications and civil facilities.
- Reducing migration to undetectable levels.
- Maintaining the performance characteristics and core functions of coatings, such as resistance and environmental compatibility.
- Complying with current and future strict regulations.
Core Working Mechanisms 🔧
The strategy adopts performance based on three main pillars:
- Complete removal of BPA or other endocrine disruptors.
- Reduction to the lowest possible level through the use of safe raw materials.
- Encapsulation to contain any components that may be harmful and prevent their accumulation or escape.
The project began by examining at least 80 raw materials, of which 60 (75%) were identified as applicable materials in coating systems compatible with direct and indirect contact with food and drinking water.
AIMPLAS Role in Regulatory Assessment and Technical Analysis ⚙️
AIMPLAS represents the project’s technical and legal center of expertise, where it reviews and analyzes international regulations and evaluates raw coating materials according to these new standards.
The assessment methodologies are based on risk analysis and compliance with laws that restrict the migration rate to less than 1 part per billion. A precise testing system for coatings is also being developed to detect even the lowest possible migration levels.
Standards Updates and Performance Tests 🔍
AIMPLAS efforts include:
- Reviewing and analyzing current and future legislative documents.
- Designing and updating robust testing methodologies in line with the new legislation.
- Providing a comprehensive technical guide for the development and testing of industrial coatings.
The Project’s Impact on Different Industries 🔥
The SAFE-ED Coatings project is expected to bring about a radical transformation in the following sectors:
- Food industry: improving the safety of surfaces that come into direct and indirect contact with food.
- Construction and civil engineering: providing safe coatings for facilities and infrastructure that protect users and workers.
- Health and drinking water: ensuring that harmful materials do not migrate into water sources or feeding devices.
In addition to designing sustainable systems based on bio-based materials that reduce the environmental footprint during coating manufacture.
Industrial and Operational Benefits 🚗
By providing safe and industrially usable alternatives, the project supports:
- Continuity of industrial operations without interruption due to new regulatory initiatives.
- Improving product reputation and compliance with European and other safety standards.
- Expanding market prospects and reducing potential health risks.
Conclusion: An Industrial Shift Toward Safer and More Sustainable Coatings 🏭
The SAFE-ED Coatings project carries major strategic importance, as it offers integrated solutions to address the health and regulatory challenges posed by BPA and endocrine-disrupting substances.
Thanks to the collaboration between FAKOLITH and AIMPLAS, high-performance coating systems are being developed that meet strict safety requirements and preserve industrial performance, while benefiting from the latest assessment and testing methodologies.
The project is expected to contribute to strengthening industrial and environmental safety and to provide the technical sector with knowledge tools that drive the transition toward the use of sustainable materials and effective alternatives, based on in-depth study and precise implementation of international standards.
The project concludes at the end of 2026 with support from the European Union under the NextGenerationEU plan, confirming its importance in driving industrial transformation toward a healthier and safer future in the mechanical coatings sector.
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