Environmentally friendly and sustainable products

Softing is committed to the development of environmentally friendly and sustainably produced products. This also includes the avoidance of hazardous substances without compromising their benefits for the customer and the return of old devices, batteries and packaging in accordance with current legal regulations.

EU RoHS - Directives (EU) 2011/65 and (EU) 2015/863

For the products supplied by Softing that fall within the scope of the RoHS Directive (EU) 2011/65, we confirm that they meet the requirements of the RoHS Directive. The conformity of these products with the RoHS Directive (EU) 2011/65 or with the corresponding national laws is expressed by the EU Declaration of Conformity. In March 2015, the RoHS Directive (EU) 2011/65 was supplemented by the Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 with further substance restrictions. For Softing products, we confirm compliance with the Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 regarding substance restrictions.

EU REACH Regulation

Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 REACH specifies the following obligations, among others, which are of importance in the supply chain:

Suppliers of substances and mixtures must provide their customers with either a safety data sheet in accordance with Article 31 of the REACH Regulation or “safety information” in accordance with Article 32 of the REACH Regulation.
The supplier of a product containing one or more articles containing more than 0.1% w/w (weight by weight) of a substance on the candidate list must, in accordance with Article 33 of the REACH Regulation, provide his customer with sufficient information on safe use, but must at least state the name of the substance concerned. This also applies to the consumer on request.
Downstream users, i.e. users of chemicals, have information obligations towards their suppliers in accordance with Article 34 of the REACH Regulation as well as rights and obligations in accordance with Article 37 et seq. of the REACH Regulation.

Softing fulfills the obligations arising from the REACH Regulation. The products are not subject to the registration obligations of the REACH Regulation, as Softing products are articles, not substances or preparations. Our products do not contain any substances that could be released under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.

The information required under Article 33 of the REACH Regulation is included in the delivery documents for the products concerned.

Softing undertakes to regularly compare the products in accordance with the requirements of the REACH Regulation regarding the substances specified in the candidate list.

EU Waste Framework Directive - SCIP

The Waste Framework Directive (EU) 2018/851, Article 9 requires economic operators in the European Union to notify products to the European Chemicals Agency ECHA that contain an SVHC substance with a mass fraction greater than 0.1% in accordance with REACH Regulation Article 33(1). ECHA has developed the central SCIP database for this purpose. SCIP stands for “Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects (Products)”.

Softing complies with this reporting obligation and notifies in the ECHA SCIP database the relevant products that will be placed on the EU market from January 5, 2021, based on SVHC information from the supply chain.

PFAS - Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are substances of increasing concern. Some of them have been classified as hazardous and most of them are persistent. Therefore, many governments are taking measures to restrict the use of PFAS.

On October 14, 2020, the EU Commission adopted its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The aim is to restrict the use of PFAS and the place on the market of chemical products and articles containing PFAS in the EU.

In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the USA has published reporting and record-keeping requirements under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) for importers and manufacturers of PFAS on the US market. Under federal regulations, states have taken a more restrictive and targeted approach by adopting more comprehensive guidelines for phasing out PFAS.

Softing generally supports the goal of such approaches to improve the protection of human health and our ecosystems from risks posed by substances of concern.

The details of the proposed restriction of around 10,000 PFAS are available via the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Due to their unique properties, PFAS are used today in a wide range of industrial products and manufacturing processes. Often because of their high thermal and chemical resistance and the fact that they have a very low surface tension and are therefore water and oil repellent, as well as being abrasion and wear resistant.

Substances of the PFAS group may be contained in some of our products. We are taking the necessary steps to identify the presence of PFAS in our supply chain and to ensure compliance with all existing and future legal requirements. Some PFAS have already been restricted in the past by various regulations such as the REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 and the POP Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. However, for most chemicals belonging to the PFAS group, there is currently no legal obligation to disclose these substances along international supply chains. Nevertheless, we work closely with our suppliers to take the appropriate steps to assess the impact on the respective product. Typical applications for our business areas are mentioned, for example, in publications by trade associations such as ZVEI, BDI, Orgalim, and UNIFE, which show the currently widespread applications of PFAS in manufacturing and in the product.

POPs - persistent organic pollutants

In recognition of the global need for action to restrict POPs (persistent organic pollutants), the Stockholm Convention explicitly aims to eliminate certain persistent organic pollutants and prohibits or restricts the production, use, import and export of POPs. At European level, "Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 20, 2019, on persistent organic pollutants" (POPs Regulation) transposes the international agreement into European law.

We have obligated our suppliers to comply with the legal requirements and are in constant contact with them to ensure that our products comply with the substance bans and restrictions of the POPs Regulation. Changes to the POP Regulation, including its annexes and in particular the lists of substances in Annexes I, II and IV, are constantly monitored.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment/WEEE

Softing complies with the EU Directive “WEEE II” (EU Directive 2012/19/EU “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment”), implemented in Germany by the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG).

As a long-standing manufacturer of high-quality hardware products for industry and commerce, Softing is committed to the goals of environmental protection. This also includes the environmentally friendly disposal and recycling of our products.

These products are marked with the symbol of the crossed-out dustbin. Under no circumstances may they be disposed of by the user together with unsorted municipal waste but must be separated from it and disposed of properly.

To keep logistics costs as low as possible, we offer to take back all affected Softing hardware products free of charge, which will be sent to Softing carriage paid. Any batteries (including accumulators) may remain in the device.

However, batteries may only be transported if they are undamaged. The relevant transportation regulations for batteries must be observed. Note: Before sending devices to us, please ensure that any personal data has been deleted; Softing accepts no liability for this.

If you would like to make use of this take-back service, please contact us (e-mail: [email protected], phone +49 89 456560).

Softing works together with reputable specialist companies certified in accordance with the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) for disposal and recycling.

Softing is registered with the Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register (EAR) under the WEEE Reg. No.
DE 3925 7114

Softing IT Networks GmbH is registered with its products under the WEEE Reg. No.
DE 1651 3215

If you require further information, please get in touch with your sales contact.

Batteries

The place on the market, take-back and recycling of batteries in the European Economic Area (EEA) is regulated by EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and its national implementations.

Softing fulfills the obligations under the EU Regulation and the national implementation in the current Battery Act, including by reporting battery types, joining battery disposal systems and recording batteries placed on the market, as well as by easy removability and replaceability of batteries in products where possible and information on the types of batteries used.

Packaging

In the European Economic Area (EEA), the placing on the market as well as the return and recycling of packaging is regulated by the German Packaging Act 3 (VerpackG3). Softing complies with the associated obligations such as

Obligation to register with the Central Agency Packaging Register LUCID.
Verification of the system participation licensing of manufacturers of sales packaging.
Quantity reporting to the dual system and LUCID for packaging placed on the market that is subject to system participation.
Take-back of e.g. transport packaging for the B2B sector and proof that it has been sent for recycling or energy recovery.

In general

Please also pay attention to regional or municipal requirements for the return of old electrical appliances, batteries and packaging. In accordance with national legislation, penalties may be imposed for improper disposal of such waste.