Priority Chemicals for Toward Zero Exposure

CEPN has identified the 1st and 2nd Round of Priority Chemicals — process chemicals to be prioritized for elimination of substitution in electronics manufacturing. For the Toward Zero Exposure program, both rounds of Priority Chemicals are focused on solvents used in manufacturing cleaning products.

Selection Process: CEPN’s selection process for these Priority Chemicals included nominating a starting list of chemicals using CEPN member companies’ Manufacturing Restricted Substances Lists (MRSL) as well as other publicly available MRSLs, aggregated and anonymized data collected using CEPN’s Process Chemical Data Collection (PCDC) Tool and soliciting nominations from a broad cross section of stakeholders.

The nominated chemicals were then researched and screened against 1) CEPN’s High Hazard Criteria; 2) use in the electronics industry as solvents in manufacturing processes; and 3) a high-level review of potential availability of safer alternatives.

1st Round Priority Chemicals

TZE Scope: Solvents in Cleaning Products

Learn more about the Round 1 Priority Chemicals

2nd Round Priority Chemicals

TZE Scope: Solvents in Cleaning Products

Learn more about the Round 2 Priority Chemicals

For the Toward Zero Exposure program, elimination is defined as concentrations in mixtures below GHS cutoff reporting values according to Table 1.5.1 of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), Ninth revised edition (2021). For all 1st Round Priority Chemicals this is <0.1%, except for methanol which is <1%. For all 2nd Round Priority Chemicals this is <0.1%, except 1,1,2,2-tetracholoroethane which is <1%.

More information on the selection and research conducted for the 1st and 2nd Rounds of Priority Chemicals can be found in the Summary of First Round Priority Chemical Selection Report, December 2019 and Summary of Second Round Priority Chemical Selection Report, June 2023.