What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemical substances that resist natural breakdown, remain in the environment for long periods, and build up in living organisms. Examples include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and dioxins. POPs can travel long distances through air and water, affecting ecosystems and human health worldwide.

What is the EU POPs Regulation (EU 2019/1021)?

The EU POPs Regulation, also known as Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, is the European Union’s legal framework for controlling persistent organic pollutants. It enforces the Stockholm Convention by restricting or banning POPs production, use, and disposal to prevent environmental contamination.

Which industries are most affected by POPs legislation?

Industries such as electronics, automotive, textiles, and construction are most affected by persistent organic pollutant (POP) regulations. These sectors often use materials containing POPs, such as flame retardants, lubricants, or plasticizers, and must comply with EU POPs restrictions to continue selling products in the European Union.

How can companies ensure compliance with the EU POPs Regulation?

To comply with the EU POPs Regulation, companies should collect full material disclosures (FMDs) from suppliers, perform chemical screening to detect POPs, and use Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Compliance software. Ongoing monitoring of new POPs listings under the Stockholm Convention helps maintain compliance as regulations evolve.

What is the EU Waste Framework Directive and why does the SCIP database matter for manufacturers?

The EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) is a cornerstone of the European Union’s circular economy strategy, requiring manufacturers to design products for durability, reuse, and waste reduction. A key update in 2018 introduced the SCIP database, the Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects (Products) database, managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Manufacturers, importers, and assemblers must report products containing Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) above 0.1% weight-by-weight (w/w) to the SCIP database. This improves supply chain transparency and supports safe recycling and waste handling.

Who must submit data to the SCIP database under the Waste Framework Directive?

Any company that manufactures, assembles, imports, or distributes products in the EU market containing SVHCs above 0.1% (w/w) must make a SCIP submission.EU-based companies, including first importers have direct legal responsibility.Non-EU suppliers must provide data to their EU partners to maintain market access.The only exception is retailers selling directly and exclusively to end consumers. To determine if you’re in scope, review your supply chain data against the REACH Candidate List, which is updated about every six months.

How does SCIP reporting differ from REACH compliance?

While both REACH and SCIP address hazardous substances, SCIP goes deeper.REACH focuses on the registration and restriction of chemicals.SCIP requires a granular declaration of SVHCs at the article level, including details like material category, safe use information, and concentration ranges. In short, REACH manages chemicals, while SCIP manages transparency, ensuring every product component containing an SVHC can be identified and safely handled at the end of its life cycle.

How can manufacturers efficiently meet SCIP database requirements?

Compliance begins with accurate data collection and supplier collaboration. Manufacturers should:Map all products and identify SVHCs.Collect detailed article- and material-level data following ECHA’s IUCLID format.Use a compliance management solution to automate submissions and maintain accuracy.Solutions like Assent’s SCIP compliance software centralize supplier data, track REACH Candidate List updates, and simplify dossier submissions, helping companies shift from reactive compliance to proactive risk management.

Why is compliance management becoming a strategic advantage for suppliers?

As global regulations evolve toward product sustainability across the entire product life cycle, customers want partners who deliver on transparency as well as compliance.When customers ask for compliance information, they are also evaluating your reliability as a business partner. Suppliers who respond quickly and accurately demonstrate professionalism and build long-term trust. A mature compliance process shows that you are prepared for future regulations and larger opportunities. Instead of seeing compliance as a box to check, think of it as part of your reputation. It proves that you operate responsibly and transparently. With the right tools and consistent processes, even a small supplier can stand out as a trusted and preferred partner in the supply chain.

Why is compliance management becoming harder for suppliers to handle manually?

Regulations are expanding in scope and complexity, covering areas like chemical use, labor practices, and sustainability. Many suppliers still manage compliance data with spreadsheets or through email, which can work for a few customers but quickly becomes unmanageable as requirements increase. Manual methods make it easy to miss updates, lose important documentation, or duplicate work across customer requests. As larger manufacturers strengthen their oversight, suppliers who cannot deliver complete and consistent data face delays, additional audits, or even lost contracts.

What are compliance management data best practices for suppliers?

You do not need a large compliance department to manage growing data demands effectively. Strong compliance management begins with visibility: Knowing what materials you use, which regulations apply, and how to share that information confidently with your customers. With Assent’s sustainability platform, you can manage and automate all your compliance data requests in one place. Instead of juggling multiple spreadsheets and emails, our network-driven system connects you to the same platform used by leading manufacturers. That means you can share accurate, complete information across multiple customers at once, cutting down on repetitive work and response time. Assent’s AI-driven tools also help you identify missing data, flag potential risks, and prepare for future requests more easily.

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Industrial Equipment

AI Compliance Solutions for Industrial Equipment Manufacturers

Industrial supply chains are complex, but your supply chain sustainability solution doesn’t have to be. See how Assent’s AI-native software gives you faster, easier access to supplier and parts data to support defensible product compliance and responsible sourcing.

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Overview

Supply Chain Sustainability for Industrial Equipment Manufacturers

Industrial equipment supply chains are complex, making regulatory changes difficult to keep up with. Requirements can come into force just months after they’re announced, leaving you little room to plan ahead. Assent’s AI product compliance software is purpose-built to help navigate these challenges, ensuring safety, transparency, and compliance.

Challenges

Complex Supply Chains
Regulatory Compliance
Data Management
Risk of Disruptions

Solutions

Comprehensive Compliance Tracking
End-to-End Supply Chain Transparency
Data Centralization
Proactive Risk Mitigation

Platform Benefits

Powerful AI Tools for Product Compliance & Sustainability

Demonstrate Compliance to Regulators

Become More Strategic

Protect Supply Chain Continuity

See Risks Before They Cause Harm

Demonstrate Compliance to Regulators

Become More Strategic

Protect Supply Chain Continuity

See Risks Before They Cause Harm

Demonstrate Compliance to Regulators

Reliable, defensible due diligence that protects against litigation risks, product recalls, and damage to your reputation.

Become More Strategic

Stay ahead of regulatory changes with Assent’s leading experts and platform to mitigate disruptions to your bottom line.

Protect Supply Chain Continuity

Protect against disruptions and non-compliance caused by substance restrictions, supply shortages, and part obsolescence with better supply chain visibility.

See Risks Before They Cause Harm

Identify high-risk suppliers and prioritize them for deeper screening or training to get ahead of risks before they damage your brand.

Advanced Data Management

Quickly access supplier and parts information across your supply chain for smarter decisions.

Detailed Reporting

Assent’s detailed dashboards, reports, and AI validation help you identify supply chain risks and opportunities.

Automated Communication

AI-native automation helps you stay ahead of potential changes or issues, so you can quickly respond to customer inquiries.

Featured Resource | eBook

Navigating the Compliance Landscape: Industrial Equipment

Download the eBook for expert insights into the key regulations that impact the industrial equipment industry, along with strategies for mitigating risks and non-compliance penalties.

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Industrial Equipment Supply Chain Sustainability Solutions

Better REACH Compliance

Discover more about your REACH SVHC requirements and how Assent helps you achieve supply chain transparency.

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Simplify SCIP Requirements

Meet your SCIP database obligations and the Assent Sustainability Platform simplifies SCIP submissions.

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Kickstart Your Critical Minerals Program

See how Assent gives you deep transparency into your conflict and extended mineral sourcing, including smelters and reporting.

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Automate TSCA Compliance

Stay ahead of substance restrictions with Assent’s product compliance software to automate your TSCA program.

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Get the Power of AI With Assent’s Supply Chain Software

See why the Assent Sustainability Platform is the number one choice for over a thousand manufacturers looking to simplify industrial equipment compliance.

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AI Compliance Solutions for Industrial Equipment Manufacturers