Governments around the world are increasingly anxious to limit the number and amount of toxins contained in products available to the public.
Stephen Pollock-Hill, managing director of Nazeing Glass in Nazeing New Road, Broxbourne, claims to have solved the problem with a new type of crystal glass that is completely free of arsenic, barium and antimony, among other chemicals and toxins.
Mr Pollock-Hill said: “While there are lead-free crystal recipes on the market, this is believed to be the first attempt to manufacture a glass that contains no toxic ingredients, defined by the European Chemicals Handling Agency as substances of very high concern.”
Chief executive of British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation David Dalton wrote in a letter to the company: “In my opinion this new approach to completely removing all known toxic components from the composition is a radical first and a ground-breaking move for a small independent company of such limited resource.
“I would strongly support Nazeing Glass in seeing this exciting development, now so close to fruition, through to successful market penetration, as I’m sure once the major international producers in this sector become aware, they too will want to be party to the formula of its success.
“I have been seriously impressed by the latest samples produced in recent factory trials and it would, to my mind, suggest that once the few remaining teething issues of optimising both trace additions and working conditions are solved, then this will be a truly commendable development and will demonstrate a precedent in the field of domestic glassware manufacture – another first for Britain.”
Commentators on growing Government legislation related to the regulation of toxins and chemicals include manufacturers’ organisation EEF, which has warned UK companies that they will face further limitations on the number of certain toxic substances found inside products.
EEF’s Susanne Baker said earlier this month in a statement to the manufacturers: “There is the potential for disruption to supplies if substances, or components reliant on those substances, are withdrawn from the market.”
