Dennis L. Dalton, Zenith Industrial Chemicals, Singapore. Article first published in ILM May-June 2015 edition. For more information about Zenith Industrial Chemicals please contact the author: info@zenithindustrialchem.com
A Restricted Substances List (RSL), or the more recent Manufacturers Restricted Substances List (MRSL), notifies us of those chemicals that should either not be used in leather processing, or specifies a maximum allowed level of use. The chemicals on these lists originate from government regulation of potentially hazardous substances (it is the duty of governments to protect the health of their citizens and the environment) or from various brands or eco-label agencies whose desire is to promote “greener” or “safer” products by restricting chemicals that are perceived to be hazardous (Fig 1).