Electrolux is concerned about potentially hazardous substances for four primary reasons:

1) Many consumers are concerned that chemicals may have a negative impact on our health and environment. Consumers demand products that are safe to use. We aim to deliver safe products, safe production, while protecting the environment.

2) Some substances can have a negative impact on the recyclability of products.

3) Chemicals can be harmful for the working conditions of our employees.

4) Substances may result in hazardous waste, increasing disposal costs.

Electrolux is a downstream user of chemicals and most of the chemicals are handled as preparations in the manufacturing process.

The Electrolux response:

• Restricted Materials List (RML). Its purpose is to specify for suppliers and Electrolux facilities the chemicals which are banned and restricted for use.
• We regard REACH, a proposed European regulation for the registration, evaluation authorization and restriction of chemicals, as an important tool in ensuring safe products, safe production and environmental protection.
• We participated in the publication "What we need from REACH" in 2005, published by the International Chemical Secretariat, ChemSec to influence decision makers on the importance of developing an effective procedure for REACH.
• We are working towards the elimination of the use of chlorinated solvents in our production facilities.
• We have been a leader in the phase-out of both CFC and HCFC in new markets such as China and Brazil. HCFC is still in use in small amounts only in Brazil, and efforts are ongoing to entirely phase out the substance there.