Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health and environmental impacts of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants used in upholstered furniture; and whether they intend to update the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to reduce reliance on such chemicals.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency has just published a flame retardant scoping review, which identifies flame retardant substances that are present on, or relevant to the GB market, including brominated and organophosphate flame retardants used in upholstered furniture. The review carried out a preliminary assessment of their potential impacts on the environment and an initial screen for human health effects (when exposed via the environment).
As set out in the policy paper, ‘The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture’, published on 22 January 2025, the Government plans to reform the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to maintain a high level of fire safety while facilitating a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants.
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that fire safety testing requirements for domestic furniture do not hinder product recyclability or circular economy goals; and what consideration they have made of the introduction of an extended producer responsibility scheme to support the safe disposal of items containing persistent organic pollutants.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government plans to reform the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to maintain a high level of fire safety while facilitating a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants as set out in the policy paper, ‘The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture’, published on January 22, 2025.
Officials in the Office for Product Safety and Standards, within the Department for Business and Trade, that are leading the ongoing review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, are working closely with Defra officials to ensure that consideration is being given to the Government’s commitment to reduce waste by moving to a circular economy.
This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened the Circular Economy Taskforce to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we will publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The strategy will be accompanied by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis. We are considering the evidence for sector-specific interventions from right across the economy, including extended producer responsibility schemes.
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to transition to a circular economy for construction; and what assessment they have made of (1) current construction and demolition waste levels; (2) targets and timelines for waste reduction; (3) methods to increase materials reuse and recycling; (4) economic opportunities in waste minimisation; and (5) any regulatory frameworks which may need to be implemented.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State has asked Defra to convene a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis.
Additionally, the Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy that will govern, join up and drive Circular Economy work across government departments to support the government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.
We will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what further interventions may be needed in the construction and waste sectors as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy.