Since July 2006, the "Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)" European Directive 2002/95/EC has banned the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium as well as the flame retardants polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs).
Besides the reduction of hazardous implication for humans and the environment, RoHS regulations shall improve recycling in such a way that in the long term recycling costs can be reduced.
Siemens Energy has implemented the European Union's RoHS directive. For example we are switching to lead-free soldering methods in our manudacturing operations and avoid RoHS substances in our products. In doing so, we expect from our suppliers to be also compliant to this directive.