WILMINGTON, MA — Royal DSM announced that it will phase out 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, commonly known as NMP, from its resins product portfolio. In this way, DSM aims to drive the highest health and safety standards and strengthen its leadership in sustainable and innovative resins.

The decision to eliminate NMP from its product portfolio is another proof point of DSM's purpose-led, performance-driven strategy, which involves a proactive product stewardship approach to reduce the presence of chemicals of concern over the coming years. By completing its phase-out by July 2020, DSM will be compliant ahead of schedule with all relevant market legislations. This NMP phase-out is part of the company’s comprehensive phase-out program of toxic chemicals, aiming to phase out all chemicals of high concern from its finished products by 2025. DSM will leverage its scientific and technological capabilities, as well as working with partners throughout the value chain, to develop sustainable alternatives to NMP that continue to offer the highest performance.

NMP has been the subject of growing concern for industrial authorities and civil societies around the world. This substance is commonly used throughout the coatings industry. The European Commission has named it a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) and has added it to its REACH Annex XVII restricted substances list. In the EU, after May 9, 2020, NMP will be restricted in mixtures in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.3%. In addition, in the United States, NMP is a TSCA priority substance, and several retailers are proactively phasing it out from paint removers and strippers.

Martin Vlak, Managing Director, DSM Coating Resins, said, "I'm very proud that – together with our partners and customers – we're taking this leadership stance on the issue of NMP. It's time to help our customers and their customers make the shift towards existing healthier products, or to proactively develop with our customers healthier products for (professional) painters who apply it in the homes and interiors of consumers and the families who live there. Our proactive step in eliminating NMP from our product portfolio is clearly aligned with our wider purpose of creating brighter lives for all."