How to Know Your Electronic Components Are RoHS/REACH-Approved

A previous DigiKey blog discussed the trend to make electronics more environmental using three product design concepts:

1. Sustainable design
2. Green manufacturing
3. Circular economy

However, keen-eyed electronic engineers may have noticed something missing from the list: environmental regulations. This was not a mistake but a strategic decision, as regulations and certifications are a complete discussion of their own.

As tends to be the case, the EU has led the charge with the development of two regulations:

• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

Thus, if any electronics provider wishes to supply technology to customers in the EU — either directly, or indirectly by supplying an OEM — these two environmental regulations must be considered during the product development process.

This blog will dig into these two regulations, their effect on electronic design engineers, and how DigiKey can help.

What is RoHS, and how does it affect the electronics industry?

The RoHS standard is designed to restrict the use of hazardous materials within electrical and electronic components. The substances that are banned under this regulation include:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Hexavalent chromium
• Polybrominated biphenyls
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
• Four different phthalates (DEHP, BBP, BBP, DIBP)

These substances are hazardous to humans and the environment. Thus, they pose a threat during the manufacturing and end-of-life of a product — be it landfill or recycling plant.

This standard covers any company that supplies, sells, or distributes electrical products, sub-assemblies, components, or cables to the EU via direct sale, resellers, distributors, integrators, or OEMs.

It should be noted that RoHS does have some exceptions, notably with the use of lead. It also does not cover the production or use of batteries.

The standard has had two iterations since its inception in 2006. RoHS 2, released in 2011, expanded the scope of the standard to cover more components and required companies to produce more documentation to prove compliance. Meanwhile, RoHS 3 added the four phthalates to the list of restricted compounds.

RoHS is enforced by the National Measurements Office (NMO), and penalties can range from fines to full imprisonment. So, engineers must follow this regulation seriously.

What is REACH, and why should electronics engineers know about it?

REACH is an EU regulation that aims to protect human health and the environment from particular substances of very high concern (SVHC) without negatively affecting the competitiveness of the EU and its chemical industries. It is far-reaching (no pun intended) and covers substances that can be used in all matters of life — from industrial processes to at-home use.

For example, REACH not only includes industrial cleaning products but also paints, clothes, furniture, and household electronics. This means that, unlike RoHS, REACH affects most companies with a presence in the EU.

There are effectively three company and/or individual roles that are under the purview of REACH:

• Manufacturers, who make and/or supply chemicals to people or groups in the EU
• Importers, who buy items from outside the EU that are to be used or sold in the EU
• Downstream users who are the organizations or individuals that handle chemicals within the EU

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) enforces compliance, and the burden of proof is on the company. Thus, companies must identify, manage, and assess chemicals for risks. These documents must prove to the ECHA that SVHCs are used safely and that risk management processes are established and followed. If risks cannot be managed, then the use of a substance can be restricted or banned. Additionally, most hazardous substances will need to be substituted with safer alternatives when they are available.

REACH mostly differs from RoHS in its scope. REACH oversees the production and use of hundreds of SVHCs based on their effect on humans and the environment. Alternatively, RoHS only restricts substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

DigiKey helps engineers source RoHS and REACH-compliant parts

According to DigiKey’s REACH and RoHS statements, the company is able to provide information and documentation to prove that a particular product they sell is, or is not, compliant with either regulation.

The RoHS and REACH status as seen on the DigiKey product page for the Raspberry Pi 5 SC1112 single board computer, featuring a Broadcom BCM2712 Arm Cortex-A76 processor. (Image: DigiKey.)

DigiKey’s product pages, like the one seen above, will also list the compliance status of the item. It is important to note that DigiKey sells products that are compliant and non-compliant with these regulations. So, as engineers source parts for their designs, they must choose accordingly if they wish to ensure the final product meets RoHS and REACH compliance. The product labels engineers need to look for include:

• REACH status:
  • REACH Unaffected: The product and packaging have no SVHCs, as identified by ECHA.
  • REACH Affected: The product contains SVHCs as identified by ECHA and may require consideration on the user’s part.
  • Vendor Undefined: The product has not yet been classified by ECHA according to REACH.
• RoHS status:
  • ROHS3 Compliant: The product contains no restricted substances or is under exemption.
  • RoHS Compliant: The product contains none of the original six substances or is under exemption.
  • RoHS Non-compliant: The product contains one or more of the restricted substances and is not exempted.
  • RoHS Not Applicable: The product is not under the scope of RoHS.
  • Vendor Undefined: The product has yet to be classified under RoHS.

For more information about DigiKey’s environmental, RoHS, and REACH efforts, read its statements here.