Mouser's commitment to the environment is built into our mission of responsible innovation and delivering new products that help engineers improve the world we live in, including solutions to environmental challenges with minimal impact.

Mouser has successfully completed its registration to ISO 14001, which determines how environmental impact is being measured and improved. As well, Mouser remains on its journey toward ISO 26000:2010 Sustainability, which provides relevant guidance to companies, sharing best practices relating to social responsibility, globally and support in turning principles into effective actions.

Environmental Policy and Objectives

Mouser Electronics is committed to the continual improvement of processes affecting the environment to enhance environmental performance and complying with all legal and other requirements related to our environmental aspects – with a goal of preventing pollution and the conservative use of resources. We look to:

  • Reduce our carbon footprint
  • Reduce our use of water
  • Increase the amount of recycled materials

At Mouser our environmental policy encompasses all relevant environmental laws and regulations globally. We also work closely with our manufacturers to provide our customers with products that are compliant with relevant environmental laws and regulations.

As a distributor of electronic components, equipment and supplies, Mouser intends to properly identify all environmental aspects of the products we carry. We are committed to include accurate and traceable identification to part numbers via documentation from our manufacturers. In addition, we will prevent the mixing of products with different environmental aspects through strict inventory control and conservative return policies.

EcoVadis

Bronze 2023 ecovadis Sustainability Rating logoTTI and the family of specialists, which includes Mouser, have achieved a Bronze Sustainability Rating from ecovadis. Ecovadis has the World's Most Trusted Business Sustainability Ratings. If you have access to ecovadis, Mouser is included in our parent company rating under TTI INC (GROUP). For more information visit the ecovadis website at ecovadis.com.

IntegrityNext

Mouser has chosen IntegrityNext for our repository of social responsibility and sustainability. IntegrityNext covers all material ESG topics in accordance with relevant standards and regulations. If you have access, please find our information under Mouser Electronics. For more information visit the IntegrityNext website at integritynext.com.

Environmental Information

This information is designed to help you understand the environmental issues facing the electronics industry today and those in the future. Additionally, we want you to know that Mouser and its manufacturers are working together to assure our customers that products in compliance with existing directives and legislation are available.

We will strive to keep the most up-to-date information available to you. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions for our environmental web pages or questions about our policies.

Contact Mouser at:
quality@mouser.com

RoHS

Commentary

RoHS Amended

EU Directive 2011/65/EU was amended to include 4 new substances by EU Directive 2015/863, effective 7/22/19. The substances (all phthalates) are for the most part not used by the electronic component manufactures, and are considered SVHC under REACH. Therefore, many manufacturers have been slow to update their environmental information. This has put Mouser behind in updating the RoHS status on our website. The amendment also added a new “other” product category number 11. This affects our customers, more than the individual components. Also Category 9 Monitoring and Control instruments are not due for RoHS 3 until July 2021, therefore they will only be compliant with EU Directive 2011/65/EU until then.

RoHS Revised

EU Directive 2002/95/EC, the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive, was replaced on 21 July 2011 by EU Directive 2011/65/EU, commonly referred to as RoHS2. The major changes that affected the purchase of electronic components were the adoption of the “CE” mark for indication of RoHS compliance and the elimination of Lead (Pb) in ceramic chip capacitors. Several manufacturers were slow to catch up with the dropping of this exemption, but all are up to requirements now. Otherwise not much has changed for electronic component distribution.

EU Removes DecaBDE exemption

Recent events in the EU have resulted in the elimination of the exemption for Decabrominated diphenyl ether (DecaBDE). DecaBDE is part of the Polybrominated diphenyl ethers already regulated to 1,000 PPM by the RoHS Directive. Therefore when a supplier of products indicates a product is RoHS compliant without an exemption, this would include compliant to DecaBDE requirements. Mouser Electronics indicates the use of an exemption on our website, packing list and product labels.

RoHS changes the world

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is the European Union's (EU) Directive 2011/65/EU of January 27, 2003, regarding the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The directive compels members of the EU to write and implement legislation that supports the directive. EU members were to be compliant no later than July 1, 2006. The directive limits the allowable amounts of six hazardous substances in EEE products marketed in the EU. These substances are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, certain brominated flame retardants (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Nothing in recent history has challenged the distribution of electronic components more than the European Union's directive on this restriction of hazardous substances.

RoHS FAQs

Mouser Information

Mouser, the distributor to count on.

It is the policy of Mouser Electronics to identify and offer products to the customer as RoHS Compliant, RoHS Exempt, and/ or RoHS Not Applicable, only after specific requirements have been met. Mouser defines the below terms as:

  • "RoHS: Compliant" per producer documentation. The manufacturer has declared and documented compliance to EU Directive 2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) as amended.
  • "RoHS: Compliant by Exemption" per producer documentation. The manufacturer has declared and documented an exemption from compliance to EU Directive 2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) as amended.
  • "RoHS: Non-Applicable" as declared by Mouser or the manufacturer after determining the product doesn't fall within the scope of either the RoHS or WEEE directives. Examples would be non-powered hand tool or batteries.

With the publishing of EU Directive 2015/863, Mouser had to maintain two levels of RoHS compliance. The original RoHS 2, EU Directive 2011/65/EU and EU Directive 2011/65/EU as amended by EU Directive 2015/863. Some refer to amendment EU Directive 2015/863 as RoHS 3, but really is RoHS 2 amended. The two levels are because of the transition period for medical, and monitoring and control instruments. According to EU Directive 2015/863 these industries had until 7/22/2021 to comply with the amendment. Therefore, we had four product RoHS information pop-ups; RoHS 2011/65/EU, RoHS 2011/65/EU with exemption, 2011/65/EU amended by 2015/863, and 2011/65/EU amended by 2015/863 with exemption. Now that the exemption for medical, and monitoring and control instruments has passed, these manufacturers have certified to Mouser compliance to RoHS as amended.

Mouser will indicate environmental compliance on parts where the original manufacturer has provided Mouser with clear objective evidence of RoHS compliance. Mouser has also started posting manufacturer Declaration of Compliance on our website. Where these exist, customers will find these declarations posted at the product level, same place where customers expect to find the data sheet for the product. As we receive these declarations, we are posting them to our website. Environmental compliance should be based on manufacturer’s documentation, and not the distributor’s.

Mouser performs no testing of products and relies solely on the manufacturer of the product for identification of Environmental Compliance. Mouser makes no warranty, certification, or declaration of compliance. All statements by Mouser of Environmental compliance, are based on Manufacturer documentation. Any relevant evidence will be filed with the Vice President of Quality or the Product Operations Director, and maintained for at least 4 years from the date of receipt. Products will not be advertised or offered as Environmentally Compliant, until sufficient evidence is received from the manufacturer, and any in stock or on order inventory has been determined to be such. We will never mix stock.

Directives

RoHS

2015/863 of March 31, 2015, amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of restricted substances.

2011/65/EU of January 27, 2003, on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. (RoHS)

WEEE Recast

DIRECTIVE 2012/19/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (recast) In July of 2012 the European Parliament recognized that the EU was not meeting collection goals for WEEE. This was attributed to much of the WEEE being exported to third world countries, and therefore, not being included in WEEE recycle programs of member countries. The recast WEEE provides for measures to clamp down on the practice of exporting WEEE. It also increases recycle efforts to meet targets.

WEEE - The One That Started It All

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) represents the EU Directive 2002/96/EC of January 27, 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

  • This Directive lays down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

"The purpose of this directive is, as a first priority, the prevention of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and in addition, the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of such wastes so as to reduce the disposal of waste."

Essentially this means, do not throw waste in a landfill - - reuse or recycle 100% of the electronic and electrical equipment. Furthermore, the directive mandates manufacturers (known as 'producers' in the EU), will finance the reuse and recycling, and meet specific targets for this reuse or recycling. The directive also requires products be marked with the "crossed-out wheelie bin". This mark is actually illustrated in the directive.

Cross out wheelie bin The directive compels members of the EU to write and implement legislation which supports the directive. EU members had until 8/13/2005 to have this in place, but implementation of some portions of the directive has been delayed until 1/1/2006. The delayed part is the actual collection and recycling of WEEE. The original schedule of 8/13/2005 still holds for producer registration and product marking. Many EU members are well on schedule to implementation. Hopes and dreams of this all going away is wishful thinking. In reality, the environmental movement is shifting into high gear. And it's not just a European requirement -- China is striving to meet or beat the Europeans. California has on the books SB20 and SB50 on the books as well, requiring the recycling of EEE having displays larger than 4 inches. Numerous other state legislatures are working on their own versions.

Mouser's Information

We distribute Electrical and Electronic Equipment which falls within the scope of the WEEE Directive. Just about any product that uses electrical power to operate - - whether plug-in or with batteries - - is covered under this directive. Some of Mouser's inventory includes test equipment, soldering irons, heat guns, UPS, battery chargers, ESD testing equipment, solder pots, lighted magnifiers, and others.

Directives

2012/19/EU of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (recast)

2002/96/EC of January 27, 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. (WEEE)

CE certification and CE marking

CE certification and CE marking are a part of the EU’s harmonized legislation created in the early 90s. The original aim of the CE marking was to facilitate the free movement of goods in the European single market, with a harmonized policy geared to ensuring that only safe and otherwise compliant products find their way onto that market.

The scope has evolved over the years, and so as the countries requiring it.

There are currently 25 CE directives.

Most EEE (Electronic and Electric Equipment), as well as some electronics components, are required to be CE certified to be suitable for the EU/EEA Market.

The countries requiring CE are primarily the EU 27 member states and the EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). Switzerland and Turkey may also, in some instance, require CE certified products.

Until 2020, the United Kingdom also used CE. Following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the United Kingdom has created their own certification: UKCA, which went live in January 2020. UKCA follows the same principles as CE, yet modelled specifically on the legislation and designated standards of the United Kingdom.

UKCA aimed to replace CE for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) with Northern Ireland continuing to require, and the UKCA marking on the products was to become mandatory by the 1st of January 2025.

On the 1st of August 2023, the UK government announced they are extending recognition of the CE marking for placing most goods on the market in Great Britain, indefinitely, beyond December 2024. This means the CE marking will continue to be recognized and acceptable in the UK for most products past December 2024.

At Mouser, we are working with our suppliers to obtain the EU Declarations of Conformity for the products that are CE certified, and we will continue to do the same with the UK Declarations of Conformity for the products that are UKCA certified. When we receive the confirmation from the suppliers that the product is certified along with their EU and/or UK Declarations of Conformity, these are being added to our website, publicly accessible to all our customers.

For more information on CE marking and the CE directives: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/ce-marking/manufacturers_en

For more information on UKCA marking and the applicable UK Legislation: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking

Batteries/Accumulators

Directive 2013/56/EU amending Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament

This amendment put expiration dates on exemption for mercury in button cells and batteries for cordless power tools. The also directive has a carve out for button cells for hearing aids.

Button batteries with mercury under 2% expired on 1 October 2015,

Cordless Power Tool batteries expired on 31 December 2016.

Button Cells for Hearing Aids where reviewed and in a Report From The Commission To The European Parliament And The Council

  • Expiry of the exemption for mercury-containing button cells as of 1 October 2015 is not expected to entail problems as regards the availability of button cells used in hearing aid devices. Consequently, there is no need to extend the exemption enshrined in Article 4 of Directive 2006/66/EC

Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament

While batteries have always been regulated, the regulations are more rigid now.

Lead and mercury in batteries have long been recognized as an environmental problem. EU Directives date back to 1991. In 2006 the EU has passed the new directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC. This directive replaces the previous directives.

The prohibitions:

  1. Without prejudice to Directive 2000/53/EC, Member States shall prohibit the placing on the market of:
    1. all batteries or accumulators, whether or not incorporated into appliances, that contain more than 0,0005 % of mercury by weight; and
    2. portable batteries or accumulators, including those incorporated into appliances, that contain more than 0,002 % of cadmium by weight.
  2. The prohibition set out in paragraph 1(a) shall not apply to button cells with a mercury content of no more than 2 % by weight.

This translates to less than 5 PPM (2% on button) of Mercury and less than 20 PPM Cadmium in the total weight of the battery. This doesn't appear to be at the homogenous level as in the RoHS Directive. Also, the battery or battery packaging must have the crossed out wheelie-bin.

The only limitations are use in military and space applications. If implemented on time, it is expected to be law in 2009. The key concept: all batteries will be recycled.

Mouser Position

Battery Manufacturers have revised their product to remove mercury. They have also marked their product appropriately. With that said, many batteries are either to heavy, or pose a risk to air freight. Therefore, they are not eligible to ship overseas. Also customers should read manufacturer’s datasheets to ensure they select product that meets requirements.

EU Directives and Useful Links

2013/56/EU of November 20, 2013 amending Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards the placing on the market of portable batteries and accumulators containing cadmium intended for use in cordless power tools, and of button cells with low mercury content, and repealing Commission Decision 2009/603/EC.

2006/66/EC of September 6, 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC.

DTI Website on Batteries and Accumulators

REACH - Regulation, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals

REACH is an expansive set of European Union regulations that affects all industries doing business in the EU. It basically puts the responsibility for chemical safety on the manufacturers of those chemicals, and brings the EU under one unified set of regulations. An important objective of these regulations is to encourage, and in certain situations, ensure chemicals of high concern are replaced with less dangerous chemicals or eliminated.

REACH Regulation

Ongoing draft recommendations for substances of very high concern (SVHC)

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on 1/14/09 developed the first draft recommendation of substances of very high concern (SVHC) for inclusion in Annex XIV. There are now over 50 SVHCs and the list keeps growing.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

REACH - Mouser's Position

Mouser Electronics, being a distributor of electronic components, supplies, and equipment, has a limited role in these new regulations. Although electronic components and supplies can be characterized as articles and substances, Mouser is not considered a manufacturer, importer, downstream user, or registrant under Article 3 of REACH. Mouser has no responsibility to register any of the components or supplies we distribute.

Mouser does have the responsibility to communicate SVHC information down the supply chain when provided by the manufacturer, per article 33 of the regulation.

Mouser expects manufacturers to have robust environmental programs that adhere to the requirements of REACH, identify SVHC to Mouser, and provide Mouser with a Safety Data Sheet or other document prescribing the safe handling of their products which contains SVHCs in excess of 0.1% in any of the products homogenous materials. This is not always the case as manufacturers are free to comply or not comply with environmental laws from other countries. Customers wishing to ensure purchased products are free of SVHCs should choose manufacturers that openly and publicly support REACH.

Mouser has made suppliers aware of our above expectations and has asked for web links to their support and commitment to comply with REACH. Mouser has posted these links to product detail pages on our website.

When Mouser is made aware of the presences of SVHC, we will communicate this to our customers, and provide them with a Safety Datasheet as required by article 33 of REACH. Safety Datasheets are meant to instruct the end-user (customer) on safe handling of the product with the SVHC. In most cases the amount will be small and encapsulated in the component. Exposure to the SVHC would require grinding the component up. This is not a normal way of handling the product, and a safety datasheet should reflect this distinction. A Safety Datasheet that describes how to handle a 55 gallon drum of the SVHC is not appropriate.

From Mouser's perspective, REACH is similar to RoHS. Mouser globally distributes a very wide selection of products and suppliers. As with RoHS, not all the products we sell will be REACH compliant at one time. For this reason Mouser, cannot sign a global agreement on REACH Compliance. Customers must take an active role in understanding environmental compliance of product and selecting products accordingly.

SCIP Information

Proposition 65 - Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986

Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The proposition protects the state's drinking water sources from being contaminated with chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and requires businesses to inform Californians about exposures to such chemicals.

Proposition 65 Regulations
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)

Proposition 65 - Mouser's Position

Mouser Electronics, being an authorized distributor of electronic components, supplies, and equipment, has the responsibility to present proposition 65 warnings from manufacturers to customers in California. We are currently obtaining this information from our manufacturers and updating our product data. Where warranted, as indicated by the manufacturer, Mouser intends to label the immediate bag or container with a Warning. Mouser will also place a Warning upon checkout on our website.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POP)

Mouser Electronics, Inc. intends to comply with environmental regulations worldwide to include Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POP).

The POP Regulation lists 30 regulated persistent organic pollutants. The directive prescribes that “The manufacturing, placing on the market and use of substances listed . . . whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, shall be [restricted or] prohibited” Consequently, when the writers added the word “Articles” to the regulation, they included “electronic parts.” Whether this was intentional or not, is mute without guidance from the ECHA. One interpretation would be that the writers meant the container holding the substance such as plastic bottle, or paint can.

Most countries have banned or regulated many of the POP for decades. Pesticides (insecticides), such as DDT and Chlordane, make up the majority of the POP substances. These substances should never show up in electronic parts intentionally.

Flame retardant constitute the rest of the regulated POP. They include Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and Hexabromocyclododecane. Producers have incorporated these flame retardants in plastics and foam used in consumer products, such as older TV cases and automobile upholstery. The European Chemicals Agency included two of these flame retardant in the REACH directive: Hexabromocyclododecane, and Bis(pentabromophenyl) ether (decabromodiphenyl ether; decaBDE).

The regulation also contains provisions intended to control stockpiles now treated as waste management. These provisions reduce stockpiles of all POP, and clean up and eliminate these restricted substances in the future. The regulation further sets out concentration limits for waste management in stockpiles of waste materials. This does not extend to levels contained in substance homogeneous of articles, such as RoHS and REACH currently regulates. This suggests the writers envisioned regulation of the raw substances, and not articles per se. Any article containing POP substances; however, is part of the POP waste.

Mouser does not sell any of these POP substances as the material, or in mixtures, and Mouser has started addressing compliance with the POP Regulation with the manufacturers whose products we distribute as the regulation includes flame-retardants. Mouser will post manufacturer’s information on the Mouser website, and update statements as new information becomes available.

Mouser Statement on POP Directive

TSCA Compliance

The Environmental Protection Agency of the U.S Government has recently posted in the Federal register notice of the agency’s intention to restrict the use of Phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1) and four others. These final rules, which were effective February 5, 2021, will be codified at 40 CFR Part 751, Subpart E.

PIP(3:1) is mostly used in lubricants and greases, coating products, adhesives and sealants, polymers, photo-chemicals and hydraulic fluids, but also as a plasticizer and flame retardant in plastic. The EU’s REACH regulation includes this along with other registered substances, but has not identified it as one of the SVHC. California Proposition 65 also does not include this.

These final rules, which prohibit the processing and distribution in commerce of PIP (3:1) and products containing PIP (3:1), have caught the electronics industry off guard. While these rules provide nine exemptions, most generally do not apply to the electronic component industry. The third exemption most closely relates:

  • Processing and distribution in commerce for use in new and replacement parts for the automotive and aerospace industry, and the distribution in commerce of those parts to which PIP (3:1) has been added;

This exemption applies solely to parts used by the automotive and aerospace industry, but does not extend this to consumer products. Therefore, non-specialized electronic distributors cannot claim this exemption.

Mouser Electronics engaged the Electronic Component Industry Association (ECIA) to work with component manufacturers on the industry’s response. Mouser will keep abreast of developments, and post information as it becomes available in this regard. At this time, Mouser has no information on PIP3:1 in our products.

On March 10, 2021, the EPA issued a temporary 180-day ‘No Action Assurance’ order and extended the public comment period to seek industry input on newly-raised issues associated with the March 8, 2021, compliance date for the prohibitions on processing and distribution of Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)) for use in articles, and the articles to which PIP (3:1) has been added. This give the industries more time to locate, and if feasible, find substitute substances.

The EPA also included 4 other chemicals in resent actions. DecaBDE (CAS: 1163-19-5) is a Polybrominated diphenyl ether, therefore it is covered under the RoHS directive. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) (CAS: 87‐68‐3) is used as a chlorine scrubber in manufacturing processes such as the production of HCI gas. 2,4,6-Tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP) (CAS: 732-26-3) is used as stabilizer, free-radical scavenger and antioxidants in technical applications, such as in fuels, hydraulic fluids and lubricating oils. Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP)(CAS: 133‐49‐3) was used in the rubber industry. The compound was added to rubber (both natural and synthetic) to facilitate processing. However, the EPA received a letter in 2017 from the Rubber Manufacturers Association, indicating that its members “do not currently use … PCTP to manufacture tires produced in the U.S. or imported into the U.S.” Therefore, these additional chemicals are addressed by RoHS, or have nothing to apply to electronics.

On March 4, 2022, the EPA extended the deadline for compliance with TSCA prohibition on flame retardant PIP (3:1) in articles to October 23, 2024. The EPA is allowing the additional time for industry to investigate the supply chain and locate substitutes.

Mouser Statement on TSCA Compliance

Useful Resources

US Federal and State
Toxic use Reduction Institute The Institute (TURI) researches, tests and promotes pollution prevention methods and alternatives to toxic chemicals used in Massachusetts' industries and communities.

Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program The TRI is a publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities that are reported annually by certain industry groups, as well as federal facilities.

Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) The TPCH was formed in 1992 to promote the Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation in the US.

California Department of Toxic Substance Control

California´s Appliance Efficiency Program

China
China RoHS on DCA website

Japan
Japan RoHS on DCA website
JEITA Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Associations

Korea
Korea RoHS on DCA website

Trade Associations & Organizations
NEDA 

Tin Whiskers
University of Maryland U. of Maryland Electronic Products & Systems Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Tin Whisker and Other Metal Whisker Homepage
and Photo Gallery

PCB Solder Assembly Process
National Physics Laboratory
The UK's National Measurement Laboratory

Glossary of Terms