{"id":11498,"date":"2025-12-04T14:50:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/senza-categoria\/en-71-3-chemical-safety-and-recycled-rubber-based-materials\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T11:46:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T11:46:52","slug":"en-71-3-chemical-safety-and-recycled-rubber-based-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/eco-news\/en-71-3-chemical-safety-and-recycled-rubber-based-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"EN 71-3: Chemical Safety and Recycled Rubber Materials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">we wanted to talk to you about<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chemical safety according to EN 71-3<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EN 71-3<\/strong> defines migration limits for potentially hazardous chemicals from materials that may come into contact with children. In recent years, it has also become a reference for those working with polymeric materials and recycled solutions, because it allows them to clearly demonstrate that the product meets strict chemical safety criteria. Applied to recycled SBR rubber, the standard offers an additional level of reliability, combining a focus on sustainability with scientific verification of substances that can actually migrate from the material. An approach that meets the needs of designers, industry professionals and managers of sensitive environments who are increasingly focused on quality and transparency.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is EN 71-3 and why was it introduced?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EN 71-3<\/strong> is a European standard developed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cencenelec.eu\/areas-of-work\/cen-sectors\/consumer\/child-safety-products\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>CEN \u2013 European Committee for Standardization<\/em><\/a>, designed to assess the amount of chemical elements that can migrate from a material when it comes into contact with a child.<br\/>This requirement stems from the awareness that certain materials may release heavy metals or other substances under real-world conditions, such as saliva, sweat, or moisture.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The standard does not evaluate the total content of a substance, but <strong>only what can actually migrate<\/strong>, as outlined by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/policies\/toy-safety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>European Commission &#8211; Chemical Requirements for Toy Safety.<\/em><\/a>which considers EN 71-3 to be one of the most important references for ensuring the safety of materials intended for children.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What chemical elements does EN 71-3 control<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The test focuses on the migration of specific metals and potentially toxic elements, including:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lead (Pb)<\/strong> &#8211; neurotoxic, extremely low migration limits<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Cadmium (Cd)<\/strong> &#8211; associated with kidney and bone damage, almost zero migration<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Chromium (Cr III and Cr VI)<\/strong> &#8211; Cr VI is highly dangerous<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Arsenic (As)<\/strong> &#8211; carcinogenic, strict thresholds<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Mercury (Hg)<\/strong> &#8211; neurotoxic, near zero migration<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Selenium, barium, boron, antimony, tin and other elements<\/strong> &#8211; monitored for known toxicity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The limits were developed from toxicological studies and realistic exposure scenarios reconstructed by the European Commission.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What the test is concretely for<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EN 71-3 test simulates real contact through three stages:<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Immersion of the material in an acidic solution<\/strong> that replicates saliva.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Liquid analysis<\/strong> to measure the amount of each element migrated.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Comparison with the limits of<\/strong> the standard for the material category tested.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The official CEN methodology provides standardized conditions so as to ensure repeatable and comparable results.<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"704\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1252 \/ 704;\" width=\"1252\" autoplay=\"\" controls=\"\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/En-71-3-Sbr-Casei-Eco-System.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Accredited certification institutes and laboratories<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tests required by EN 71-3 are carried out exclusively by laboratories accredited according to ISO\/IEC 17025, which can guarantee reliable measurements and methods in accordance with European standards. International bodies that regularly perform these tests include entities such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tuv.com\/italy\/it\/test-su-giocattoli.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">T\u00dcV Rheinland<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sgs.com\/en\/news\/2024\/12\/safeguards-18124-cen-issues-en-71-3-2019-a2-2024-migration-of-certain-elements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SGS<\/a>, which apply harmonized protocols and rigorous quality control. The use of accredited laboratories ensures traceable results that comply with the procedures required by European legislation.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why EN 71-3 is also used outside the toy industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although mandatory only for toys, EN 71-3 is now widely used as a voluntary reference for assessing the chemical safety of materials intended for:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>play areas and children&#8217;s spaces<\/li>\n\n\n<li>schools and kindergartens<\/li>\n\n\n<li>gyms and sports centers<\/li>\n\n\n<li>high-traffic public environments<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Recycled products used in sensitive contexts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reason is simple: it offers an <strong>objective and transparent criterion<\/strong> for demonstrating the absence of significant release of unwanted substances.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why it is relevant to recycled SBR rubber<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SBR rubber derived from end-of-life tyres (technical abbreviation: ELTs) is used in technical flooring such as:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>non-trauma surfaces for play areas<\/li>\n\n\n<li>sports floors for indoor and outdoor use<\/li>\n\n\n<li>modular technical tiles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In all these applications, materials can be touched, stepped on, by children and adults.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this reason, <strong>Casei Eco-System subjects the main compound mixtures used to manufacture its SBR recycled rubber products to the migration test specified in EN 71-3<\/strong>, ensuring that the migration of the tested substances remains below the permitted limits.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is a recycled, compliant material that combines:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>verified chemical safety<\/li>\n\n\n<li>environmental sustainability<\/li>\n\n\n<li>high mechanical performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interpreting a test report EN 71-3<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An EN 71-3 report indicates for each element:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>measured value<\/li>\n\n\n<li>maximum migration limit<\/li>\n\n\n<li>result: &#8220;pass&#8221; or &#8220;fail&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compliance is achieved only if <strong>all<\/strong> elements are within the prescribed limits.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A competitive advantage in the B2B market<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the professional sector, what really distinguishes a material is not only its performance or its ability to last. Increasingly, aspects related to <strong>chemical safety<\/strong> and <strong>compliance with recognized standards<\/strong> come into play, elements that allow a product to be evaluated more comprehensively and reliably. In this context, EN 71-3 represents a concrete added value: it demonstrates that the material has undergone rigorous testing and meets objective quality criteria, thus strengthening the credibility of the proposed solutions and making them more easily adoptable in technical projects and professional contexts.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Practical Applications in Casei Eco-System Products<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A significant proportion of the solutions available on the market today are also evaluated chemically, and EN 71-3 is one of the most solid references for this type of verification. In our case, several recycled SBR rubber products underwent the tests required by the standard at accredited laboratories, confirming migration values well within the established limits. These results offer an additional level of security to designers and practitioners, who can rely on materials that have already been tested according to a method recognized at the European level.  <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/en\/catalog-products\/eco-fun\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"945\" height=\"945\" src=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno.jpg\" alt=\"Outdoor playground with rubber playground safety surfacing\" class=\"wp-image-8238\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-66x66.jpg 66w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/parco-giochi-esterno-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/en\/catalog-products\/eco-fun\/\">ECO-FUN<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Playground safety surfacing. Solutions designed for areas frequented by children, where chemical safety is a priority. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/en\/catalog-products\/eco-wellness\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic barbell with ECO-BUMPER plates on a rubberized floor\" class=\"wp-image-7700\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-66x66.jpg 66w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eco-bumper-disco-gomma-palestra-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/caseiecosystem.com\/en\/catalog-products\/eco-wellness\/\">ECO-WELLNESS<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rubber gym flooring, ideal for gyms, sports centers, and high-traffic multipurpose spaces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQ &#8211; Frequently asked questions about EN 71-3<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is EN 71-3 also mandatory for recycled materials?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. The standard is only mandatory for toys, but it is also used voluntarily in other sectors to ensure a higher level of chemical safety, especially when the materials are intended for schools, playgrounds or sensitive environments. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why does EN 71-3 evaluate migration and not total composition?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because what matters for safety is not the total presence of a substance in the material, but the amount that can actually <strong>migrate<\/strong> under actual conditions of use. This principle is also emphasized by the European Commission in its section on the chemical safety of baby products. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which materials are subject to the most restrictive limits?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Non-friable solid materials, such as vulcanized rubber, are subject to the most stringent limits. In fact, the standard distinguishes three categories based on the behavior of the material and its potential contact with the child. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who can perform the EN 71-3 test?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The test can only be performed by laboratories accredited according to ISO\/IEC 17025, such as T\u00dcV Rheinland and SGS, which comply with harmonized protocols and testing methods in accordance with European legislation.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How long is an EN 71-3 test valid for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Validity remains unchanged as long as the material formulation, production process or raw material suppliers do not change. Any changes require re-evaluation. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is compliance with EN 71-3 also useful for products not intended for children?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Many manufacturers also apply EN 71-3 to items not classified as toys to demonstrate a high level of chemical safety and increase transparency to designers and operators. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EN 71-3 and Recycled Rubber: What the Chemical Migration Test Measures and Why It Is Relevant for Evaluating Materials in Sensitive Contexts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11497,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[145],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eco-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11498"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11498\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11499,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11498\/revisions\/11499"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caseiecosystem.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}