What we Offer

Benefits for members

  • Unique opportunity to discuss and solve common issues together
  • Free access to our existing analytical methods
  • Free access to our internal toxicological and ecotoxicological studies
  • Guidance to worldwide regulation affecting colorants
  • Communication with retailers and standard issuers
  • Collaboration with authorities on regulations affecting colorants
  • Cooperation in development of analytical methods and internal toxicological and ecotoxicological studies
  • Support to colorant manufacturers in their sustainable development
The advantages of joining ETAD in detail
  • We are recognized by regulatory authorities, customers, and the public as the authoritative source of information on health, safety, and environmental issues relating to organic colorants
  • We represent the interests of members and customers to government authorities, the media, other industries, public interest groups, organized labour, academia, and research/testing/consulting organizations
    We advocate for harmonized requirements, so that compliance costs are reduced
  • We encourage our members to adhere worldwide to a high ethical standard and promote the image of a responsible and safety-minded manufacturing industry
  • We provide guidance to ETAD member companies on interpretation of new regulatory requirements and recommends specific measures to implement ETAD’s Code of Ethics
  • We develop and publish education and training materials pertaining to organic colorants, e.g. for safe handling practices, product stewardship, and pollution prevention
  • We organize cost-sharing of research and testing programs aimed at a better understanding of the health and environmental aspects of dyes and organic pigments
  • We respond to inquiries about the colorants’ industry, provide information on topical issues and disseminate comments and position papers
  • We maintain and make available to members a computerized database of literature pertaining to the health and environmental aspects of colorants.

Authorities

Benefits for authorities

  • Representation of the global colorant industry
  • Professional support to national and international authorities on colorant-related regulations
  • Scientific know-how on toxicological and environmental properties
  • Development of analytical methods for regulatory purposes

The advantages of working with us in detail:

  • We give feedback on the applicability and on the consequences for the industry of planned legislation
  • We collect information and carry on internal studies in discussion with authorities
  • We provide solid, updated know-how on relevant products on the market, their applications and their eco/toxicological properties
  • We can assist in developing appropriate and safe limits for substances of concern in colorants

Downstream

Benefits for downstream users

  • Safe products from ETAD members 
  • Audited suppliers in compliance with our internal EHS standards
  • High-level product stewardship from our member companies
  • Expert advise on the development of MRSLs and RSLs

Key benefits at the product level:

  • Our companies assist their customer in deciding the right product for their specific substrate, processes and end use, based on the knowledge of the specific colorant properties
  • Customers receive all necessary, up-to-date information to evaluate and minimize the risk in their final products
  • We collaborate with downstream users (e.g., textiles and printing inks associations) in projects aimed to improve the quality of colorants used in various applications