Flame retardant selection in China

With the acceleration of China's industrialization process and the increase of environmental awareness, the R&D and application of flame-retardant materials not only need to meet the basic safety performance requirements but also should take into account the efficient use of resources and environmental protection. The study points out that China uses its abundant local petrochemical resources to promote the research and development and production of high-performance materials such as flame-retardant polypropylene. At the same time, it actively explores biomass-based flame-retardant materials, such as flame-retardant bio-based aerogel, to achieve green transformation. China's flame-retardant materials industry actively responds to the national carbon neutrality goal and reduces the carbon footprint in the production process through technological innovation and energy-efficiency improvement. The Chinese government directly intervenes in the market through mandatory standards and regulations to ensure the use of compliant flame-retardant materials in critical areas, for example, “Requirements and Labels for Combustion Performance of Flame Retardant Products and Components in Public Places.” In addition, China also uses policy measures such as market access and tax incentives to stimulate the innovation and development of the flame-retardant materials industry. In summary, this paper reveals the multidimensional considerations in the selection of flame-retardant (FR) in China and its differences in policymaking with the United States. It provides an academic reference for understanding the global development trend of FR and regional policy differences.