With news of Europe placing a ban on a certain car color, Americans worry that America could be next to ban cars featuring this color on state roads. The color in question is chrome, which has symbolized luxury and class for many years. While chrome plating dates back to 1924, the decision taken by Europe to restrict the use of chromium components has sparked some controversy. Although it seems like this is a full-blown ban on the color chrome in Europe, there are more sides to the ban than meet the eye.
Retracing the roots of the color that makes cars shiny
When it comes to chrome, its aesthetically pleasing shine is its most noticeable quality. However, chrome’s function is not only to decorate the car, but also to add a protective coating to the car, preventing corrosion. The protective coating further serves the purpose of increasing the lifespan of metal components. Chrome has become synonymous with a reflective sheen that makes it a color fit for everything, including kitchenware.
While chrome is depicted as a glossy and luxurious finish, there is a negative side to the color. Chrome plating requires hexavalent chromium, which is a toxic compound. Exposure to the substance is linked with lung cancer and may further pose respiratory complications. Environmental health research shows that emissions are released during plating, which is highly toxic. There are chemical fume suppressants meant to control emissions, but suppressants like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are being scrutinized for persistently acting on the environment in a harmful way. These negatives of the chrome plating process are part of the reason why chrome has attracted the attention of environmentalists and others.
Understanding why this ban by Europe is being put in place
When reports surfaced regarding the ban, it was stated that Europe would be banning chrome. The reality of this ban is quite different. Europe placed a ban on the use of hexavalent chromium in plating processes, but not on the color chrome itself. The ban is not on the color chrome, so chrome finishes can still be used as long as safer plating methods are observed.
The EU’s regulatory framework under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) legislation does not place a ban on all chrome finishes, just chrome finishes that result from a production process entailing harmful substances. The focus is not falling on the color itself, but on the use of toxic substances to achieve the finish. Less hazardous compounds are proposed to achieve a similar chrome finish.
Will California follow in Europe’s footsteps and ban chrome, too?
Since automakers, like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, have already come on board, offering chrome-delete packages that are of a more matte finish, the automotive industry is viewing this “ban” as a chance to innovate and move with the times. Automakers are favoring sustainability above all else. While suppliers might not exactly be too thrilled, the restriction of toxic plating is deemed necessary.
California has voted in favor of phasing hexavalent chromium out by 2039, which may not come as such a shock when the change comes into place. The staggered approach to banning the toxic substance will not be as shocking for suppliers and manufacturers. By pushing for eco-friendly materials to be used, innovation is being pushed as well. Already, automakers in Europe are experimenting with recycled and composite materials. While California has taken a page from Europe’s rule book, this is not always the case. Glow-in-the-dark roads that are banned in America seem to be booming in Europe.
Moving away from describing it as the death of chrome
No, Europe’s ban does not signify the death of chrome but the embracing of an environmentally friendly change. Chemically toxic material won’t be relied upon to achieve a brilliant finish any longer. Europe is sparkling as an environmentally friendly changemaker that is giving California and other states in America a reason to follow suit. While this ban is being implemented and is yet to be fully embraced, a 30-year ban is finally being lifted and giving car owners the chance to modify a specific car feature.
