So, how does Scan4Chem work?
Scan4Chem is a free crowd-sourced app developed as part of the EU LIFE AskREACH project. It gives consumers a platform to ask brands about whether the everyday objects that they produce contain substances of very high concern (SVHC*). Thanks to the app’s “scan” feature, which can be used with your smartphone’s camera, you can scan an item’s barcode and send a request easily if the item does not appear in the database. Using its “manual search” feature, you can search for an item by its name or brand, which is useful when shopping online.
The Scan4Chem has a wide yet specific scope, and covers all items and their packaging, such as clothing, toys, baby products, furniture, kitchen utensils, sports equipment, electronics and household appliances. However, the app does not cover mixtures, such as foods, paints, inks, household cleaners, cosmetics and hygiene products (except for their packaging, which are classified as items).
Unlike other products (such as cosmetics, foods and detergents), where the ingredients appear on the label, consumers are rarely told that these items covered by the app contain these chemicals. If they are not listed in the Scan4Chem database, a request can be sent in order to make sure that the items in question contain no SVHCs.
