New CAM Requirements: How FENZI Ensures Full Regulatory Compliance and Reliable Solutions

In the current context, the insulating glass sector is facing a growing need for clarity regarding the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM). It is therefore increasingly important that all players in the industry develop greater awareness of the material requirements used in the production of insulating glass. Equally crucial is the role of substances subject to regulatory scrutiny—such as SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern), identified under the REACH Regulation due to their significant risks to human health and the environment.

CAM: What They Are and Requirements for Insulating Glass Units

The CAM Ministerial Decree of October 30, 2025 introduces a more structured approach for sealants and adhesives used in construction and, specifically, in insulating glass units. The focus is no longer solely on declared performance but also on the actual quality of the material, its chemical safety, and the company’s ability to provide transparent and verifiable documentation.

First and foremost, the decree requires compliance with indoor VOC emission limits established by UNI EN 16516, as well as the absence of substances classified as hazardous and with regulated emission limits (carcinogens, aldehydes, aromatic solvents, etc.).

The CAM framework also emphas the importance of product traceability and complete environmental documentation, enabling verification of raw material origin, production processes, and the environmental impact of a material throughout its life cycle. In this context, product environmental declarations (EPDs) become essential tools for demonstrating a material’s sustainability in an objective, certified manner.

For this reason, the decree also highlights the importance of a company’s strength in terms of social and environmental responsibility by incorporating ESG indicators, acknowledging the growing relevance of KPIs measuring sustainability, social responsibility, and the overall management quality of economic operators.

Focus on Hazardous Substances – SVHC and the REACH Regulation

The logic is simple: a product intended to remain within a building for decades must be stable, reliable, and, above all, free from problematic and risky components. The use of materials containing certain categories of substances—hazardous to both humans and ecosystems—is not fully aligned with CAM principles. These substances are often incorporated, especially in sealant formulations, to reduce costs. Too often, however, end users do not properly assess the implications for their final products and, consequently, for the consumer.
A concrete example is MCCPs—Medium Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (also known as C14–17 chloroalkanes, identifiable by hazard pictograms on product labels). These substances are included in the SVHC list (Substances of Very High Concern) and are closely monitored by international regulations. Their use, which is highly discouraged, must be properly identified due to the risks they pose to both human health and the environment.

MCCPs are used as low-cost plasticizers in insulating glass sealants, but they are highly persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic to the environment (PBT, vPvB), and harmful to humans.

The presence of MCCPs in formulations not only raises environmental concerns but also introduces significant regulatory risks, which—if managed correctly—would entail higher handling and disposal costs for the products containing them. Moreover, MCCP containing sealants must be transported as hazardous goods under ADR regulations. As a result, any apparent cost advantages are quickly offset by risks, limitations, and hidden expenses.

It is therefore essential that component selection for insulating glass units—not just for “Green” projects—is carried out with the highest level of care and awareness.

FENZI Solutions: Certified Reliability and Responsible Processes

Relying on CAM compliant products means not only adhering to regulations but also ensuring long lasting performance of insulating glass units while supporting true sustainability. Safe, properly formulated sealants maintain performance and thermal stability over time, reduce the risk of premature degradation, prevent harmful components from entering indoor environments, and allow manufacturers to participate without restrictions in major sustainable building certification schemes.

For more than eighty five years, the FENZI Group has been an international benchmark in the glass sector. This leadership is built upon precise technological choices: safe formulations, controlled processes, transparent documentation, and a long standing commitment to sustainable solutions free from hazardous substances.

Aligned with this vision, FENZI has chosen not to use substances considered critical under the most advanced European regulations, basing its formulations exclusively on selected raw materials from qualified suppliers, subjected to rigorous chemical and performance testing.

The insulating glass sealants THIOVER, POLIVER, HOTVER, and BUTYLVER are a concrete example.
Designed to ensure long term stability, chemical cohesion, optimal substrate adhesion, and proven resistance to mechanical and environmental stress, they allow insulating glass manufacturers to work with reliable, consistent materials fully compliant with CAM, REACH, and European technical standards.

FENZI’s commitment to transparency is reflected in complete, up to date documentation, including CAM and REACH declarations, product certifications in compliance with EN 1279 standards, and—most importantly—Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), essential tools for objectively assessing environmental impact across the entire life cycle.

Reinforcing this responsible approach, FENZI has earned the EcoVadis Silver Medal, placing the company within the top 15% of businesses worldwide for ESG performance.

This evaluation, issued by one of the most authoritative international sustainability platforms, acknowledges excellence across four key areas: environmental protection, labor and human rights, business ethics, and sustainable procurement, with particular focus on supply chain traceability and monitoring.

This achievement further confirms the strength of the FENZI model, built on responsibility, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Bringing together safety, innovation, and environmental responsibility: this is the commitment FENZI puts into every solution, offering the market reliable materials ready to meet present and future regulatory challenges.