Grades & Symbols
Grades have been introduced into the BASTA system to facilitate the interpretation of an articles performance.
Grades in the BASTA system
The BASTA grade is the highest level in the system. Products that meet this level meet criteria that limits phase-out substances and risk reduction substances according to the Swedish Chemicals Agency's "PRIO tool"”.
The BETA grade is the second highest level in the system. Products that meet this level meet criteria that limits phase-out substances according to the Swedish Chemicals Agency's "PRIO tool".
Products registered with this grade do not meet all criteria to reach the BASTA or BETA grade. In order to register a product as DECLARED, full knowledge of the product's content and what criteria are fulfilled or not is required.
For products registered as DECLARED, information is displayed about which criteria are met or not met. This provides the person making the product selection with information to be able to evaluate whether the product should be used or not.
This grade only applies to chemical products that are chemically altered when used, for example via curing or drying. The grade means that the product meets the grade BETA upon delivery, but that in its built-in stage meets the grade BASTA.
This grade only applies to chemical products that are chemically altered when used, for example via curing or drying. The grade means that the product meets the grade DECLARED on delivery, but that in its built-in stage it meets the grade BASTA.
How does an article achieve a certain grade?
On the "Criteria" page, you can find out what requirements are placed on an article to achieve a specific grade.
Product groups
Products that contain components where complete content information is missing cannot be registered in any of the BASTA system's grades as this requires complete content information.
Not having complete content information is common for construction products that contain electronics and/or electronic components. For this type of product to be registered, there is the product group ELECTRONICS. The purpose of the product group is to provide the opportunity for simplified declaration where the proportion of the product that meets different levels is reported. Products registered in this product group must comply with the RoHS directive.
When registering, the weight proportion of the product that meets the respective level is declared in the order listed below:
- Grade: BASTA
Describe the proportion (by weight%) of the product that meets the grade BASTA - Grade: BETA
Describe the proportion (by weight%) of the product, in addition to the proportion that meets the BASTA grade, that meets the grade BETA - Grade: DECLARED
Describe the proportion (by weight%) of the product, in addition to the proportion that meets the BASTA and BETA grade, that meets the grade DECLARED - RoHS
Describe the proportion (by weight%) of the product, in addition to the proportion that meets any of the grades above, that meets the RoHS Directive - Unknown
Please describe the proportion (by weight%) of the product that does not meet any of the above levels
Criteria areas
In addition to the symbols for the grades and product groups, there are symbols for each criteria area in the BASTA system.
Criteria area: Health and environmental hazards
This criteria area is the basis of the BASTA system and limits substances with different health and environmentally hazardous properties. The criteria area comprises 35 criteria which are divided into 11 areas.
When registering a product in the BASTA system, it is mandatory to assess and declare which of the criteria are met and which are not. Depending on the criteria met in this criteria area, the registered product receives a specific grade.
Criteria area: Organisation
This criteria area contains criteria that companies connected to the BASTA system must fulfill.
Criteria area: Circularity
This criteria area contains criteria that deal with the product's circular properties, such as content of recycled material and reuse
Criteria area: Renewability
This criteria area contains criteria that deal with the product's renewability, such as the percentage of renewable content.
Criteria area: Environmental effects
This criteria area contains criteria that deal with the product's environmental effects linked to its environmental product declaration - EPD.
Criteria area: Emissions and tests
This criteria area contains criteria linked to emissions and tests of the product, such as measurement of formaldehyde or VOC.
Declaration levels
Within the criteria area Health and environmental hazards there are two different declaration levels. The background to this is that for certain criteria it is deemed particularly relevant to provide users with more information about which substances exceed the concentration limit.
Declaration
Declaration of whether or not the criterion is met.
Declaration with information requirements
Declaration of whether or not the criterion is met. If the criterion is not met, information shall also be provided on the substance or substances causing the non-compliance with the criterion. This information shall include:
- Name of the substance(s)
- CAS or EC number of the substance(s) (If CAS or EC number exists for the substance)
- Weight% range of substance(s)