Non-Phthalate Plasticizers: 10 Classes, Examples and How to Choose One

Non-phthalate plasticizers are plasticizers without an ortho-phthalate (1,2-benzenedicarboxylate) structure, such as DOTP, DINCH, TOTM, adipates and citrates, that make PVC flexible at 5 to 65 wt% without falling under the phthalate restrictions of REACH, the CPSC or EU 10/2011. They replace DEHP, DINP and other ortho-phthalates in cable, flooring, medical devices, toys and food packaging, so which of the 10 classes suits which product?

Plasticizers are the largest group of plastic additives by volume, with about 8.4 million tonnes consumed each year, and more than 85% of them go into flexible PVC in Europe (European Plasticisers). That volume is why the shift away from ortho-phthalates, underway since the 2008 EU restrictions began, changed the whole plasticizer market rather than one niche corner of it.

The hub on plasticizers for plastics covers every plasticizer class; this page covers only the non-phthalate side: definition, substitution drivers, 10 classes, comparison, selection, substitution method, tests, regulation and suppliers.

What Is a Non-Phthalate Plasticizer?#

A non-phthalate plasticizer is a plasticizer, in ASTM D883 terms a substance that increases the flexibility, workability or distensibility of a plastic, whose molecule is not an ester of ortho-phthalic acid. ASTM D883 defines "plasticizer" by function only, not by chemical family, which is why the regulatory meaning of "phthalate" needs its own clarification: EU and US usage restricts the word to a dialkyl ortho-phthalate ester specifically, so a terephthalate such as DOTP is a plasticizer but not, in that regulatory sense, a phthalate.

Non-phthalate plasticizers split into primary and secondary grades, the same functional split used across the phthalate range. Primary plasticizers, such as DOTP, DINCH, the trimellitates and the citrates, are fully compatible with the polymer and can carry the plasticizer load alone. Secondary plasticizers, such as epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) and the chlorinated paraffins, have lower compatibility and are blended with a primary grade or used at low levels as co-stabilizers. The ortho-esters themselves, from DEHP to DINP, are covered under phthalate plasticizers.

Ortho-Phthalates vs Non-Ortho-Phthalates: Why DOTP Counts as Non-Phthalate#

DOTP counts as a non-phthalate plasticizer because its two ester groups sit in the para (1,4) position of the benzene ring, whereas the regulated phthalates, such as DEHP, are ortho (1,2) esters, even though DOTP and DEHP share the formula C24H38O4. Both compounds have a molecular weight of 390.6 g/mol and comparable solvating power in PVC, so converters see similar processing behaviour once the ester groups move from position 1,2 to position 1,4. Regulators treat that shift as decisive: because DOTP does not form the stable ortho-phthalate monoester that is linked to reproductive toxicity, its full description is more precisely written as a non-ortho-phthalate. The cyclohexane dicarboxylates go a step further: DINCH is DINP with its aromatic ring hydrogenated to a saturated cyclohexane ring, which removes the ortho-phthalate structure entirely, and DEHCH is the same hydrogenation applied to DOTP.

Identity data and the full regulatory matrix sit on DOTP / DEHT (dioctyl terephthalate).

Non-Phthalate vs Phthalate-Free: Are the Terms the Same?#

Not quite: "non-phthalate" describes the chemistry of the plasticizer, while "phthalate-free" is a claim about the finished article, which in the EU and the US means no restricted ortho-phthalate above 0.1% by weight of the plasticized material. A compound formulated entirely with non-phthalate plasticizers can still, in principle, pick up trace ortho-phthalate from recycled content; "phthalate-free" addresses that finished-article outcome, while "non-phthalate" describes only the plasticizer that was dosed. Both legal thresholds behind the distinction, REACH Annex XVII entry 51 and the US 16 CFR 1307 limit, use the same 0.1 wt% figure, which is why the two terms converge in practice even though they describe different things. European technical specifications also use the spelling "phthalate-free plasticiser" for the same claim.

Why Are Converters Replacing Ortho-Phthalate Plasticizers?#

Converters replace ortho-phthalates because at least 10 rules in the EU and the US now restrict them, led by REACH Annex XVII entry 51, which has limited DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP to 0.1% in the plasticised material of all articles since 7 July 2020. Three further instruments carry most of the remaining pressure: the REACH Annex XIV authorisation list, which required authorisation for DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP from 21 February 2015 and, for DEHP in medical devices, now sets a sunset date of 1 July 2030 under Regulation (EU) 2023/2482; Regulation (EU) 2023/1442, in force since 1 August 2023, which lowered the EU food-contact migration limits for DEHP, DBP and BBP and introduced group limits for DINP and DIDP; and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's 16 CFR 1307, which prohibits DEHP, DBP and BBP permanently in children's toys and child care articles and added DINP, DIBP, DPENP, DHEXP and DCHP from 25 April 2018. ECHA's PVC investigation of November 2023 reviewed 63 additives used in PVC and recommended a REACH restriction on ortho-phthalate plasticisers as a group, adding regulatory momentum beyond the rules already in force.

The table below lists the substitution drivers by instrument, the substances each one covers, the requirement and its date.

Not every ortho-phthalate carries the same degree of restriction. DINP is not banned in the EU; entry 52 restricts it, alongside DIDP and DNOP, only in toys and childcare articles that children can place in the mouth, and it carries no harmonised reproductive-toxicity classification after ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee found none warranted in its opinion of 9 March 2018. In the US, FDA's 27 May 2026 action grouping DEHP, DCHP, DIOP and DINP for cumulative assessment (docket FDA-2026-N-5776) is a proposal open for comment, not a rule. Canada, Japan and China are compared under phthalate restrictions worldwide.

What Are the 10 Classes of Non-Phthalate Plasticizers?#

The 10 classes of non-phthalate plasticizers are terephthalates, cyclohexane dicarboxylates, trimellitates, aliphatic diesters, citrates, benzoates, epoxidized oils, polymeric plasticizers, phosphate esters and specialty esters, with terephthalates such as DOTP serving as the main general-purpose replacement for DEHP and DINP. The order below follows each class's importance as a general-purpose PVC replacement, from the highest-volume terephthalates down to the smallest specialty group. Chlorinated paraffins are also free of the ortho-phthalate ring, but the short-chain and medium-chain grades are restricted, or pending restriction, as persistent organic pollutants in their own right, so this page treats them in the regulatory section rather than as an eleventh replacement class.

1. Terephthalates (DOTP/DEHT, DBT)#

Terephthalates are esters of terephthalic acid, led by DOTP (DEHT, CAS 6422-86-2) and the fast-fusing dibutyl terephthalate (DBT), and DOTP is the largest general-purpose non-phthalate plasticizer for PVC. DOTP carries EC number 229-176-9, a molecular weight of 390.6 g/mol, and is sold under trade names including Eastman 168, Kodaflex DOTP and Palatinol DOTP. In the EU it is listed under Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 as FCM substance 798 with a specific migration limit of 60 mg/kg, inside plasticizer group restriction 32, and it is not on the REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern. DOTP is used across wire and cable, flooring, toys and childcare articles, medical devices, plastisols, gloves and shoes, and its typical substitution factor against DEHP is about 1.03, a figure drawn from one secondary source and best treated as a starting point rather than supplier data.

DBT (CAS 1962-75-0) is a faster-fusing terephthalate used at 10 to 35 wt% in soft PVC and polyurethane (ECHA's plastic additives mapping), registered under REACH at 1,000 to 10,000 tonnes per year, and it is not listed in EU 10/2011. Grades and properties of DOTP and DBT are compared on terephthalate plasticizers.

2. Cyclohexane Dicarboxylates (DINCH, DEHCH)#

Cyclohexane dicarboxylates are hydrogenated phthalates: DINCH (CAS 166412-78-8) is DINP with its aromatic ring saturated to cyclohexane, and DEHCH is the hydrogenated form of DOTP. The saturated ring lowers polarity, which gives DINCH better low-temperature flexibility and lower solvating power than the aromatic phthalates it replaces. DINCH has a molecular weight of 424.7 g/mol, is roughly 90:10 cis to trans isomer, and shows a pour point of minus 54°C and a vapour pressure below 0.01 mbar at 20°C (BASF technical data sheet, May 2023).

Both CAS numbers and the BASF data are on DINCH (Hexamoll DINCH). DINCH is sold as Hexamoll DINCH by BASF and Elatur CH by Evonik, is listed in EU 10/2011 as FCM 775 under group restriction 32 with no individual migration limit, carries an EFSA opinion from 2006, and is not an SVHC. DEHCH (CAS 84731-70-4), marketed as Eco-DEHCH by Hanwha, is not listed in EU 10/2011 and is used in flooring, wallcovering and toys. DINCH and DEHCH are compared under cyclohexane dicarboxylate plasticizers.

3. Trimellitates (TOTM, TINTM)#

Trimellitates are triesters of trimellitic acid, mainly TOTM (CAS 3319-31-1, 546.8 g/mol) and TINTM, whose three ester arms give the lowest volatility and migration of the monomeric non-phthalates. TOTM is typically dosed around 35 wt% in PVC and is not listed in EU 10/2011 or on the SVHC Candidate List. In a 2026 thermogravimetric comparison, Kaya et al. (Polymers, 2026) found that TOTM-plasticized PVC began to decompose at 262°C at 50 phr, against 236°C for the adipate DOA at the same dosage, consistent with its use in high-temperature cable insulation, low-fogging automotive interiors and medical tubing.

Cable and medical data are on TOTM (trioctyl trimellitate). TINTM (CAS 53894-23-8, 588.9 g/mol) has even lower volatility and is sold as Jayflex TINTM and ADK Cizer C-9N. TOTM, TINTM and the linear grades are covered under trimellitate plasticizers.

4. Aliphatic Diesters: Adipates, Sebacates and Azelates#

Aliphatic diesters are esters of adipic (C6), azelaic (C9) or sebacic (C10) acid, such as DOA (DEHA), DINA, DOZ and DOS, and they are the low-temperature class of non-phthalate plasticizers. DOA (CAS 103-23-1) is the main cling-film plasticizer in PVC, listed in EU 10/2011 as FCM 207 with an 18 mg/kg migration limit, and permitted under FDA 21 CFR 178.3740 at up to 24 wt% (film thickness 0.005 inch or less) or 35 wt% (0.002 inch or less) of the vinyl chloride polymer, depending on food type and film thickness. Its linear aliphatic backbone gives a low glass-transition contribution and good cold flexibility, at the cost of higher volatility and extraction than the aromatic classes; in a nitrile-rubber brittleness test (ASTM D2137), DOA-plasticized compound stayed flexible to minus 42°C as moulded and minus 23°C after 70 hours at 125°C, against minus 33°C and minus 25°C for DOP under the same conditions (Hallstar).

Cling-film limits are detailed on DOA / DEHA (dioctyl adipate). DINA and DIDA have lower volatility than DOA, DOS is a premium low-temperature sebacate, and DOZ, an azelate, is permitted under the same 178.3740 caps. The full low-temperature class is on adipate, azelate and sebacate plasticizers.

5. Citrates (ATBC, TBC, TEC, BTHC)#

Citrates are esters of citric acid, such as ATBC (CAS 77-90-7), TBC, TEC and BTHC, and they serve the most sensitive uses: toys, food film, blood bags and PLA. ATBC is dosed at 10 to 35 wt% in PVC (ECHA mapping), is listed in EU 10/2011 as FCM 138 under group restriction 32, and is prior-sanctioned for food contact under FDA 21 CFR 181.27. TEC carries FCM 140 for cellulosics and PLA, also under 21 CFR 181.27; TBC is not listed in EU 10/2011, and its FDA clearance status is not established in current sources.

Toy and PLA data are on ATBC (acetyl tributyl citrate). BTHC (CAS 82469-79-2) is one of the alternatives the European Pharmacopoeia names for DEHP-free PVC blood containers, and its higher oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability, relative to DEHP-plasticized PVC, helps platelet storage. Adding ATBC to PLA at 13 wt% or more raises elongation at break above 300%. ATBC, TBC, TEC and BTHC are compared on citrate plasticizers.

6. Benzoates (DPGDB, DEGDB)#

Benzoate plasticizers such as dipropylene glycol dibenzoate (DPGDB) and diethylene glycol dibenzoate (DEGDB) are fast-fusing, high-solvating esters that replace BBP in PVC plastisols and flooring. DPGDB (CAS 27138-31-4) is not listed in EU 10/2011, is cleared for adhesive use under FDA 21 CFR 175.105, and carries hazard self-notifications for H411 and H412 (chronic and acute aquatic toxicity); it tends to raise plastisol viscosity over storage time, which formulators offset with a viscosity depressant. DEGDB (CAS 120-55-8), sold as Benzoflex 2-45, is the second common benzoate grade. Fast-fusing grades are listed under benzoate plasticizers.

7. Epoxidized Oils (ESBO, ELO)#

Epoxidized oils such as epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) are secondary plasticizers that also scavenge HCl in PVC, used at 1 to 2 wt% as co-stabilizers or 25 to 45 wt% as the main plasticizer. ESBO (CAS 8013-07-8) reacts through its oxirane rings, which makes it synergistic with calcium/zinc stabilizer systems (Czogała et al., 2021, Materials). It carries an EU 10/2011 migration limit of 60 mg/kg (FCM 532), tightened to 30 mg/kg for PVC gaskets that seal glass jars of infant formula and baby food, and is regulated for food contact under FDA 21 CFR 181.27, which specifies an iodine value of 6 or below and an oxirane oxygen content of 6.0% or above.

Gasket limits are detailed on ESBO (epoxidized soybean oil). In a Swiss survey of baby food, Fankhauser-Noti and Grob (Kantonales Labor Zürich) measured ESBO migration from 1.5 to 50.8 mg/kg, with a mean of 11.9 mg/kg. ELO (CAS 8016-11-3) has a higher oxirane content and is permitted under FDA 21 CFR 178.3740 with an oxirane content of 9% or above. ESBO, ELO and epoxidized esters are covered under epoxidized plasticizers.

8. Polymeric (Polyester) Plasticizers#

Polymeric plasticizers are polyesters of C4 to C10 dibasic acids and C2 to C5 glycols, such as the Palamoll and Admex grades, and they trade low-temperature flexibility for the best resistance to oil extraction and migration. The polymer backbone is end-capped and alternates dibasic acid and glycol units; the resulting higher viscosity gives greater permanence, so organic-extraction and volatility resistance rate good to excellent while low-temperature flexibility rates only poor to fair (Hallstar). BASF sells the Palamoll range and Eastman the Admex range; polymeric adipates are covered in EU 10/2011 under FCM 73 and 797, within plasticizer group 32. Viscosity grades are compared under polymeric plasticizers.

9. Phosphate Esters (EHDPP, TCP, TEHP)#

Phosphate ester plasticizers such as 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), tricresyl phosphate (TCP) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) combine plasticization with flame retardancy in PVC. EHDPP (CAS 1241-94-7) is used in food-packaging PVC, is listed in EU 10/2011 as FCM 392 with a migration limit of 2.4 mg/kg, and is regulated under FDA 21 CFR 181.27; it also carries hazard self-notifications for H331, H400 and H410. TCP (CAS 1330-78-5) contains ortho-cresyl isomers linked to neurotoxicity, so commercial grades are formulated to minimise the ortho-cresyl content, and TEHP serves as a low-temperature flame-retardant plasticizer. Across the class, aryl phosphate groups generate more smoke on combustion than alkyl phosphate groups (Hallstar). Smoke and FR data are on phosphate ester plasticizers.

10. Specialty and Bio-Based Esters (Mesamoll, TXIB, 3GO, Pevalen, COMGHA, BBSA)#

Specialty and bio-based esters cover 6 niche non-phthalate plasticizers: alkylsulfonic phenyl ester (Mesamoll), TXIB, 3GO, pentaerythritol tetravalerate (Pevalen), the castor-based COMGHA (Grindsted Soft-n-Safe) and the polyamide plasticizer BBSA. Each serves a use the general-purpose classes do not cover well.

• Mesamoll (alkylsulfonic phenyl ester, CAS 91082-17-6, Lanxess) resists hydrolysis in PVC, polyurethane and rubber compounds.
• TXIB (CAS 6846-50-0) is a viscosity depressant that partly flashes off during fusion; it carries an EU 10/2011 migration limit of 5 mg/kg (FCM 497), restricted to single-use gloves, and some notifiers self-classify it H361, a company-level notification that is not a harmonised classification.
• 3GO (also called TEG-EH, CAS 94-28-0) plasticizes PVB laminated-glass interlayers at 20 to 40% w/w.
• Pevalen (pentaerythritol tetravalerate, CAS 15834-04-5, Perstorp) is dosed at 10 to 35 wt% in soft PVC and polyurethane (ECHA mapping) and is registered under REACH at 10,000 to 100,000 tonnes per year.
• COMGHA (Grindsted Soft-n-Safe, CAS 736150-63-3) is a bio-based acetylated monoglyceride listed in EU 10/2011 as FCM 783 under group restriction 32; the Danish EPA ranks it with DEHT and DINCH among the three most promising phthalate alternatives.
• BBSA (CAS 3622-84-2) plasticizes polyamide 11 and 12 at 10 to 15 wt%.

Hydrolysis data are on Mesamoll (alkylsulfonic phenyl ester).

Non-Phthalate vs Phthalate Plasticizers: How Do DOTP, DINCH and TOTM Compare with DEHP and DINP?#

DOTP is the closest non-phthalate match to DEHP and DINP: it has the same molecular formula as DEHP, a typical substitution factor of 1.03 against 1.04 for DINP, and a 100 times higher EU migration limit than DEHP (60 vs 0.6 mg/kg). DINP (diisononyl phthalate) remains the main high-molecular-weight ortho-phthalate benchmark: DINCH matches its molecular weight closely (424.7 vs 418.6 g/mol) and both are used interchangeably in flooring and medical tubing, while TOTM and the citrate ATBC trade some general-purpose efficiency for lower volatility or food-contact suitability. None of DOTP, DINCH, TOTM or ATBC is on the REACH Candidate List, unlike DEHP, which has carried an SVHC listing since 28 October 2008 for toxicity to reproduction.

*Typical substitution factors from one secondary source (lower means more efficient; DEHP = 1.00 at Shore A 80 or 50 phr). Confirm with supplier data before finalising a formulation.

The substitution factors above are typical values, not supplier specifications; formulators confirm them with a hardness test before finalising a recipe. Full property data sit on the plasticizer comparison page.

Which Non-Phthalate Plasticizer Is Best for Each Application?#

The best non-phthalate plasticizer depends on the end use and its rules: DOTP for general-purpose flexible PVC, TOTM for high-temperature cable and low fogging, DINCH, TOTM, DEHT or BTHC for medical devices, and adipates for cold flexibility. Phthalate and non-phthalate grades for every PVC product are compared under plasticizers for PVC.

General-Purpose Flexible PVC and Flooring#

General-purpose flexible PVC and vinyl flooring use DOTP as the default non-phthalate plasticizer, and Swiss flooring data show the market moving from DEHP to DINP and DIDP and then to DEHT, DEHA and EHDPP (Wiesinger et al., ETH Zurich, Environmental Science & Technology, 2024). Flexible PVC carries 5 to 65 wt% plasticizer at Shore A hardness 50 to 90, and DOTP, DINCH or DEHCH cover most of that range in current formulations. The same Swiss survey found that 21% of PVC floorings sampled in 2021 and 2022 still contained restricted ortho-phthalates, introduced mostly through recycled content rather than virgin compounding.

Wire and Cable#

Wire and cable compounds use DOTP where DINP and DIDP served the 70 to 90°C classes and TOTM or TINTM for high-temperature insulation, often blending DOTP, DOA and TOTM to balance cold flexibility and heat ageing. The Kaya et al. (2026, Polymers) decomposition data, an onset of 262°C for TOTM against 236°C for DOA at 50 phr, explains why cable compounders reach for trimellitates once the rated operating temperature moves past the general-purpose range. Temperature classes are mapped under plasticizers for wire and cable.

Medical Devices#

Medical PVC replaces DEHP with DINCH, BTHC, TOTM or DEHT, the four alternatives the European Pharmacopoeia names for blood containers, and the EU deadline is fixed: DEHP in medical devices needs authorisation after 1 July 2030 (Regulation (EU) 2023/2482). Bernard et al. (2018, PLoS One) measured the plasticizer content of French PVC medical tubing directly: TOTM ranged from 30.3 to 41.0 wt%, DEHT from 26.7 to 37.5 wt%, and DINCH from 30.2 to 44.3 wt%, against 34.9 to 48.7 wt% for DINP in the same product lines. Under the EU Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745, Annex I point 10.4, any CMR 1A/1B or endocrine-disrupting substance above 0.1 wt% needs justification and labelling, which is one reason DEHP is harder to remove from red-cell storage bags than from other device types: it stabilises the red-cell membrane in ways its replacements do not fully match. Device-by-device options are on plasticizers for medical devices.

Toys and Childcare Articles#

Toys and childcare articles use ATBC, DEHT, DINCH, TXIB and ESBO, because DINP is restricted in mouthable toys in the EU and in all children's toys and child care articles in the US above 0.1%. In the EU, REACH Annex XVII entry 52 covers DINP, DIDP and DNOP in toys and childcare articles that children can place in the mouth; in the US, 16 CFR 1307 covers DINP alongside DEHP, DBP and BBP, but not DIDP or DNOP, in all children's toys and child care articles. Canada's SOR/2016-188 sets a separate limit of 1,000 mg/kg in the vinyl of mouthable toy parts, and from 1 August 2030 the EU Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 bans CMR substances and endocrine disruptors in toys outright. Rules by country are on plasticizers for toys.

Food-Contact Film and Closure Gaskets#

Food-contact PVC relies on DEHA for cling film, ESBO for jar-lid gaskets and DINCH for film and tubing, and all of them count toward the EU group limit of 60 mg/kg for plasticizers (group restriction 32). DEHA carries its own 18 mg/kg migration limit; ESBO gaskets, which typically contain 25 to 45% plasticizer alongside phthalates, carry a tighter 30 mg/kg limit specifically for jars of infant formula and baby food. DINCH is used at up to 10 wt% in fresh-meat cling film, 35 wt% in aqueous-food film and 40 wt% in beverage tubing (HSDB). Every FCM number is listed under plasticizers in food contact materials.

Plastisols and Fast Fusion#

PVC plastisols combine a general-purpose non-phthalate such as DOTP or DINCH with a fast fuser such as DPGDB or DBT, because the legacy fast fusers DBP and BBP are restricted under REACH entry 51. DINCH gives plastisols a lower initial viscosity and better viscosity stability over storage than DOP or DINP (BASF technical data), while TXIB works as a viscosity depressant that partly flashes off during fusion, a property put to use in sheet vinyl flooring. Viscosity and gelation data are on plasticizers for PVC plastisol.

Low-Temperature and Low-Fogging Compounds#

Low-temperature compounds use aliphatic diesters such as DOA, DINA and DOS, while low-fogging automotive interiors use trimellitates and polymeric plasticizers, because volatility and cold flexibility pull in opposite directions. In nitrile-rubber brittleness testing (ASTM D2137), DOA held flexibility down to minus 42°C as moulded, against minus 33°C for DOP, but the same low-molecular-weight backbone that gives DOA its cold performance also raises its volatility and extraction rate relative to the trimellitates and polymerics. Automotive interior specifications test fogging with DIN 75201, ISO 6452 or SAE J1756. Fogging values are compared under low-fogging plasticizers.

How Do You Replace DEHP or DINP with a Non-Phthalate Plasticizer?#

Replace DEHP or DINP at equal hardness, not at equal weight: multiply the old dosage by the substitution factor of the new plasticizer divided by that of the old one, then confirm with a Shore A test. The steps below apply within the normal 5 to 65 wt% flexible-PVC range.

1. Fix the target hardness (Shore A) and record the current phr of the incumbent plasticizer.
2. Convert the dosage using the substitution factor: new phr = old phr × SF(new) / SF(old). Factors for 16 plasticizers are listed under plasticizer efficiency and substitution factors.
3. Check fusion and processing behaviour, and add a fast fuser such as DPGDB or DBT if gelation slows.
4. Test permanence (volatility, extraction, migration) and cold flexibility against the original formulation.
5. Check the end-use rules that apply: EU 10/2011 FCM and SML status, toy restrictions, medical device requirements.
6. Rebalance the stabilizer package, since ESBO co-stabilizes with calcium/zinc systems and its dosage interacts with the new plasticizer load.

Below about 15 phr, antiplasticization sets in and stiffness increases rather than decreases with further plasticizer, so the arithmetic above holds only inside the normal dosage range. To convert any phr figure to a weight percentage, wt% = phr of the component ÷ total phr × 100; 50 phr in a 100 phr PVC compound is about 33 wt%.

How Are Non-Phthalate Plasticizers Tested?#

Non-phthalate plasticizers are tested for the same 7 properties as phthalates: hardness, volatility, extraction, migration, low-temperature flexibility, compatibility and fogging, each with its own ASTM, ISO or DIN method.

• Hardness is measured by ASTM D2240 or ISO 868 (Shore A/D durometer).
• Volatility is measured by ASTM D1203 (Method A, direct carbon contact; Method B, wire cage) or ISO 176.
• Migration into an absorbent backing is measured by ISO 177.
• Extraction resistance is measured by ASTM D1239, using hexane, soapy water or mineral oil as the extractant.
• Low-temperature flexibility is measured as torsional stiffness by the Clash-Berg method (ASTM D1043) and as brittleness by ASTM D746.
• Compatibility (loop spew, surface exudation) is measured by ASTM D3291.
• Fogging is measured by DIN 75201, ISO 6452 or SAE J1756.

Food-contact migration is checked against the EU 10/2011 overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm², separate from the substance-specific SMLs in the table below. None of these standards carries a published pass or fail value in current sources, so any comparison between grades needs the raw test result rather than a threshold claim. Causes and prevention are on plasticizer migration.

What Is the Regulatory Status of Non-Phthalate Plasticizers?#

The main non-phthalate plasticizers (DOTP, DINCH, TOTM and ATBC) are not on the REACH Candidate List and carry no harmonised EU hazard classification, but their food-contact status differs: DOTP, DINCH and ATBC are listed in EU 10/2011 while TOTM is not. Under CLP self-classification data, DOTP is reported as not classified by 375 of its 376 notifiers, DINCH by all 136 of its notifiers, and TOTM by 330 of its 370 notifiers, consistent with the absence of a harmonised classification for any of the three. Every listed plasticizer is on the SVHC Candidate List page, which the site keeps as the single source for entry dates.

EU 10/2011 and FDA Food-Contact Status by Substance#

DOTP has an individual EU migration limit of 60 mg/kg (FCM 798), DEHA 18 mg/kg (FCM 207), EHDPP 2.4 mg/kg (FCM 392) and TXIB 5 mg/kg in single-use gloves only (FCM 497), while DINCH, ATBC, TEC, DBS and COMGHA fall only under the 60 mg/kg plasticizer group limit.

Group restriction 32 caps the combined migration of 22 listed plasticizers at 60 mg/kg of food, and the FDA figures in the table are maximum permitted use levels, not recommended dosages. The DOTP, DINCH and ATBC entries were verified against the eCFR and the FDA food-contact inventories on 25 September 2026: DOTP is cleared by 21 CFR 177.1210(b)(5) and by five effective notifications, ATBC carries a prior sanction plus five further part-172 to part-178 listings, and DINCH has no US clearance at all, which is a searched absence rather than a gap in our sources. Only the TOTM entry is still marked "status being verified", and a food contact notification binds only the notifier named in it. Group restriction rules are explained on EU 10/2011.

Which Non-Phthalate Plasticizers Are Restricted Themselves?#

Five non-phthalate plasticizer groups are restricted or under review themselves: short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins, triphenyl phosphate, trixylyl phosphate and, through self-classification only, TXIB.

• Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) have been an SVHC since 28 October 2008 and a Stockholm Convention Annex A POP since 2017 (decision SC-8/11), with EU derogations below 1% in substances and mixtures and below 0.15% in articles.
• Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP) became an SVHC on 8 July 2021 (PBT/vPvB) and were listed under Stockholm Annex A at COP-12 in 2025 (decision SC-12/10), entering into force 16 December 2026; the EU's own delegated regulation, C(2026) 6262 of 11 September 2026, has been adopted by the Commission but is not yet published in the Official Journal.
• Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) became an SVHC on 7 November 2024 for endocrine-disrupting properties in the environment and sits in ECHA's draft 13th Annex XIV recommendation, pending.
• Trixylyl phosphate became an SVHC on 16 December 2013, is Annex XIV entry 47, and had a sunset date of 27 May 2023.
• TXIB carries an H361 self-classification from some notifiers, a company-level notification, not a harmonised classification.

The POP timeline is on chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP, LCCP).

Who Makes Non-Phthalate Plasticizers?#

Non-phthalate plasticizers come from Eastman (Eastman 168 DOTP), BASF (Hexamoll DINCH), Evonik Oxeno (Elatur CH), Hanwha (Eco-DEHCH), Nan Ya (DOTP), Lanxess (Mesamoll), Perstorp (Pevalen) and IFF (Grindsted Soft-n-Safe), plus a growing number of Chinese DOTP producers. Plants and grades by company are in the directory of plasticizer manufacturers and suppliers.

Brand lists from company and sourced records; not a ranking. Roquette's isosorbide-based Polysorb ID 37 is named without further identifiers until its CAS number is verified.

Global plasticizer demand is growing at about 2.3% per year, and phthalates are forecast to hold 52.4% of that demand by 2029 (S&P Global CEH, December 2024). The US has imposed antidumping duties on DOTP imported from Turkey, Malaysia, Taiwan and Poland, while Chinese DOTP capacity keeps expanding; the 2026 market outlook from ResourceWise describes ample supply against flat demand. DOTP and DINP price drivers are on plasticizer prices. Buyers should compare offers by CAS number and food-contact listing, not by trade name.

Are Non-Phthalate Plasticizers Safer Than Phthalates?#

DOTP, DINCH, TOTM, DOA and ATBC carry no harmonised EU hazard classification, whereas DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP are classified as toxic for reproduction (Repr. 1B), but "safer" is not "restriction-proof", as chlorinated paraffins show. The mechanistic difference is structural: terephthalates such as DOTP do not form the stable ortho-phthalate monoester that toxicology studies link to reproductive effects, which is one reason the Danish EPA names DEHT, DINCH and COMGHA among the three most promising alternatives. The human evidence is summarised under phthalates: health effects, exposure and regulation.

A non-phthalate plasticizer earns no free pass simply for lacking the ortho-phthalate structure. Chlorinated paraffins are the clearest case: SCCP and MCCP are also non-phthalates, yet SCCP has been an SVHC and a Stockholm Convention POP for over a decade and MCCP has followed the same path since 2021. Swapping one restricted substance for another with an equivalent long-term hazard profile is called regrettable substitution.

Non-Phthalate Plasticizers in PLA, Rubber, PVB, Polyamide and Cellulosics#

Outside PVC, non-phthalate plasticizers are the norm: citrates such as ATBC in PLA, 3GO or DBS in PVB interlayers, BBSA in polyamide 11 and 12, triacetin in cellulose acetate, and adipates or sebacates in NBR. Adding ATBC to PLA at 13 wt% or more raises elongation at break above 300%. PVB interlayers for laminated glass carry 3GO or DBS at 20 to 40 wt%. Ester plasticizers are broadly incompatible with EPDM, which is plasticized with mineral oils instead, and NBR is the largest elastomer user of ester plasticizers among the rubber families. 3GO levels are on plasticizers for PVB laminated glass interlayers.

Is DINP a Non-Phthalate Plasticizer?#

No: DINP is a high-molecular-weight ortho-phthalate, although it is not an SVHC, needs no reproductive-toxicity classification according to ECHA's RAC (opinion of 9 March 2018) and is restricted in the EU only in mouthable toys and childcare articles. In the US, 16 CFR 1307 also restricts DINP in children's toys and child care articles, from 25 April 2018.

Is Phthalate-Free PVC Safe?#

Phthalate-free PVC contains no restricted ortho-phthalate above 0.1%, and its safety then depends on the replacement plasticizer and the stabilizer system, which this page's regulatory matrix lists by substance. What the claim means for consumers is explained under phthalate-free plastics.

Are Bio-Based Plasticizers Always Non-Phthalate?#

Bio-based plasticizers such as ESBO, ATBC, COMGHA and isosorbide diesters are non-phthalate, but the reverse does not hold: non-phthalate plasticizers such as DOTP and DINCH are mostly petrochemical. Feedstocks and grades are on bio-based plasticizers.

Do Non-Phthalate Plasticizers Leach Out of Plastic?#

Yes: non-phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to the polymer either, so they volatilise, migrate and are extracted like phthalates, with trimellitates and polymeric plasticizers losing the least. TOTM's three ester arms and the end-capped polymeric backbone both resist extraction better than the smaller monomeric esters.

What Are the Three Types of Plasticizers?#

Hallstar groups specialty ester plasticizers into 3 types, low-temperature (aliphatic diesters), high-temperature (trimellitates) and permanent (polymerics), next to the general-purpose commodity group of phthalates and terephthalates. All types of plasticizers are compared on the hub.