Silicones are polymers whose main chain consists of silicon atoms, bonded to organic substituent groups, and oxygen atoms in an alternating structure. Depending on the type of organic groups present, the microstructure and the molecular weight, silicones can take various forms: plastics, emulsions, resins, elastomers, lubricants, foams.

On the basis of the European restrictions, the European Commission's DG Environment brought a global action against the use of a type of very volatile cyclosiloxanes (cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes, cVMS), namely three molecules, named, according to the nomenclature of cyclosiloxanes, D4, D5 and D6, which represent the starting monomers of silicone polymers and without which silicones could not be produced.

In July 2023, ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) drew up a draft proposal to add these substances to the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty that aims to eliminate the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), effectively globalising REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) restrictions on cosmetics.

This choice is problematic both because of D4/D5/D6's failure to meet the Convention's scientific criteria (in particular long-haul transport), and because the Convention would hardly offer the flexibility to limit any restriction to direct uses (2%), jeopardising the thousands of applications that need silicone polymers (98%). 

Therefore, for national and European interlocutions on the subject, Confindustria has drawn up a Position Paper, listing some of the strategic uses of silicone polymers, materials that are essential in various technological sectors, in which countless European companies operate and which are vital for Europe's strategic autonomy, digitalisation, energy transition, as well as the health and well-being of citizens.