A profound and rapidly evolving shift is underway in transfusion medicine. Sustainability policies, once distant from day-to-day blood operations, are now actively influencing how blood is collected, processed and stored. At the center of this transition lies the global movement to restrict or replace di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer long used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood bags.
This is no longer theoretical. In the European Union (EU), DEHP is classified as a “substance of very high concern” under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulatory framework due to its potential endocrine-disrupting properties.1 The EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR 2017/745) further requires explicit justification for the continued use of such substances above defined thresholds.2 In practice, this has translated into procurement shifts: blood services and group purchasing organizations are increasingly favoring or mandating DEHP-free systems. Manufacturers, in turn, have accelerated the development of alternatives such as dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT) and 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH).
By Ludwig Frontier, MD, MSc, MBA, DHSc, Contributing Writer
April 2026
View Issue
PREVIOUS STORY
Ensuring Quality and Safety in ChileBACK TO ISSUE
April 2026
Transfusion is AABB’s scholarly, peer-reviewed monthly journal, publishing the latest on technological advances, clinical research and controversial issues related to transfusion medicine, blood banking, biotherapies and tissue transplantation. Access of Transfusion is free to all AABB members.
Learn More About Transfusion Journal
Keep abreast of what's happening in the field of biotherapies with CellSource - AABB's monthly update on the latest biotherapies news.
To submit news about the blood and biotherapies field to AABB, please email news@aabb.org.
President
Meghan Delaney, DO, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
Debra Ben Avram, FASAE, CAE
Chief Communications and Engagement Officer
Julia Zimmerman
Director of Marketing and Communications
Jay Lewis, MPH
Managing Editor
Kendra Y. Mims, MFA
Senior Communications Manager
Drew Case
AABB News
(ISSN 1523939X) is published monthly, except for the combined November/December issue for the members of AABB; 4550 Montgomery Avenue; Suite 700 North Tower; Bethesda, MD 20814.
AABB is an international, not-for-profit association representing individuals and institutions involved in transfusion medicine, cellular therapies and patient blood management. The association is committed to improving health by developing and delivering standards, accreditation and educational programs that focus on optimizing patient and donor care and safety.
+1.301.907.6977
Email: news@aabb.org
Website: www.aabb.org
Copyright 2025 by AABB.
Views and opinions expressed in AABB News are not necessarily endorsed by AABB unless expressly stated.
Notice to Copiers: Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited unless written permission has been granted by the publisher. AABB members need not obtain prior permission if proper credit is given.
4550 Montgomery Avenue
Suite 700, North Tower
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.907.6977
