Technical advice

REACH and SVHC

The products we place on the market are by definition "mixtures", which do not have to be registered with the ECHA under Article 2 No. 9 of the REACH Regulation. We are in close contact with our suppliers and ensure that they act in compliance with REACH and have registered their products or their starting materials in good time.

Another component of REACH is the so-called candidate list (SVHC = Substances of Very High Concern). This list contains substances that have been assigned a special interest by the ECHA. The current candidate list can be found on the ECHA website: http://echa.europa.eu. It should be mentioned here that substances listed there may continue to be bought, sold and used until the final assessment.

Information on the relevant SVHC substances can be found in the manufacturer's current safety data sheet (MSDS) under sections 3.2 and 15.1. Please note that manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that the information in their SDS is up-to-date and correct.

According to REACH, an SDS only needs to be updated if relevant properties or hazards of the substance or mixture change.

You can access current safety data sheets via the following links:

Celanese: SDS Search (celanese.com)

LyondellBasell: Product Documents Home Page (lyondellbasell.com)

Elix: ELIX Polymers | ELIX Polymers leading manufacturer of ABS (elix-polymers.com)

Hyosung Chemicals: Download | Customer Support | Hyosung Chemical

For all other products, please contact your responsible customer service contact.

Information pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 – REACH Annex XVII Entry 78 (Microplastics)

On September 25, 2023, the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 amending REACH Annex XVII. This regulation introduces entry 78 on “synthetic polymer microparticles” (SPM) and entered into force on October 17, 2023.

The restriction applies to the placing on the market of all synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM) that are smaller than 5 mm, organic, insoluble, and resistant to degradation. Biodegradable or water-soluble polymers are exempt from this restriction.

After a two-year transition period, the regulations came into force on October 17, 2025.

________________________________________

What does the regulation mean for technical plastic granulates?

The regulation defines “synthetic polymer microparticles” as solid polymers with a size of less than 5 mm that are intentionally added to fulfill a specific function in the product and can potentially enter the environment.

This means that the products we sell (flakes, pellets, or powder) are synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM – colloquially also referred to as microplastics) according to entry 78.

However, they fall under the exemption in paragraph (4a) of entry 78 and are exempt from the marketing ban, as they serve as raw materials for the manufacture of plastic articles in industrial facilities and provided that they are used under controlled conditions and measures are taken to prevent their release into the environment.

________________________________________

Your obligations and our support

Under the regulation, manufacturers and industrial downstream users are required to provide instructions for safe use and disposal to prevent the release of synthetic polymer microparticles (SPMs) into the environment. This requirement has been in effect since October 17, 2025.

The information we provide on the order confirmation contains the following information:

• Instructions for safe handling, use, and disposal.

• Measures to prevent releases into the environment.

• Requirements for collection and waste disposal.

We strongly recommend that you communicate these instructions to all employees involved in the handling or processing of these materials.

________________________________________

Recommendations for the careful handling of granules

Even though many technical granules are not directly covered by the marketing ban under the new regulation, careful handling measures help to prevent the release of microplastics and promote the sustainable use of materials.Lagerung:

Storage:

• Store granules and powders in closed containers and rooms.

• Check packaging for integrity upon receipt.

• Avoid dust formation, wind drift, and the release of particles into the environment.

Disposal and packaging:

• Empty packaging completely before disposal.

• Separate polymer-containing waste from other material flows.

• Dispose of it in accordance with official regulations to prevent environmental contamination.

________________________________________

Recommended next steps

• Check your applications for possible impact by the EU Microplastics Regulation.

• Pay particular attention to products for artificial turf infill or applications where microparticles are used specifically.

• Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the respective product for details on classification, handling, and safety.

Our team is always available to provide expert advice and further information.

With every new development, the demands on the components increase as well as on the suitability of the engineering plastic. We support you in selecting the best materials based on your requirements and offer you customised solutions for engineering plastics.

With their focus on practical application and a pragmatic approach, our application engineers can resolve any processing and tooling issues, such as warpage or surface defects. Our involvement starts at the project planning stage and ends when your machines are running smoothly and are producing the best results.

Our portfolio includes materials for decorative and functional surfaces, e.g. metal and soft-touch effects. Due to the injection moulding process in only one step, no additional process is necessary. By using our engineering plastics for GIT (gas injection technology) and WIT (water injection technology) applications, you shorten cycle time and increase productivity. Highly reinforced materials for the automotive industry as a possible metal substitute round off our extensive product portfolio.