1. REACH FOR POLYMERS A €480,000 - 30 month project aiming to increase the knowledge base of the European polymer industry, particularly SMEs, when complying with the REACH legislation Funded via the EU LIFE + Environmental Programme

2. REACH FOR POLYMERS PRIMARY Objective To Create A REACH Toolkit for the European Polymer Industry CONTRIBUTORY Objectives To Assess The Suitability Of Testing Techniques and Methods To Produce a REACH Best Practice Manual Monitoring and Evaluation of REACH Provision of Dissemination Materials and Training Activities To Benchmark Current Awareness and Readiness for REACH

3. 8 European Partners Involved

4. Focused On 6 Specific Polymer Sub-Sectors

5. MAIN DELIVERABLE A web-based REACH Toolkit A new interactive innovative software application capable of guiding users through the REACH process Encompasses materials developed from other Work Packages within the project Currently at an advanced development stage Will be demonstrated later today

6. Further Deliverables – 1 REACH “State-of the Art” Report Initial review of public information concerning REACH methodologies, best practice and trends being utilised to comply with the legislation Completed in March 2010 Available FREE OF CHARGE as a download from the REACH For Polymers website www.reachforpolymers.eu www.reachforpolymers.eu

7. Further Deliverables - 2 Benchmarking Surveys Survey designed to measure the attitudes, awareness and understanding of the European Polymer Industry towards REACH Conducted in 2 phases (2010 and 2012) Over 400 companies included in the survey Phase 1 results available as a FREE download from the project website Phase 2 results (and comparisons with Phase 1) will be available by May 2012, also as a FREE download from the project website

8. Further Deliverables – 3 Expert Workshops and “Technology Road Map” Report 4 Expert Workshops held across Europe (Spain, UK, Belgium and France) Over 200 individuals participated Based on these workshops – a 30 page “Technology Road Map” (TRM) was produced The TRM aims to provide a list of priority items that need attention and action to assist the European Polymer Industry with REACH MAIN issues are information-based!! Results are available from the project website

9. Further Deliverables – 4 REACH “Best Practice” Manual Draws upon previous outputs from the project Also contains a review of other public information available, via websites etc. Provides also a signposting to other expert organisations involved with REACH Presents the actual experiences of companies in dealing with REACH in each of the 6 defined polymer sub-sectors Final report available in 5 languages Can be downloaded FREE OF CHARGE in each of these languages from the project website

10. Further Deliverables – 5 Technologies & Methodologies Guide Designed to provide a guide to the Best Available Testing Techniques and Methods associated with REACH Gives detailed advice about substances, where they fit in with regard to REACH and what tests need to be performed Available in the 5 project languages All 5 versions available as FREE downloads from the project website

11. SUMMARY Project will now run until December 2012 Register NOW on the website – it’s FREE Many FREE downloads are already available NOW from the project website The REACH Toolkit will also be available FREE to use when completed later in 2012. www.reachforpolymers.eu