1. REACH FOR POLYMERS Conference presentation Milan - May 2012
Benchmark Survey
Results from the 1st survey
Marie-Pierre Béatrix
PEP – Centre Technique de la Plasturgie

2. From beginning of the project (2010) to the end (December 2012)
The aim of the survey
To gauge the level of awareness, attitudes and practices, understanding of the European polymer industries towards the REACH legislation
Evaluate its impact on European polymer sector
From beginning of the project (2010) to the end (December 2012)

3. Questions of the survey
4 groups :
Description of the company size – sector – Main end use markets - country
Aware – agree
Estimated Level of knowledge and preparation
Impacts and benefits
+ free comments (concerns)
Goal : to cross data to highlight differences or similarities, relations between markets, countries…

4. Main Facts – Typology of companies
90% of responses from countries involved in this project
72% of companies fewer than 250 employees
Automotive and transport is the main end-use market
European typology

5. Processors, product manufacturers and assembly are the main sectors both sectors representing 75%

6. Main Facts - Knowledge
70% of companies consider themselves to have an average level of knowledge or higher
Companies with business in the field of materials have a higher level of knowledge
Estimated levels of knowledge and firm size are linked
28% considered their preparation level is between 0 and 4

7. Knowledge and preparation are very closely linked

8. Main Facts – Agree or not agree
20% not agree with the REACH but
6% of Italian companies do not agree compared to 29% of Spanish companies!

9. Main Facts – Impacts
62% REACH will have a moderate impact on their business
26% believe that it will have no impact

10. Main Facts – Benefits
Only 3% of companies plan significant benefits
54% think that REACH will bring no benefits (markets do not introduce differences)

11. Main Facts – Free comments
50% of the comments focused on :
- Administrative burden
Implementing : time and competences
The regulation is first seen as a workload requiring additional administrative time
Lack of information is the main obstacle
Main benefit : environmental impact

12. Evocation of Costs Cost : less than 10% of the comments Main topic : additional costs to comply REACH and Extra-European Union Competition Main preoccupation : competition from Asian companies Many of the participants believe the competition is not fair and not equal as REACH is not applied to Asian products What about Recycling? Some comments

13. We encourage you to Register on the web site
Find information
Download our handbooks and studies
Use the toolkit
With the extension of the project we hope to complete that investigation, with European states not belonging to the consortium
Grazie mille!