Polymers - TX
Polymer
Polymer refers to macromolecular materials composed of long-chain repeating units (monomers) that can be shaped, moulded, or cast into packaging components. Polymers represent one of the most important material classes in packaging and can behave either as traditional plastics or as functional elastomers, foams, or coatings.
Under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, polymers are divided into two groups based on their treatment in collection, sorting, and recycling systems:
- Polymer – Plastic → treated as plastics under EPR.
- Polymer – Non-Plastic → declared as other materials.
Definition
Polymers are chemical compounds formed by polymerisation of monomers. In packaging they serve as structural, protective, or decorative materials and may include both fossil-based and bio-based origins.
Classification in IMDE
In the IMDE taxonomy, Polymer is a top-level material class with two subclasses:
- Polymer – Plastic: materials that fall under plastic EPR categories and are part of circularity streams such as Rigid PET or Flexible PE-PP.
- Polymer – Non-Plastic: materials chemically polymers but not classed as plastics for EPR (e.g. rubber, silicone, polyurethane, epoxy).
Polymer – Plastic
Polymer – Plastic covers all thermoplastic and thermoset materials used as plastics in packaging. They are subject to EPR plastic fees and recyclability modulation (e.g. Verpact NL discounts, UK RAM bands).
Examples
PE, PP, PET, PS, PVC, PLA, PHA, PA, PC, PMMA, ABS, EVOH (barrier), EPS, XPS, BOPP, APET, CPET.
EPR Classification
| Region | Fee Category | Typical 2025 Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (Verpact) | Plastic – Rigid / Plastic – Flexible | € 1.22 / kg – € 1.32 / kg |
| France (CITEO) | Plastique rigide / souple | ~€ 1.20 / kg |
| Germany (ZSVR) | Kunststoffverpackung | ~€ 1.10 – 1.30 / kg |
| UK (PackUK) | Plastic | £ 423 / t |
Polymer – Non-Plastic
Polymer – Non-Plastic covers polymers and elastomers that are chemically polymers but not considered plastics under EPR. They are reported as *Other Materials* and excluded from recyclability discount schemes.
Examples
Natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane (PU) foam, epoxy resin, silicone rubber, latex.
EPR Classification
| Region | Fee Category | Typical 2025 Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (Verpact) | Other Materials | € 0.015 / kg |
| France (CITEO) | Other Materials | ~€ 0.015 / kg |
| Germany (ZSVR) | Other Packaging Material | ~€ 0.015 – 0.020 / kg |
| UK (PackUK) | Other Material Category | £ 259 / t |
