Background REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) is a European Union regulation, which entered into force in 2007, with the aim of protecting human health and the environment from the risks arising from the use of chemicals. The new regulation promises to bring about improvements in innovation and competitiveness in the EU chemicals’ industry: pledging a more simplified and ordered regulatory system, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and cost savings in raw materials and law suits. It reverses the burden of proof and places the responsibility on the producer and importer to show substances are safe before they can be placed on the market. If conducted properly, REACH will restore consumer trust in chemicals used in consumer products, which will have a knock-on effect throughout the whole chemicals’ supply chain. The regulation initially exempts polymers from registration and evaluation. Instead a fairly complex procedure is established that requires polymer manufacturers and importers to pre-register all monomers and other reactants. Objectives The LIFE ‘REACH for Polymers’ project aims to increase the knowledge base of the European polymer industry, in particular of small and medium-sized enterprises, by applying new techniques, technologies, instruments and methods that offer environmental as well as economic advantages to the industry when complying with the REACH regulation. The main objective is to create a REACH toolkit for the European polymer industry, and to disseminate this widely. Other objectives are: To assess the applicability to the polymer industry of testing techniques and methods and from this develop a guide to the best available testing techniques and methods; Produce a REACH best practice manual for the polymer industry and associated supply chain; Monitor and evaluate REACH in order to assess its impact on the European polymer industries; and Benchmark current awareness and readiness of the European polymer industry and its supply chains to the new REACH regulations.