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Work out if your polymer is a polymer of low concern (PLC)

If you are unsure if your polymer is a polymer of low concern (PLC), use this decision tool to find out.

Note: If you wish to save your completed decision tool as a PDF, select the print option in your browser and choose ‘Save as PDF’ or ‘Microsoft Print to PDF’. For Safari users, click 'File' and 'Export to PDF'. 

We want to make these tools useful for you. Help us improve them by giving us your feedback.

See the full list of decision tools to help you categorise your introduction

Does your polymer contain as an integral part of its composition at least 2 of the elements on this list?

  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Silicon
  • Sulfur

Does your polymer contain as an integral part of its composition (except as impurities) an element not on this list?

  • C, H, N, O, Si, S
  • Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, K+, Ca2+, Cl‐, Br‐, I‐
  • F, Cl, Br or I covalently bound to carbon
  • B, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, P, Sn, Ti, Zn, Zr

Does your polymer contain as an integral part of its composition (except as impurities), greater than or equal to 0.2% (by weight) of any combination of the elements on this list?

  • B, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, P, Sn, Ti, Zn, Zr

Does your polymer contain any difluoromethylene or trifluoromethyl groups?

Is your polymer a stable polymer, that is it does not substantially break down by any process during use?

Is your polymer capable of absorbing its own weight in water and is the NAMW greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol?

Is your polymer a polyester made up only of allowable reactants?

Is your polymer's NAMW ≥ 1,000 g/mol?

Is your polymer's NAMW ≥ 10,000 g/mol?

Does your polymer contain both of the following:

  • < 2% (by mass) molecules with MW < 500 g/mol
  • < 5% (by mass) molecules with MW < 1,000 g/mol

Does your polymer contain both of the following:

  • < 10% (by mass) molecules with MW < 500 g/mol
  • < 25% (by mass) molecules with MW < 1,000 g/mol

Does your polymer consist only of low concern reactive functional groups?

Does your polymer consist only of low or moderate concern reactive functional groups?

For your polymer, is the combined FGEW of the moderate concern reactive functional groups ≥ 1,000 g/mol?

For your polymer, is the combined FGEW of any moderate and high concern reactive functional groups ≥ 5,000 g/mol?

Is your polymer cationic or likely to become cationic in an aquatic environment that has a pH between 4 and 9?

Is your polymer a solid that is not soluble (less than 0.1mg/L) or dispersible in water and is it to be used only in its solid phase?

For your polymer, is the combined FGEW of any cationic groups or
potentially cationic groups greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol?

Does your polymer have any known hazard classification?

Does your polymer have any GHS classifications not on the following list:

  • Flammable gases, Cat. 2
  • Acute toxicity ‐ oral, Cat. 5
  • Acute toxicity ‐ dermal, Cat. 5
  • Acute toxicity ‐ inhalation, Cat. 5
  • Skin corrosion/irritation, Cat. 3
  • Aspiration hazard, Cat. 2

The polymer meets PLC criteria.

Your polymer is not a PLC.

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