Explanatory paper on Microplastics and Interleavants in the flat glass sector

The European Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of 25 September 2023 ‘restricting synthetic polymer microparticles on their own or intentionally added to mixtures’ entered into force in October 2023. Its purpose is to ban the placing on the market of mixtures containing synthetic polymer microplastics. The ban from placing on the market does not apply to products ‘for use at industrial sites’ and for certain specific applications.

Observing a lot of confusing communication around this EC regulation, Glass for Europe issues this explanatory paper to bring clarity to all actors in the flat glass value chain about the use of interleaving polymer powders in the flat glass sector. Glass for Europe recalls the following:

• In the flat glass sector, interleavants are used exclusively at industrial sites therefore the placing on the market and the sector’s use of interleavant polymer powders is permitted by the EC Regulation.
• As part of the EC Regulation, a set of obligations are created falling upon suppliers and users of these interleavants. Flat glass manufacturers members of Glass for Europe are already working with both upstream suppliers and downstream users to ensure full conformity.

Glass for Europe and its members are committed to sustainable practices, including a substitution of microplastic interleavant technology once a substitute has been technically approved and is ready for wide-scale implementation.

Check out our position paper here.