Industry expertise
Plastics, Polymers & Recycling
Polymer buying is a specification business: grade, melt-flow, additives and contamination decide whether the material works in your process. Prime, off-grade and recycled material behave very differently despite looking similar. Our commercial experience includes polymer trading relationships and material procurement — we know the questions buyers actually need answered before committing.
The pain points we hear most
Pain points we solve for polymer buyers
An 'off-grade' or 'recycled' lot looks identical to prime but runs differently in your process.
We verify grade claims, request COA consistency and arrange batch sampling before you commit — the specification, not the label, drives the deal.
Melt-flow and contamination issues surface only after your machine is running.
MFI/MFR, contamination and moisture checks are written into the sourcing brief and inspection plan, not discovered at your production line.
Suppliers quote 'virgin' material but deliver blends with additives you never approved.
COA consistency, batch traceability and material verification are part of the sourcing scope, with independent testing coordinated where needed.
Coverage
Product & project areas
PE, PP, PVC, PET, ABS, PC, TPU, TPE
Prime, non-prime, off-grade and recycled grades
Polymer pellets, compounds and masterbatch
Supply-chain knowledge
Risks and inspection points we cover
These are the checks we treat as part of the job in this category — the points where problems actually occur.
- Grade specification
- Product, grade, additive package and intended application are confirmed in writing.
- MFI / MFR
- Melt-flow indices are verified against the claimed grade where material testing is warranted.
- Contamination
- Visual and, where justified, lab checks for contamination and off-spec content.
- COA consistency
- Certificate of analysis values are checked against the claimed grade and batch.
- Batch sample
- Representative batch sampling before shipment, with sealed samples retained.
- Traceability
- Origin, lot numbers and documentation trail recorded for your file.
Compliance clarity
Compliance points we keep clear
Regulatory questions are handled with precision — and with qualified advisors where the law requires. We never improvise on regulated categories.
- Recycled-content claims and food-contact suitability require verification specific to the application and destination market.
- REACH/RoHS and other substance restrictions may apply depending on the product and market — applicability is confirmed per transaction, never assumed.
- Dangerous-goods and transport classifications apply to some polymer products and are checked before shipping.
Execution
Sourcing considerations we manage
- 1
Prime vs off-grade vs recycled pricing logic, and what each means for your process
- 2
Lot-size economics — a bad lot can be more expensive than a good price
- 3
Terminal, warehouse and direct-plant supply options
- 4
Sample retention and re-test rights in the purchase terms
Frequently asked questions
Can you verify a grade before I pay?
We coordinate COA review and, where justified, independent material testing and batch sampling before payment milestones.
What is the difference between non-prime and off-grade?
Definitions vary by supplier, which is exactly why we pin the specification and COA down in writing instead of relying on labels.
Do you source recycled polymers?
Yes — recycled grades are handled with extra attention to contamination, origin and recycled-content claims, with independent testing where the application demands it.
Related industries
Ready when you are
Buying in this category? Talk to someone who knows it.
Share your specification, volumes and timeline. We will assess feasibility and recommend the right sourcing and verification steps.