From 2018 onwards, polymerisation plants in Germany producing more than 100 t per day are to be included in the "cap and trade" EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt, Berlin; www.dehst.de) says around one hundred plants producing PE, PP, PS, PVC, PC, PA, PU and silicones are affected.

From 1 January 2018 onwards, plant operators will have to report to the DEHSt, disclose their CO₂ emissions and surrender to a European allowance (EUA) – carbon credit – for each tonne of CO₂ emitted. In taking this step, Germany has reacted to pressure from Brussels. Polymerisation plants are already included in emissions trading in other European countries.

According to the DEHSt website, plant operators have until 1 November 2017 to submit an application for allocation of the carbon credits. Operators are allowed to sell any credits that exceed their needs. If they emit more CO₂ than is allowed by their EUAs, the difference must be made up by purchasing additional credits on the market.

These certificates are auctioned on behalf of the federal German government on the European Energy Exchange (EEX, Leipzig; www.eex.com). EUAs are also traded on the secondary market both on and off the exchange. EEX market data show that the listed prices for CO₂ have tended to be fairly stable for several years, at between EUR 4 - 9/t.