Reference Document -- No. 07 / 2026
The rules by which
this reference operates.
This page defines the terms under which you may use this website, republish our findings, and rely on our data. It also states -- plainly -- where our liability ends and where your verification duty begins.
Website Usage Rules
Material Primer is an editorially independent reference. It is commercially funded: suppliers can pay to be listed, and payment buys visibility only -- never a recommendation, never a positive verdict, never the removal of a limitation warning. Access is free, but it is governed by the following conditions. By using this site, you agree to them.
| Rule Category | Permitted Use | Prohibited Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Commercial Reference | Reading, downloading, and printing content for internal evaluation, supplier assessment, and compliance research. | Reselling, licensing, or syndicating site content as a paid service without prior written consent. |
| Data Extraction | Manual extraction of small data sets for internal spreadsheets or compliance documents. | Automated scraping, bulk harvesting, or systematic retrieval of the database for competitive or commercial repurposing. |
| Intellectual Property | Citing individual findings with attribution and a link to the source page. | Presenting our data, tables, or editorial conclusions as your own original work or research. |
| Site Integrity | Reporting broken links, suspected inaccuracies, or security vulnerabilities to our editorial desk. | Introducing malware, attempting unauthorised access, disrupting service, or interfering with other users' access. |
Unless otherwise stated, all content on Material Primer -- including editorial text, compiled specifications, comparison tables, and visual elements -- is the intellectual property of Material Primer. You may not reproduce, modify, or distribute substantial portions of this site without prior written permission. Brief quotations for commentary, criticism, or internal compliance review are permitted under the citation policy below.
Content Citation & Republishing Permission
We encourage the spread of verified material data. This policy defines how you may cite our work and when you must ask for permission.
- 01 Brief quotations (up to 250 words per instance) for commentary, analysis, or internal compliance review are permitted without prior approval.
- 02 Data points and figures may be reproduced in internal spreadsheets, supplier scorecards, or audit documents.
- 03 Attribution must include the Material Primer name, a link to the source page, and the date of publication or access.
Recommended Citation Format
"Commercial plant-based leathers typically contain 30-60% polyurethane or acrylic resin by mass." -- Material Primer, Field Reference Database, accessed January 2026. https://materialprimer.com/database/plant-based-leathers
- 01 Full article republication in trade media, newsletters, or internal knowledge bases requires prior written consent from the editorial desk.
- 02 Comparison tables and specification matrices may not be reproduced in whole without permission. They are our core editorial output and primary commercial asset.
- 03 Translation into other languages is permitted only for internal use and must preserve the original meaning exactly, including all limitation warnings.
Permission requests are reviewed within five working days. Requests are generally granted for non-commercial, educational, and regulatory-compliance purposes. Requests from suppliers seeking to republish our findings for promotional use are reviewed with particular scrutiny.
Data Accuracy Disclaimer
We invest significant resources in verification, but we do not guarantee absolute accuracy. This disclaimer explains our methods and their inherent limits.
Published Specifications, Read Closely
Records are compiled from the supplier's own published specification and technical data sheets. We record what the specification states, and we record what it leaves out. We do not receive production batch records or transaction data from any manufacturer.
What the Certificate Actually Covers
We read the scope and the stated limits of each certificate, not the badge. Where we mark a material unsuitable for an application, that judgement is drawn from the supplier's own published specification, the scope and limits of its certificates, and the applicable standard -- not from our own bench testing. We do not operate a laboratory.
Legal Text Cross-Reference
Every regulatory claim is cross-checked against the original legal instrument -- not secondary commentary -- and is cited with the specific article or annex number. We track amendments and repeals.
Material Primer does not warrant that any data, figure, or conclusion on this site is error-free, current, or complete. Batch-level drift is a documented reality in this industry; a material that matches its specification on paper may perform differently in your production line. Material Primer has not bench-tested the products documented here, and a published specification describes what the supplier states, not every roll it ships -- budget for your own bench testing before you commit to production. Regulatory information is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice.
Our Correction Commitment
If you identify an error in our data, a mis-cited regulation, or a figure that does not match your own verified experience, we will investigate and, where warranted, issue a public correction. We publish corrections with the same prominence as the original finding.
Liability Boundaries
This section states, in plain terms, where our responsibility ends. It is not intended to create legal obligations beyond those described here, and it does not exclude liability where such exclusion would be unlawful.
- 01 Reporting our sources accurately. We are responsible for accurately reporting what a supplier's published specification, the scope of its certificates, and the applicable standard actually say -- including where they say nothing.
- 02 Correcting errors. When we are notified of an inaccuracy and it is confirmed, we are responsible for issuing a timely and prominently placed correction.
- 03 Disclosing commercial relationships. We are responsible for clearly disclosing any referral commission or paid listing arrangement in accordance with our governance policy.
- 01 Production outcomes. We are not liable for product failures, quality issues, or financial losses arising from your use of a material we have documented. The specifications we compile are the supplier's own statements, not a guarantee of batch performance.
- 02 Regulatory compliance decisions. We are not liable for penalties, fines, or legal consequences arising from your reliance on our regulatory summaries. You must verify requirements against the original legal text or seek qualified legal counsel.
- 03 Supplier conduct. We are not responsible for the actions, representations, or product quality of any supplier listed in our database. Our referral does not constitute an endorsement of that supplier's entire product line.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Material Primer's aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or related to this website or its content shall not exceed the greater of €100 or the amount you paid us, if any, in the twelve months preceding the claim. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, lost data, or business interruption, even if we were advised of the possibility of such damages.
Questions About These Terms?
If you have a question about usage rights, wish to request republishing permission, or need to report a data error, contact the editorial desk directly. This is a governance channel, not a sales channel -- expect a technical, not a commercial, response.