Crossword Genius

Plastic they only peel off (12)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

polyethylene

'plastic' is the definition.
(polyethylene is a type of plastic)

'they only peel off' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates an anagram.
'they'+'only'+'peel'='theyonlypeel'
'theyonlypeel' with letters rearranged gives 'POLYETHYLENE'.

(Another definition for polyethylene that I've seen is " plastic is needed".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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