The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for pretreating a polymeric material in a treatment chamber (12). The method includes providing a polymeric material component into the treatment chamber (12) and introducing a carbon dioxide fluid in supercritical state therein. The component is exposed to the carbon dioxide fluid to extract non-volatile organic residue contained in the component. The contaminated carbon dioxide fluid containing the extracted non-volatile organic residue is removed from the treatment chamber such that the organic residue does not deposit onto the polymeric material component by depressurizing the treatment chamber. Thereafter, the component is removed from the treatment chamber (12).