Four ways precision plastic moulding is becoming more ‘green’

Improved practices and new technologies are making plastic injection moulding more environmentally friendly.

We are often asked whether precision plastic moulding is a ‘green’ procedure.

Here are Skar we believe it can be an environmentally-friendly process – our position being that working with plastics is not in itself bad for the environment. Where the problems lies is with the misuse of plastic – such as unsuitable disposal processes and inadequate recycling, which causes too much waste to go to landfill.

Here are four trends that are making plastic moulding more environmentally sound. 

Growing awareness of recycling

Any waste and scrap plastic generated as a by-product of our procedures at Skar can be reheated and used again either on the same project or a new project that requires the use of a similar polymer. Not only does this approach minimise waste, it also helps to keep costs down, as the materials are used as efficiently as possible.

It is also possible to buy in recycled plastics from a number of suppliers who are increasing as awareness around the circular economy has grown.

Precision leads to less waste

More sophisticated approaches to product and tool design mean that there is now less scrap plastic produced with each run compared with ten years ago. Improvements to processes and flow techniques, such as the use of simulation software, also means the number of rejections can be reduced.

The development of bioplastics

Bioplastics are defined as plastics where all carbon is derived from renewable feedstocks. While the market is still in its infancy – the technology promises a move away from conventional plastic products to plastics that at least in part are derived from natural feedstocks such as corn, potatoes, rice, tapioca, palm fibre and wood cellulose.

Efficiencies reduce energy use

Innovations designed to make moulding machinery more efficient have reduced the amount of electricity required to power equipment – thus reducing the energy used and unit cost of a product.

The latest improvements involve power coordinating to reduce spikes in energy use while more efficient barrel heating and hydraulic pumps have also brought improvements.