Plastic extrusion is the technique of extruding small pellets of plastic through dies to create a continuous shape, with a fixed cross-sectional profile.   The benefit of plastic extrusion is its versatility. The process can combine two compatible plastics into one, which can improve product design, both ascetically and in function. It is also able to produce products in a range of rigidities.  While all designs need to have a cross-section profile, the actual finis ..read more

The problem of plastic pollution is certainly not a new one, nor one that is easily solved and the idea of eradicating all plastic products is simply unrealistic. So, the ongoing global effort to help reduce plastic waste is more important than ever.   Being able to reduce the amount of plastic that is reaching our oceans is an important goal and so the research that has been conducted at the University of South Carolina is exciting news.  Liquid to Waste Ratio  The research team decided to look at the&nb ..read more

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer that is used in various industries for a multitude of applications. It is an extremely versatile plastic and, as such, is the second most commonly produced commodity plastic in the world.  Of the overall total Polypropylene produced, a whopping 30% is used within the packaging industry, 13% goes to electrical and equipment manufacturing, 20% is split between household and automotive applications, and 13% goes towards construction materials.  So, why is it that this material ..read more

Pernod Ricard, the world’s number 2 in wines and spirits, has promised big things in its “Good Times from a Good Place” Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap. The French company owns 16 of the world’s top 100 brands and has been in operation since 1975. The roadmap sets out the group’s plans, stretching into 2030, which includes a commitment to make all packaging 100% recyclable, reusable, compostable, or bio-based by the year 2025. Whilst all organisations are looking to make their operations as sustainable as possible, a declaration of changes on the scale of Pernod Ricard’s is certain ..read more

The plastic industry has been one of steady growth and reliable demand for a number of decades now.  While it has faced its challenges, namely the need to adapt to more environmentally friendly practices and an increased focus on recyclability, there has always been a demand for plastic goods on a global scale.   So how has the pandemic affected the demand for plastic goods and what does this mean for the industry?  Plastic Goods Demand  The emergence of COVID-19 hasn’t just affected people’s health, it has had a massive&nbs ..read more

The emergence of COVID-19 a year ago turned the world upside down and sent waves through every single industry, in some form or another.   Since then, alongside the national effort to stop the spread, the plastic industry has been working tirelessly to aid in the fight against COVID-19 and support medical professionals to help as many people as possible.   So, how exactly has the plastic industry come to the rescue and supported the fight against the Corona Virus?  How Plastic Helps Us Fight  There have been some areas that have ..read more

2020 was a game-changing year for the plastic industry, the global pandemic hit all areas from manufacturing to production and set everything spinning 180o. However, even in years like the one we have just had, patterns still emerge, and these allow us to predict the likely trends going forward, and help us ensure we’re as successful as possible. Below we have outlined the five things you need to know to not just survive, but succeed in 2021. COVID-19 The global pandemic is here to stay, for a little while at least, and the impact on the plastic industry is undeniable. It is important, therefo ..read more

Interplas is the biggest plastic event to be held in the UK, bringing together plastic industry professionals from across the country and around the globe.   The event is held every three years with the last date being in 2017. Due to the global pandemic, Interplas organisers were forced to postpone their 2020 event but have now released new dates for 2021.  New Dates for Interplas 2021  The event is set to take place from 28th to 30th September, at the NEC, Birmingham. The event organisers have chosen this date based on the ..read more

As an industry we are overcoming the bad name that has been created for plastic and while many of us use mostly recycled materials (we ourselves purchase upwards of 60% recycled material and recycle 100% of waste), we still have some way to make the industry completely sustainable.   The fact of the matter is that it isn’t plastic itself that is causing an issue, but rather the way in which humans dispose of it. And there are many benefits to the environment that have come about as a direct use of plastic usag ..read more

The UK and Ireland have set a new record for the recycling of PVC waste, according to Recovinyl. In the period from January to December 2019, 143,428 tonnes of waste PVC was recycled across all recycling formats. 86,057 tonnes of this alone was PVC window profiles. Data from Recovinyl states that this equates to 18.6% of the entire European total for 2019 (771,313 tonnes). This contribution puts the UK and Ireland only second place in terms of biggest contribution, with Germany taking the number one spot. This is the largest total that the UK and Ireland have ever contributed. To put it into p ..read more