Resins are the base of any plastic material, and are created through the heat cracking process of hydrocarbons. This is one synthetically-made material that has revolutionized industries, commercial places, and homes over the past few decades. However, now, with a strong focus on environmental protection policies the world over, it is of paramount importance that the plastic we make and use is degradable and complies with the laws for plastic and waste disposal. Using recycled resins is a big step ahead in this regard. Also, this plays a huge role in the success of not just plastic manufacturing players but also their plastic product manufacturers, suppliers, and end users. This post discusses the basics of recycled resins and their increasing utilization in injection molding.
Why Use Recycled Resins?
So, what are recycled resins? These are made from used plastic. It is also called Post-Consumer Recycled Resin (PCR). Although there are certain challenges involved, the recycling enables the creation of environmentally-friendly plastics and offers multiple benefits. Here are some of the benefits of using recycled resins:
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- Fossil fuels are not burnt to create new or virgin plastic.
- It helps reduce human-generated non-biodegradable trash.
- It reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
- For a resin manufacturer, this not only helps on saving costs and also helps in brand building as an eco-friendly player.
- It saves costs and contributes to profits.
- In terms of quality, it is no less than virgin plastic.
Environmental Benefits of Recycled Resins
According to a study conducted by Franklin Associates (U.S), the utilization of recycled plastic has helped reduce the greenhouse emission by at least 25% than virgin plastic. So, it is crucial that we as end users buy products made from regrind resins. Also, virgin plastics take more than 500 years to decompose, thus blocking all the landfills on earth. One simple way is more and more suppliers should buy regrind resins and approach people or businesses who want to sell the same. The most commonly used recyclable forms of resins are:
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- Polyvinyl chloride
- Polyethylene terephthalate
- Polypropylene
- Polystyrene
- High-density polyethylene
- Low-density polyethylene
Benefits of Using Recycled Resins for Injection Molding
Injection molding is a process widely used in the polymer industry, wherein molten materials are injected into a mold. This material once cooled configures to the shape of the mold. It enables the creation of identical plastic parts in bulk quantities. Over the past few years, many OEMs as well as plastic manufacturers have shown interest in using recycled resins for injection molding. The following advantages offered by these resins have contributed to increasing popularity among injection molders.
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- First, it is as good as virgin plastic and there is no difference in the quality of the product.
- Less number of raw materials are required if we use recycled resins for injection molding or even other industrial processes.
- By using recycled resins for injection molding, the manufacturer can create a closed industrial material process, wherein recycled parts are used as materials to make new components in-house.
- It helps save the overall costs and avoid the impact of fluctuating petrochemical prices on this industry.
- The company can coordinate with its customers or people in the vicinity for buying used plastic, which will otherwise pile up on landfills.
By and large, considering the overall benefits of using recycled resins, the number of plastic product manufacturers and end users opting for these are increasing. This way, the costs are likely to reduce further once the economies of scale are achieved. However, it is essential that you buy regrind resins from a reliable supplier. MidContinent Plastics is one of the leading suppliers of recycled resins for injection molding and has a market presence for over three decades. The company offers various types of recycled resins which include ABS, Cellulosics, Nylon 66, MPR, Polyetherimide, Polyphenylene sulfide, and so on.
