Recycled resin helps you save money while ‘going green’
As the demand for plastics continues to increase — global production topped 390 million metric tons in 2021 — so does the demand for plastics made from recycling discarded and disused plastic products.
Part of the push toward recycled plastic comes from more stringent government regulations and the consumer’s desire to be eco-friendly.
But more and more, plastic manufacturers themselves are looking for alternatives to virgin resins as a way to reduce costs and increase sustainability.
Recycled resins help to achieve both goals.
Recycled resin comes from post-consumer recyclates such as plastic bottles, containers, and film. These materials can be processed into resin pellets and used to make new products.
A more sustainable alternative
Manufacturers who use recycled resins can expect to see lower production costs and faster turnaround times. And recycled resin is often more durable than traditional materials, making it an ideal choice for products that will face harsh environmental conditions.
But that’s only part of the benefit.
Using recycled resin conserves natural resources and helps to insulate your company from the volatility of the international oil market.
Removing discarded plastic from the waste stream also eases the pressure on landfills. Converting this ‘trash’ into resin reduces emissions and saves energy related to the manufacturing of plastic.
In fact, every ton of plastic that gets recycled and used saves the equivalent of 5,774 kilowatts of energy.
Commodity-grade resin to custom-designed
Despite concerns about contaminants in recycled material, recycled resin can be produced to meet the highest quality standards and is suitable for a variety of manufacturing processes, including injection molding and thermoforming.
It can also be put to many uses.
CTC Plastics specializes in making recycled resins that maintain the high-quality of virgin resins for a fraction of the price. CTC recycles more than 100 million pounds of plastic a year.
Using a feed stream that’s 99 percent recycled material, CTC compounds resins that range from general purpose polypropylene to certified automotive-grade to custom resins formulated to the customer’s specifications.
CTC itself makes a full line of plastic pallets and containers for the food industry, warehouses, lawn and garden suppliers, retail stores and waste management companies. And CTC is the leading supplier of wheel liner resins for the North American auto industry.
Again, using recycled materials.
Growing demand
Still, post-consumer recycled plastics remain a small part of the industry globally. Just 8.3 percent of plastics manufactured in 2021 were made from post-consumer recyclates, according to Plastics Europe, an industry association dedicated to sustainability.
But that number reflects the industry’s supply problem, not a demand problem.
CTC Plastics has the capacity to compound 100 million pounds of recycled resin a year. The company’s certified lab first tests all of the recycled materials it purchases, then tests combinations of resins and recycled materials to determine the best blend for the client’s needs.
CTC, in fact, customizes its resins per batch. Its state-of-the-art facilities can create a formula to meet the customer’s needs and the needs of the ultimate application – enhancing strength, durability, or flexibility.
With CTC, you can join the companies who have discovered the benefits of recycled resins: Cost-effective manufacturing that helps you meet changing regulations and, just as important, your own sustainability goals.
It’s not just good for the bottom line, it’s part of being a good corporate citizen. It says you care about the environment – that’s something your customers care about as well.
Learn more at ctcplastics.com
