Nowadays, people are more and more aware of plastic waste and look for different solutions to protect our planet and aim for sustainable development. According to researchers, the innovations in plastics have increased threefold since 2015.Newly created plastic items enter the market all the time, bringing users lots of benefits in all aspects of life, including storing food, drying off after a shower, hanging up your clothes, and even brushing your teeth. All of these innovations are made upon society's demands and the motivation for more and more sustainable plastic products.
1. Top 15 Innovations In Plastics Of 2023
1.1. Badaptor
Badaptor is a one-piece plastic battery adapter that can replace the whole new battery and charger system. It allows users to use DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, and Ryobi power tools to convert the existing battery system for us. With Badaptor, you don't need to switch your preferred battery system but can still access different power tools. It's one of the great innovations in plastics since it's a cost-saving method and a way to decrease the Li-Ion batteries' consumption.
In addition, the cut down on producing new batteries and chargers means fewer plastics and materials needed in manufacture, thus saving more energy and reducing the overall carbon footprint.
1.2. Prevented Ocean Plastic
We all are warned about the risk of ocean and coastal pollution due to the indiscriminate plastic dícard. Thus, the Prevented Ocean Plastic program was formed to collect waste and turn it into recycled plastic and packaging.
First, the plastic bottles are collected in the areas suffering from ocean plastic pollution and sent to the sorting centers. There, they will be sorted, washed, sanitized, and processed into raw material flakes or pellets for another cycle of use. It does not only help to protect the environment and save production cost but also create more jobs for the local community.
1.3. Reswirl Toothbrush
It's an innovation from The Toothbrush Club, Reswirl, with the aim to reduce landfills since toothbrushes have a short lifespan. Customers just need to send their brushes to the collection points in participating stores, and The Toothbrush Club will do the rest to recover and reuse all material. They have developed a technology to separate the bristles from the handles and then recycle and re-mould as appropriate.
PA1010 bristles and bio-PBS handles are also made from bio-based materials, decreasing the need for fossil fuel exploitation. If a brush does not go into the recycling loop, its biodegradable handle material still reduces its effect on the environment.
1.4. Recycled Plastic Bluetooth Speaker
Have you ever heard of Bluetooth speakers that are made from recycled plastic? Yes, it does exist. It's a production of Gomi, a design studio based in Brighton. The product is the result of the idea to pursue a new, waste-free way to produce high-tech items without sacrificing quality or performance.
Gomi is the first brand in the world to reuse lithium-ion batteries from e-bikes, combine them with plastic bag waste, and create immersive audio products. Their vision is to turn things labeled non-recyclable into desirable and repairable items that last.
1.5. Idry - Drying Your Body Without A Towel
Idry is an innovative towel-free body drying solution developed by Distrupol. It reduces contact with a towel, eliminating skin contact with germs and bacteria and the risk of infection. The product can help users dry from head to toe within 2 minutes, making it an ideal choice for the leisure, hospitality, and healthcare industries.
The item is developed in Polylac PA757 M70 – a 70% PCR ABS with a great sustainability profile. Furthermore, Idry consumes no water and only 0.15kw of electricity per cycle.
1.6. Flossie
This item, created by a TU Dublin student, Christopher Kenny, may sound strange to people. Yet, it's useful for those who suffer from hand dexterity and can not effectively use the floss to clean their teeth.
Using floss is helpful, especially to protect you against tooth decay, jaundice, and gum disease. Flossie helps people with dexterity issues move their fingers and complete the cleaning routine with the most comfortable and less painful process.
1.7. Nestguest
It's a recyclable home to protect hedgehogs, one of the most threatened animal species in the UK. Since constructing houses for hedgehogs is expensive, this innovation is a cost-saving solution to preserve this animal.
The item is made of 100% recycled linear low-density polyethylene, providing a durable and UV- and shatter-resistant home for the species.
1.8. Uponor PE-X Pipe
Uponor PE-X Pipe, one of the newest innovations in plastic, is another example of the "circulatory loop" of a product. It's the world's first cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe (for drinking water and underfloor heating applications) made from Uponor's own production waste.
The company uses 100% chemically recycled raw material from its production activities. The hard-to-recycle plastic waste is turned into high-quality polymer feedstock, bringing the properties identical to those of the original material.
1.9. AdBlue Bottles
This new design of jerrycans, integrated with a flexible spout nestled within the side wall, reduces the need for products and helps customers save money. The innovation is simple but incredibly useful.
The design team, AST, also can customize the integrated spout according to your needs. Plus, the sizes of the bottles vary, ranging from 5 L to 20 L.
1.10. Polyguard Peerless Plastic Sheets
This innovation from Peerless Coatings is especially helpful for areas that frequently experience vandalism. The material looks like glass, but it's only half of its weight.
The product maintains many outstanding properties of polycarbonate, including high impact strength, and provides great surface performance. Therefore, this clear, hard-coated sheet has exceptionally hard-wearing and anti-graffiti protection.
1.11. NEUE Water
Designed by Berry Global, this stylish bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic, contributing to the reduction of landfills and the requirements for producing new plastic.
Besides the eye-catching design, this example of innovation in plastic has a sturdy structure, making it suitable for multiple-time refills. In addition, this recyclable bottle is made portable, which is convenient for you to put in your small handbag or backpack.
1.12. Altro Stronghold 30: The First Adhesive-Free Flooring
Altro Stronghold 30 is the first adhesive-free safety flooring specialized for commercial kitchens. The floor is easily uplifted and provides sustainable, carbon-saving performance.
About 95% of the installed floor is recyclable, reused, and requires no damp-proof membrane (DPM), thus decreasing unwanted landfills. After its lifespan ends, it will be collected at the Recofloor collection point and reproduced into other products, such as traffic cones.
1.13. VarDAR Systems Flow Air Ring
The Variable Diameter Dual Directional Flow Air Ring is designed by VarDAR Systems to aim at productivity growth by adding additional cooling above the frost line.
Though the matter of increasing productivity is questionable, it's proven to reduce the scrap levels due to better control of trims. It also reduces waste by easily splitting the web. In addition, the product enhances the aesthetics of the film.
1.14. Coveris Cheese Pouches
It's a revolutionary new innovation for storing your food, specifically cheese, in a recyclable package. Their specially developed film allows grated cheese pouches to move from a mixed nylon laminate (one the hardest materials to recycle) to a new, fully recyclable PE barrier mono laminate.
The product offers the same performance as the original non-recyclable solution. The packaging is easily recyclable through front-of-store plastic film collections.
1.15. Janger
Talking about innovations in plastic, we should not miss Janger. Janger is an eco-friendly solution replacing your ordinary clip-hangers, which are usually difficult to recycle due to their combination of metal and plastic.
The item requires less plastic (70% less plastic compared to a conventional clothes hanger), less energy to produce (only 1/7th of the power to make the traditional hanger), is 100% recyclable, and generates less carbon footprint.
2. EuroPlas - A Manufacturer Of Green Materials
EuroPlas is one of the leading manufacturers that can satisfy a wide range of requirements for unique plastic raw material solutions to optimize production costs and improve the competitiveness of the customers. Furthermore, we always pay attention to the environment and business sustainable development.
If you're looking for a more eco-friendly solution, you should not miss our Bioplastic compound and Bio Filler. EuroPlas Bioplastic compound is biodegradable within 12 months after use, allowing you to pursue sustainable development. Our BiONext biodegradable plastic granules have high hardness, excellent impact strength (injection molding and extrusion products), and good elongation (blown film products) with a glossy, beautiful surface and easy machining ability. Thus, your final products can achieve both quality and aesthetic requirements.
On the other hand, our Bio Filler is a well-known, cost-effective material solution for bioplastic end-products. It can improve the finished products' properties, such as flossness, firm hardness, etc., and helps businesses save production costs. It's an ideal choice for producing environmentally friendly products, including biodegradable packaging, injection molding, and single-use plastic extrusion.