Essentra Components, global manufacturer of essential industrial components, has significantly increased the percentage of post consumer recycled plastics being used in components manufactured across its low density polyethylene (LDPE) product lines.
As part of its journey towards a more sustainable future, nearly all LDPE products produced at the UK facility are now being manufactured using at least 40% recycled plastics, and sometimes even more, without any drop in quality or performance. Since production began in April 2021, 57 million parts have already been manufactured and distributed across Europe, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific with zero interruption to service, process or increase in cost to customers.
The development is part of Essentra Components’ wider sustainability strategy and part of its Circular Plastics Alliance pledge. Whilst the LDPE range is the current focus, the aim across the division is to incorporate more sustainable materials across the product portfolio so that at least 20% of material processed is from more sustainable sources by 2025.
To reach the 40% initial threshold, Essentra Components has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into new machinery at its Kidlington, Oxfordshire plant allowing it to mix both virgin plastics resins with post-consumer resin, primarily made from recycled packaging from the bottled drinks industry. The new blending equipment ensure products maintain the same level of quality, integrity and durability but with a more sustainable make-up.
“The move is not only designed to lower Essentra’s environmental impact, but also support its customers’ sustainability agendas. Manufacturers across all markets are looking at ways to lower their carbon footprint across all scopes. Products like our new LPDE range allow our customers to do that with zero cost or interruption and without having to factor it into their sustainability strategies or budgets,” comments Richard Sederman, strategy and M&A director at Essentra Component.
