Environmental impacts of recycled and virgin PLA for injection moulding
04/10/2023
Bioplastics
PLA (polylactic acid) is a bioplastic made from lactic acid polymers, derived from cereals or corn starch, and is increasingly popular as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
It is a versatile material that can be used in a wide range of applications, including packaging, disposables and household products. PLA is widely used for the production of complex-shaped plastic articles by injection moulding. In this process, the plastic material is heated and then injected into a mould under pressure.
However, there are two main variants of PLA that can be used: virgin PLA and recycled PLA.
In today's article, we will delve into the differences between virgin and recycled PLA, their characteristics and environmental impacts.
Virgin PLA: let's understand what it is
Virgin PLA is produced directly from organic raw materials, such as maize. The production of virgin PLA requires a number of chemical processes, including the fermentation of maize to obtain lactic acid and its subsequent polymerisation.
Although virgin PLA is biodegradable and comes from renewable sources, with low environmental impact, it still requires the use of natural resources and the energy necessary for its production.
The three largest producers of virgin PLA are NatureWorks with the Ingeo brand, TotalEnergies Corbion with the Luminy brand and Futerro with the Renew brand.
Recycled PLA: what does it mean?
Recycled PLA, on the other hand, is obtained by collecting and recycling PLA waste, such as production waste or PLA products that have reached the end of their life cycle. The recycling process significantly reduces the environmental impact compared to virgin PLA.
The main benefits of recycled PLA include a reduction in the need to grow new maize crops and a decrease in energy consumption.
Let's compare the environmental impact between virgin and recycled Pla
To fully understand the environmental impact of virgin PLA and recycled PLA for injection moulding, several considerations must be examined:
Resource use: The production of virgin PLA requires the cultivation of maize and energy for its processing. In contrast, recycled PLA uses fewer natural resources and reduces dependence on virgin raw materials.
Greenhouse gas emissions: The production of virgin PLA generates greenhouse gas emissions due to the industrial processes involved. Recycled PLA emits fewer greenhouse gases because it reduces the need for production from scratch.
Waste management: Using recycled PLA helps reduce plastic waste in landfills and the amount of plastic lost to the environment.
Biodegradability: Both virgin PLA and recycled PLA are biodegradable, but the production of recycled PLA helps preserve natural resources.
Companies and business sectors that have integrated recycled PLA into their production
There are many companies and sectors that have started to integrate recycled PLA into their production to reduce environmental impact. Let us give a few examples:
1. Apparel sector: In the apparel industry, some brands have started using recycled PLA to produce biodegradable and sustainable fabrics. These fabrics can be used to make clothes and accessories, thus helping to reduce the consumption of natural resources.
2. Automotive sector: Also in the automotive industry, some companies are exploring the use of recycled PLA for interior and exterior parts of vehicles. This helps to reduce the use of virgin plastic in automotive production and limit the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Construction sector: In the construction sector, some companies are experimenting with the use of recycled PLA to produce building materials, such as insulation panels or cladding. These materials offer a sustainable alternative to traditional materials.
4. Electronics sector: Some companies in the electronics sector are looking to incorporate recycled PLA into the housings and enclosures of electronic devices, thus reducing the amount of virgin plastic used in their products.
These are just a few examples of industries and companies that are adopting recycled PLA as part of their efforts to reduce environmental impact. The use of recycled PLA is becoming increasingly popular in a variety of sectors as companies seek sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Considerations when working with recycled biopolymers
Working with recycled PLA requires some specific considerations and special care to achieve high-quality results. Below are some aspects to take into account when working with recycled PLA:
1. Reliable suppliers: Choosing a reliable supplier of recycled PLA is crucial. Make sure you select suppliers who meet quality standards and are committed to sustainable production and efficient recycling of PLA.
Ask for detailed information on the recycling process and the quality of their recycled PLA.
2. Raw material selection:
Recycled PLA can be obtained from different sources, including production waste or PLA products that have reached the end of their life cycle. The quality of the raw material will influence the quality of your recycled PLA. Make sure you use high-quality materials for consistent performance.
3. Mixing and processing:
During the recycling process, recycled PLA may undergo a blending process with additives to improve its performance. Heat treatment is often used to stabilise the material.
Make sure that your recycled PLA supplier carries out adequate treatment and blending to ensure good homogeneity of the material.
4. Quality control:
Implement rigorous quality checks to verify the consistency of recycled PLA. This includes tests on strength, melting temperature and dimensional stability. It constantly monitors the properties of the material to ensure that it meets the desired standards.
5. Colouring problems:
Recycled PLA may have different colours due to different material sources. If you want to obtain products with a uniform colour, you should consider using additives or pigments to achieve the desired colour.
Be sure to test the colouring on a small scale before starting large-scale production.
6. Compatibility of the production facility:
Before you start working with recycled PLA, make sure that your production equipment, especially injection moulding machines, is compatible with this material. It may be necessary to make modifications or adjustments to the machines to achieve optimal results.
7. Waste management:
Since recycled PLA is often used to reduce plastic waste, it is important to have an effective waste collection and management system within your production. Make sure you have adequate procedures for recycling waste and proper waste disposal.
8. Staff training:
Provide adequate training to personnel involved in processing recycled PLA. They must be aware of the specificities of this material and the procedures to ensure quality production.
9. Continuous research and development:
Maintain an ongoing commitment to research and development of new techniques and solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of your production with recycled PLA.
Gianeco: a sustainable supplier of recycled PLA and other biopolymers
We have made it clear that recycled PLA is a more sustainable choice than virgin PLA for injection moulding. It has a number of environmental benefits, including reduced energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and impact on biodiversity.
Among recycled Pla producers, Gianeco stands out for having believed in bioplastics and recycled bioplastics at an early stage.
For almost ten years, Gianeco has been collecting bioplastic waste and making granules and ground PLA, PBAT and PBS.
Gianeco's recycled PLA products are a sustainable choice for companies wishing to reduce the environmental impact of their products.
Environmental impacts of recycled and virgin PLA for injection moulding
04/10/2023
Bioplastics
PLA (polylactic acid) is a bioplastic made from lactic acid polymers, derived from cereals or corn starch, and is increasingly popular as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
It is a versatile material that can be used in a wide range of applications, including packaging, disposables and household products. PLA is widely used for the production of complex-shaped plastic articles by injection moulding. In this process, the plastic material is heated and then injected into a mould under pressure.
However, there are two main variants of PLA that can be used: virgin PLA and recycled PLA.
In today's article, we will delve into the differences between virgin and recycled PLA, their characteristics and environmental impacts.
Virgin PLA: let's understand what it is
Virgin PLA is produced directly from organic raw materials, such as maize. The production of virgin PLA requires a number of chemical processes, including the fermentation of maize to obtain lactic acid and its subsequent polymerisation.
Although virgin PLA is biodegradable and comes from renewable sources, with low environmental impact, it still requires the use of natural resources and the energy necessary for its production.
The three largest producers of virgin PLA are NatureWorks with the Ingeo brand, TotalEnergies Corbion with the Luminy brand and Futerro with the Renew brand.
Recycled PLA: what does it mean?
Recycled PLA, on the other hand, is obtained by collecting and recycling PLA waste, such as production waste or PLA products that have reached the end of their life cycle. The recycling process significantly reduces the environmental impact compared to virgin PLA.
The main benefits of recycled PLA include a reduction in the need to grow new maize crops and a decrease in energy consumption.
Let's compare the environmental impact between virgin and recycled Pla
To fully understand the environmental impact of virgin PLA and recycled PLA for injection moulding, several considerations must be examined:
Resource use: The production of virgin PLA requires the cultivation of maize and energy for its processing. In contrast, recycled PLA uses fewer natural resources and reduces dependence on virgin raw materials.
Greenhouse gas emissions: The production of virgin PLA generates greenhouse gas emissions due to the industrial processes involved. Recycled PLA emits fewer greenhouse gases because it reduces the need for production from scratch.
Waste management: Using recycled PLA helps reduce plastic waste in landfills and the amount of plastic lost to the environment.
Biodegradability: Both virgin PLA and recycled PLA are biodegradable, but the production of recycled PLA helps preserve natural resources.
Companies and business sectors that have integrated recycled PLA into their production
There are many companies and sectors that have started to integrate recycled PLA into their production to reduce environmental impact. Let us give a few examples:
1. Apparel sector: In the apparel industry, some brands have started using recycled PLA to produce biodegradable and sustainable fabrics. These fabrics can be used to make clothes and accessories, thus helping to reduce the consumption of natural resources.
2. Automotive sector: Also in the automotive industry, some companies are exploring the use of recycled PLA for interior and exterior parts of vehicles. This helps to reduce the use of virgin plastic in automotive production and limit the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Construction sector: In the construction sector, some companies are experimenting with the use of recycled PLA to produce building materials, such as insulation panels or cladding. These materials offer a sustainable alternative to traditional materials.
4. Electronics sector: Some companies in the electronics sector are looking to incorporate recycled PLA into the housings and enclosures of electronic devices, thus reducing the amount of virgin plastic used in their products.
These are just a few examples of industries and companies that are adopting recycled PLA as part of their efforts to reduce environmental impact. The use of recycled PLA is becoming increasingly popular in a variety of sectors as companies seek sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Considerations when working with recycled biopolymers
Working with recycled PLA requires some specific considerations and special care to achieve high-quality results. Below are some aspects to take into account when working with recycled PLA:
1. Reliable suppliers: Choosing a reliable supplier of recycled PLA is crucial. Make sure you select suppliers who meet quality standards and are committed to sustainable production and efficient recycling of PLA.
Ask for detailed information on the recycling process and the quality of their recycled PLA.
2. Raw material selection:
Recycled PLA can be obtained from different sources, including production waste or PLA products that have reached the end of their life cycle. The quality of the raw material will influence the quality of your recycled PLA. Make sure you use high-quality materials for consistent performance.
3. Mixing and processing:
During the recycling process, recycled PLA may undergo a blending process with additives to improve its performance. Heat treatment is often used to stabilise the material.
Make sure that your recycled PLA supplier carries out adequate treatment and blending to ensure good homogeneity of the material.
4. Quality control:
Implement rigorous quality checks to verify the consistency of recycled PLA. This includes tests on strength, melting temperature and dimensional stability. It constantly monitors the properties of the material to ensure that it meets the desired standards.
5. Colouring problems:
Recycled PLA may have different colours due to different material sources. If you want to obtain products with a uniform colour, you should consider using additives or pigments to achieve the desired colour.
Be sure to test the colouring on a small scale before starting large-scale production.
6. Compatibility of the production facility:
Before you start working with recycled PLA, make sure that your production equipment, especially injection moulding machines, is compatible with this material. It may be necessary to make modifications or adjustments to the machines to achieve optimal results.
7. Waste management:
Since recycled PLA is often used to reduce plastic waste, it is important to have an effective waste collection and management system within your production. Make sure you have adequate procedures for recycling waste and proper waste disposal.
8. Staff training:
Provide adequate training to personnel involved in processing recycled PLA. They must be aware of the specificities of this material and the procedures to ensure quality production.
9. Continuous research and development:
Maintain an ongoing commitment to research and development of new techniques and solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of your production with recycled PLA.
Gianeco: a sustainable supplier of recycled PLA and other biopolymers
We have made it clear that recycled PLA is a more sustainable choice than virgin PLA for injection moulding. It has a number of environmental benefits, including reduced energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and impact on biodiversity.
Among recycled Pla producers, Gianeco stands out for having believed in bioplastics and recycled bioplastics at an early stage.
For almost ten years, Gianeco has been collecting bioplastic waste and making granules and ground PLA, PBAT and PBS.
Gianeco's recycled PLA products are a sustainable choice for companies wishing to reduce the environmental impact of their products.
