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ShareBuilding sustainable business for the plastic industry in the global low-carbon trend
The Global Low-Carbon Trend
Since the effectiveness of the "New Plastics Economy Global Commitment" in 2018, increasing numbers of multinational agglomerates such as Unilever, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Carrefour have committed themselves the responsibility for a sustainable environment. By 2025, a series of ambitious goals need to be achieved by the actions on eliminating the use of plastics, and ensuring the proper reuse, or recycling for their products containing plastics.
According to the public information reported by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, UK, there are 142 countries have announced their commitments to achieve the goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2060. It is foreseeable that more mandatory policies and regulations will be implemented to lead the industrial transformation. All the participated enterprises need to be well prepared for the continuous growth in business.
TwinScrew’ s extruding systems have been widely applied for plastic processing for more than three decades. With the increasing regards on the criteria fulfilling the timeline toward carbon neutrality, TwinScrew has been continuously receiving technical consultation from clients worldwide inquiring the solutions reducing carbon emission.
TwinScrew emphasizes the fact that "Equipment manufacturers need to provide multiple product pipelines and services to fulfill the cross-field requirements." For example, processing with the materials containing regenerable biomass or new biodegradable composites probably need to switch mechanical designs from that used for fossil plastics due to the significant differences in physical properties.
The changes may include feeding devices, screw configuration as well as the extrudate cooling design. It is also critical to closely work along with users to optimize the processing parameters. "Recently a user shared their successful experience applying TwinScrew’ s extrusion granulating line to enhance the extrusion output in a rate of 30%." In addition to a higher yield and better product quality, in particular, it saves energy consumption and in consequence lowers the carbon emission derived from manufacturing processes.
It is scientifically proved that blending the renewable bio-based materials such as plant fiber, natural starch, coffee grounds, sugarcane bagasse, oyster shells, rice husks, and ocean waste with petrochemical plastics is an effective approach to decoupling the industrial production from the dependence on resources consumption. There are increasing numbers of blended materials used in making products such as sports parts, electronic devices, livelihood products, and building materials.
A manufacturer of thermoplastic starch granules using TwinScrew’ s extrusion granulating machines to blend petrochemical-based polyolefins, such as polypropylene. Replacing the genuine PP with the eco-friendly starch/PP composite to make finished products not only reduces the use of fossil-based materials, but also lowers the emission from 3.4 tons to 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent for each unit ton of input raw material. Consequently, it achieves 15% reduction in carbon emission before the gate in the product life cycle.
In this case, TwinScrew contributes to the success in improving carbon footprint for the plastic products by blending petrochemical with bio-degradable materials that could be applied in various applications including single-use dining wares, industrial or daily packages.
The new carbon economics is a revolutionary reform on industrial value chain. It is severe challenge and likewise a great opportunity transforming the growth. The "carbon emission foot-printing" of a product determines its competitiveness. TwinScrew offers multiple solutions to enhance the sustainability of plastic products by lowering the carbon emission derived from the manufacturing processes or the raw materials. Go exploring sustainable growth with TwinScrew before it is too late.
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