8 DECEMBER 2024OPINIONThe Environmental Protection Agency's waste hierarchy shows that the preferred way to reduce plastic waste is to either begin at the source or find innovative ways to recycle. Source: www.epa.govAs a global leader in materials design solutions, Techmer PM has access behind the scenes in the manufacturing industry and understands their recyclability challenges. This also puts us in a position to make changes and drive the importance of recycling and sustainability. Some of the main issues we are tackling with our customers and partners include aesthetics, mechanical properties, regulatory needs, costs, and in many cases, a little of everything. This has resulted in many brands and technology Techmer PM has released throughout the years. Keeping Black Plastic Out of Landfills Carbon black is one of the most widely used pigments in plastics due to its cost, color strength, and added UV protection. One major drawback of using Carbon Black is its tendency to absorb NIR wavelengths, making parts colored with carbon black difficult or even impossible to sort at a material reclaiming facility (MRF) optically. And we know what happens when an item isn't sortable ­ it ends up in the landfill. I mentioned that Carbon Black is one of the most popular colors for plastics. So, although manufacturers can move to a different color, this may not be in their best interest for product INCREASING PLASTIC RECYCLABILITY WITH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONBy Kaan Serpersu, Director of Technology and Sustainability, Techmer PMKaan Serpersu
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