Waste Materials for use in the Plastics Industry

Impact Laboratories has found that waste from one industry may become a very attractive raw material in another. This particular case study demonstrates Impact’s skill in identifying and demonstrating the value of waste materials for use in the plastics industry.

A carefully designed laboratory-scale programme was executed to determine the suitability of waste from the Oil and Gas sector as a product for the plastics industry. In addition to the required technical feasibility work, Impact has also brought the waste producer together with potential end users and regulators thus facilitating a supply chain relationship that will result in “win-win” outcomes for all the key players.

Impact worked with an Aberdeen UK based services provider who produces a residual inorganic powder that was previously landfilled, an activity that incurs a considerable and increasing cost to the company.

A series of technical programmes were carried out in order to fully characterise the powder and map its properties to existing materials used in the plastics sector. This process has allowed a number of potential uses for the powder to be clearly identified and targeted for commercial exploitation.

Impact also supported our client’s efforts to gain product status for their waste stream, and developed patents around its identified and proven end use.

Next, the Impact team executed a market research study which led to the first commercial sale of this former waste material early in 2012. In Q2 2012 Impact then worked on the full-scale commercialisation. When this was completed, it turned a £1m++ (and rising) cost to the waste producer into a potential £2++ million per annum revenue stream as a raw material provider.

Impact Laboratories can deliver the same benefits to you. Whether you are a producer of a waste resource or a manufacturer who wants to increase their product’s green credentials and lower production costs by utilising recycled raw materials, Impact can help.

Be sure to also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.