With growing evidence about the environmental impact of single-use packaging (SUP) and rising consumer concern, governments are taking action to curb its use.

 

Reusable packaging is viable in many circumstances from food retail to quick service restaurants — reducing critical environmental impacts, such as CO2 that increases global warming, by up to 80 – 85%.

 

The low cost and durability of EcoCore® mouldings make them ideal for reusable packaging — often replacing single-use alternatives without increasing costs.

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Less cost

EcoCore reduces the cost of mouldings in two ways. Walls created with solid outer as well as inner skins, and a foam centre, cut the amount of material required by up to 50% compared to regular solid walled containers. And, typically, cycle times can also be reduced as less plastic and cooling is required.

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High performance

EcoCore creates thick moulding walls from very small amounts of plastic. For example, 0.65mm walls can be increased to around 2.00mm — adding strength without using extra material.

 

Compared to thin wall plastic mouldings, EcoCore alternatives using the same amount of material have:

• Less thermal transmittance — foaming creates thermal insulation to keep packaging contents hot or cold for longer. It also protects against high temperatures to preventing scalding and burning

• Higher bending strength and stiffness — less flex and greater load resistance

• More compressive strength — greater resistance to buckling and higher top load capacity

• Greater impact resistance — less likely to break if dropped

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Using EcoCore typically reduces the amount of plastic needed to make products or packaging with the same performance as solid alternatives. This reduces the weight of plastic used along with both transportation costs and environmental impact.

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To maximise consumer appeal, mouldings made using EcoCore have outer and inner skins with textures ranging from gloss to orange peel.

 

The outer skin can also be decorated through common processes such as:

• Indirect flexo printing

• Dry offset printing

• In-mould labelling

• Pad printing

• Screen printing

• Digital printing

• Painting

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Easy to use

Most plastics manufacturers can use EcoCore without additional investment in equipment or machinery. Only specific features within mouldings and the mould tool, as well as unique process settings, are required.

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EcoCore also uses polypropylene plastic that is low cost, widely available and has been proven safe for even the most demanding food and medical applications.

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More sustainable

Less material means reduced consumption of non-replaceable natural resources. And the amount of energy needed for manufacturing, that typically contributes to CO2, is cut.  

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EcoCore mouldings are widely recycled and can be made with recycled polypropylene. As such it supports circular economy initiatives that lessen carbon emissions by encouraging plastic recovery and reuse as well as minimising landfill and the burning of waste. In addition recycling and reuse also reduce littering that adversely affects both land and marine habitats.

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Limitless applications

EcoCore creates limitless opportunities for innovative products and packaging with a competitive edge in key sectors:​

• Beverages — hot and cold to-go drinks cups

• Food — noodle pots and microwave meals

• Industrial — tubs and paint containers

• Healthcare — medicine and sharps containers

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To find out how EcoCore will create opportunities for you get in touch