Businesses across all industries should embrace recycled polymers as a vital tool in achieving their sustainability goals, says Manchester, UK-based plastics recycler Axion Polymers. Using recycled raw materials to make new goods can be an important step with significant impact for manufacturers looking to move towards net zero and comply with industry regulations and laws.
Axion produces a range of Axpoly recycled polymer grades that are manufactured in the UK to ISO9001 quality standards and are REACH and RoHS compliant. Its engineering polymers are suitable for use in a range of injection moulding applications, from vehicle components to consumer electronics and construction products. The company also boasts laboratory facilities enabling the in-house material testing of its recycled polymer infeed and finished products. Axpoly recycled polymer grades comply with permitted levels of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Using Axpoly PP gives an 81% carbon saving and using Axpoly ABS gives a 90% carbon saving, compared with using virgin polymer.
Using these materials will allow manufacturers to comply, for example, with the new regulation proposed in the EU, aimed at improving the circularity of materials in vehicle manufacture. This regulation mandates that 25% of the plastic used to build a new vehicle is recycled plastic, of which 25% must be recycled from end-of-life vehicles.
Axion Polymers has a secure infeed material supply from its parent company S. Norton Group. The company uses process technology which converts non-metallic waste from end-of-life vehicles and waste electronic goods into recycled plastics, aggregates for construction, and alternative fuels supplying to energy from waste plants. The Group operates two processing plants in the Manchester area, with primary sorting taking place at Trafford Park and polymer refining and extrusion at Salford.
"At S. Norton Group, we’re proud our processes showcase how plastic waste can be harnessed to create valuable new products thereby conserving precious resources, reducing dependence on landfill and protecting the environment from greenhouse gas emissions,” said Laura Smith, commercial manager - polymers and co-products, Axion Polymers.
Tony Hayer, S. Norton managing director, added that “At a time of great change in the plastics industry, when businesses are facing mounting pressure to adopt circular practices and reduce their environmental footprint, using recycled polymers has plenty of benefits, including reduced demand for oil-based virgin polymer and significant carbon savings.”
Axion Polymers will be exhibiting at this year’s Interplas, 26-28 September 2023 at NEC, Birmingham, in Hall 4 stand A8.