Recycled plastic gave greater environmental benefits

In one of our projects for the office furniture company Kinnarps AB, we manufacture the base frame for the company’s rolling cabinet. The component in question weighs almost 0.5 kilos and originally consisted of the technologically advanced technical material PA6 (polyamide plastic), which has a high carbon footprint. By replacing this material with PP plastic (polypropylene), we could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 74% as an initial step.  

Since the PP material was a virgin raw material, it was natural for us to also explore the possibility of using recycled raw material instead. By doing so, we have helped enable the customer to reduce carbon footprint by a further 45% – that is, by 86% compared to the original material.  

In addition to the positive environmental effects, the change of material generated other benefits for the customer. Since PP plastic is a cheaper material, the same function could be achieved at a lower price and with a lower carbon footprint. Because the material also exerts less wear on the molds used in the production process, the molds have a longer lifespan, which in turn generates important environmental benefits through a reduced need for both ongoing maintenance and producing new tools.