Sustainable plastics are not a single material category. Depending on the application, recycled, bio-based or mass-balanced raw materials may be suitable. What matters is whether the material meets the required technical, quality and processing criteria.

Silac tests alternative materials under real production conditions and assesses their processability, moulding behaviour and component quality. This practical experience helps customers evaluate which material options are suitable for their specific application.

New raw materials need to prove themselves under real production conditions. Silac therefore tests alternative materials directly in the injection moulding process, not only in laboratory trials.

The assessment includes process parameters, moulding behaviour, machine settings, material stability, surface quality and suitability for series production. Recycled, bio-based and fibre-containing materials can behave differently from conventional plastics.

These tests require experience, patience and close coordination between development, tool making and production. At Silac, these areas are all under one roof, which makes it easier to adapt material processes in practice.

For taketray, Silac produces a portable pocket ashtray made from recycled material – produced from ocean plastic on request. The project demonstrates how recycled materials with demanding processing characteristics can be used in durable, series-produced applications.

The experience gained from this project provides a basis for evaluating further applications using this ocean-based raw material.

In collaboration with ZHAW Life Sciences, Silac has investigated whether by-products from the food industry—such as potato peels, whey protein, or coffee grounds—can be used as raw materials for plastic applications. The preliminary study has been completed. The material developed has shown potential for series production. Silac is now looking for suitable applications and partners for the next step.

The Medela breast shield box demonstrates how ISCC PLUS-certified materials can be used in a specific customer product. Raw material flows are documented, and traceability is maintained throughout the supply chain.

The mass balance approach enables certified quantities of raw materials to be allocated and documented while the production process itself remains unchanged.

Silac continuously evaluates new raw material alternatives and reports on material tests, projects and certifications in the News section.

There, we highlight which approaches are currently being evaluated, what we are learning from processing and which new requirements are relevant to our customers.