Injection Moulding Biodegradeable Plastic as a Driver of Supply Chain Innovation and Resource Efficiency

This project aims to deliver step-change developments in material composition and manufacturing capability of complex biodegradable and water soluble plastic components that will transform existing supply chains in terms of resource efficiency and environmental impact. This break-through in injection moulding technology will potentially enable decentralisation of manufacturing capability in a range of industrial sectors, a supply chain innovation that TSB funding has already demonstrated to yield substantial reductions in environmental impacts, including road transport and associated emissions. In the first instance this project will seek to deliver resource efficiency in the laundry product supply chain, using decentralised manufacture of unit dose products to reduce road transport, enable the elimination of detergent builders and encourage the implementation of low temperature wash additives through controlled-release unit dose delivery mechanisms.