Because each cycle uses just the amount of plastic needed to fill the mold, injection molding involves almost no waste. What little there is comes from the extra spaces where the plastic moves into and through the mold that aren't part of the finished product (gates, runners, and sprues). 

At Bennett Plastics, we take several approaches to reduce waste at all points in our manufacturing processes.

In consultation with our customers, we can design molds that minimize the amount of plastic used in the injection molding process such as limiting the number and length of runners, and designing gate and ejection pin locations.

In most cases, what little scrap plastic is produced can be melted and reused, or can be milled into pellets as material for a future project. 

Because injection molding most commonly uses thermoplastic materials (such as PET, PETE, HDPE, LDPE, and ABS), nearly all scrap plastic from injection molding projects can be recycled for later reuse. Occasionally, thermoset plastics (such as PVC, silicone, epoxy, and polyurethane) are used, though the injection molding process for thermosets is somewhat different. Because these plastic formulations cannot be melted down to their original state, they cannot be as easily recycled. 

At Bennett Plastics, reducing our environmental impact and supporting sustainability are vital components of our business practices. Contact us today to learn more about our sustainable solutions and take advantage of our decades of plastics manufacturing experience.