They’re so ubiquitous, they’re almost invisible. Yet open your eyes and you’ll see them everywhere: the 1881 Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) cap. Odds are there are dozens in your house right now.
Developed in 2011 by the International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT), which represents more than 800 beverage industry professionals in over 21 countries, PCO (plastic closure only) 1881 is the standard in the beverage industry. The previous standard for the industry was the two-piece PCO 1810 system, which weighs 8 g., compared to the new one-piece 1881 system which weighs just 6.22 grams – a reduction of roughly 20%.
PCO 1881 cap
Moreover, 1881 standard caps are produced from less expensive HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). 1810 caps were manufactured with more expensive PP (Polypropylene).
But now the 1881 cap is ready to take a giant leap forward, into the bold green world of sustainability. Right now, the buzzword in the plastics industry sustainability drive is “bio-assimilation.”
So exactly what is “bio-assimilation”?
Simply put, “bio-assimilation” means that the plastic has bio-degraded to a molecular weight that can be eaten by microorganisms. At that point, the plastic literally ceases to exist. Micro-organisms, such as Ideonella sakaiensis (first identified in 2016) grow as a colony on polyolefin surfaces by adhering to it with thin appendages. These appendages secrete plastic-degrading enzymes which enables the micro-organisms to consume polyolefins such as PP and PE. This is the final stage of plastic biodegradation, leaving behind no microplastics, in either land or water environments. Voila! Problem solved!
Many Illinois plastic injection molding companies are ready to start test-marketing plastic resins which contain a bio-assimilation additive. These additives, which comprise only 1% of the polyolefin resin in its raw state, act as an oxidative catalyst that initiates a free radical process that ultimately breaks down molecular chains.
The plastics industry is keen to begin including these additives to their resins, before governments around the world begin gradually outlawing certain forms of plastic packaging and products. While an additional expense, these revolutionary new additives promise to make the world a cleaner place and potentially substantially increase the plastics production industry, including plastic injection molding.
And that’s a win-win for the plastic injection molding industry and the entire planet!
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