When people think about innovation, they often focus on a product’s design or functionality. In reality, a fundamental part of innovation begins much earlier, with material research.
At Plastimark, the development of plastic shopping trolleys, shopping baskets, and retail solutions is not limited to product design. It also involves identifying materials capable of meeting specific technical and manufacturing requirements.
This approach led to the development of the Plastimark Eco-Compound family: a range of innovative materials designed to expand design possibilities and provide increasingly diverse solutions for the retail industry.
Material research as part of the manufacturing process
Developing a new material requires technical expertise, manufacturing experience, and an in-depth understanding of industrial processes.
At Plastimark, this activity is coordinated by the Production Operations Manager, who oversees the entire process of researching, developing, and validating new compounds before they are introduced into production.
Each formulation is engineered to ensure full compatibility with Plastimark’s manufacturing processes while delivering the performance required for products intended for modern retail environments.
One Eco-Compound family, multiple applications
Over the years, this research has resulted in a family of Eco-Compounds, each developed using different types of recovered raw materials.
Every material is designed to meet specific engineering requirements, providing additional opportunities for the development of plastic shopping trolleys, shopping baskets, and other equipment for the retail sector.
The Eco-Compounds developed by Plastimark include:
- Plastimark Wood, incorporating wood fibres recovered from FSC®-certified wood processing waste, giving the material a natural appearance.
- Plastimark Black, developed using plastic recovered from industrial manufacturing processes.
- Plastimark Euterra, produced with post-consumer recycled plastic sourced from household collection systems and dedicated recycling streams.
- Plastimark Wave, developed using plastic recovered from coastal and marine areas through dedicated collection and recycling programmes.
- Plastimark AluNova, manufactured by incorporating material obtained from the recycling of beverage cartons.
Each Eco-Compound offers unique characteristics, expanding the range of design and manufacturing solutions that Plastimark can provide to its customers.
A journey that continues
Material research is a continuously evolving process.
New engineering requirements, emerging technologies, and innovative opportunities for raw material recovery constantly create new possibilities for development.
For this reason, Plastimark continues to invest in the research of innovative materials, with the goal of expanding its Eco-Compound portfolio and supporting the development of increasingly high-performance products for the retail sector.
Discover the full Plastimark Eco-Compound range
Eco-Compounds are one of the defining elements of Plastimark’s approach to material development.
To explore the characteristics of each compound and learn more about the company's research projects, visit the dedicated Eco-Compounds section: https://plastimark.com/en/company/#eco-compounds