Hard Coatings As A Sustainable Solution For Plastic

Whilst it is widely acknowledged that single use plastics are a problem.

There are many examples of where plastics offer excellent environmental benefits, whether as a result of light weight and impact resistant properties, or lower production energy requirements than other materials.

Plastic materials are used in many industries and products including Aerospace and Automotive, making planes and vehicles lighter, reducing the energy required to move them. These very same principles will remain as we transfer to Electric Vehicles, the lighter the vehicle is, the lower the level of energy required to move it.

Additionally, plastic materials are used in construction for their long term impact resistant properties or insulative properties and as an alternative to glass.

For more information on plastic sustainability, see this article by the British Plastics Federation:

Recycling of plastics materials such as general household products like packaging and bottles is a great solution to ensure sustainability.

For longer term plastic products, creating longer lasting solutions to meet the challenging environmental conditions, daily wear and tear or damage from misuse would reduce the time and money involved in replacements.

As a leading applicator of hard coatings to plastic products and members of the British Plastic Federation, Peerless Plastics & Coatings are keen to raise awareness of the benefits of hard coatings and how they can be incorporated to create longer lasting solutions, contributing to plastic sustainability.

Whether it be the excellent abrasion resistance, chemical resistance or superior weatherability properties offered by hard coatings, they can extend the life of plastic products in construction, retail, transport, healthcare, education and a variety of other industries by many years.

One simple example would be replacing bus shelter glazing from glass to Hard Coated Polycarbonate.

At roughly half the weight of glass and up to 250 x more impact resistant, Hard Coated Polycarbonate is a great long term alternative over glass or regular Polycarbonate due to it’s Anti-Graffiti and an abrasion resistant surfaces to counter any unfortunate vandalism.

Not only does this offer a sustainable solution, but is safer for shelter users, easier to install initially and at the end of the Hard Coated Polycarbonates long life, the material can still be recycled.

This principle can be applied to so many applications where glass or uncoated plastic materials are used, where the superior surface performance of hard coatings would significantly extend the useful life, reducing replacement and recycling, ultimately offering a more sustainable, lower cost and lower carbon footprint.

For more details on the benefits of hard coating plastic substrates please contact Peerless Plastics and Coatings on 01842 750333 or your BPF contact who can explain more.