Contact person
Carl Jensen
Projektledare
Contact Carl
Design and material selection for sustainable plastics
Early decisions about polymer, additives and construction determine whether a product becomes a sustainable resource or an environmental liability. Smart choices reduce climate impact and simplify recycling. At RISE, we help you think it through from the very start.
Why material choice and design are crucial
Early decisions on polymer, material volume, additives and design determine whether a plastic product becomes a sustainable resource or an environmental problem. Smart choices reduce climate impact, ease recycling and create long-term value. Poor choices lead to contamination, lower recycling value and higher environmental and production costs. Circular flows always begin at the design stage.
At RISE, we bring together expertise in materials science, construction, circular design and ecodesign to help product designers and material specialists turn early design decisions into robust, sustainable and commercially viable plastic products.
Expertise in design and material selection for sustainable plastics
Materials science & polymer chemistry
RISE has expert knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of polymers and offers comprehensive material analysis using methods such as FTIR, DSC and TGA. We identify polymer type, additives and fillers, and assess recycled plastic streams and material degradation to safeguard performance and recyclability. Material development is scaled up through compounding, injection moulding and extrusion at lab and pilot scale, allowing materials to be optimised for both function and circularity.
Ecodesign
RISE helps product developers build ecodesign in from the outset. This includes optimising function and material choice, minimising material use, reducing environmental impact during use, and improving production, service life, end-of-life handling and distribution. We also offer support with life cycle assessment (LCA), substitution of hazardous chemicals, and selection of sustainable materials to help create environmentally optimised products.
Design for circularity
We support design that maximises durability, repairability, reusability and recyclability. Our experts advise on material and design choices that make disassembly, reuse and efficient recycling easier, with a focus on reducing climate impact and building long-term value.
More information
Frequently asked questions:
- How can design be optimised to minimise material use and climate impact without compromising function and aesthetics?
- Which plastic materials and additives strike the best balance between performance, safety and recyclability?
- How can a product be designed to allow for easy disassembly, material recovery and circular flows?
