100 million seals made from 45% recycled plastics

Essentra Components is expanding the ranges of security seals that it will manufacture using a minimum of 45% recycled material, after a successful 100 million piece initial phase.

Further security seal product ranges are also progressing through development phases and will be launched later in the year and through 2023. The new polypropylene seals will reduce carbon emissions by around 40% per unit helping Essentra Components’ customers reduce carbon footprints without major investments.

Security seals must provide customers with the assurance that products haven’t been tampered with. Failure of the seal, or the materials contained within, could result in millions in lost goods. 

With tensile strength key to security seal success, the design, production, and trial was created to put the seals to the test on packages shipped globally to ensure they maintained their structural integrity and tamper proof ratings. The seals, typically used in the logistics, food and medical industries, were developed in conjunction with two major logistics firms with 100 million units being put into circulation.  

After the initial success, the products have now been rolled out globally and will continue to be manufactured in Rayong, Thailand. As of August this year, Essentra began substituting the parts into its existing supply chain at no additional cost to customers. 

Through its substitution programme, Essentra Components has helped its customers reduce their carbon footprint organically, without any extra investment being needed. By using recycled material in our seals, Essentra estimates it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 1000 tonnes of CO2e per year. 

The Rayong plant’s overall recycled materials usage is expected to increase to 30% by the end of 2022, up from 13% in 2021. Essentra expects this to increase to around 40% by 2023.

Richard Sederman, strategy and M&A director at Essentra Components, said the progress with the security seals represents a significant step forward in recycled material components: “This exciting step forward represents progress towards our goal of carbon neutrality. Through innovation with new materials like those used in the seals we can ensure more of our product lines are sustainable in the future.

“Of course the challenge of securing the raw recycled materials is on-going, however, we’re working closely with our suppliers to continue developing new products for future industries.”