US compounding specialist Teknor Apex (Pawtucket, Rhode Island; www.teknorapex.com) has launched a new series of its Monprene thermoplastic elastomers that contains 25-35% recycled content. The company said the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in the new Monprene RX CP-15100 TPEs contributes towards a circular economy and creates demand for consumer recycling programmes.

Besides reducing plastics waste by incorporating PCR into the compound, products made from Monprene RX are also fully recyclable at the end of the product’s life. The PCR content is sourced from waste diverted from households, or commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities.

Teknor Apex said the materials perform and process like prime TPE and are suitable for applications including personal care products, lawn and garden tools, writing instruments, appliances, and sporting goods. “Unlike competitive TPEs with recycled content, available in black only, these materials are delivered in a consistent light, natural colour, similar to their prime offsets,” it added.

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The Monprene RX CP-15100 series is available in standard grades with a 55 to 80 Shore A hardness, and can also be tailored for a customers’ specific requirements. They are designed for injection moulding applications, including overmoulding onto PP, and are manufactured according to ISO-9001 and ISO 14001 standards in the US, Singapore, and Germany. “This introduction represents the first of several sustainable product launches slated for 2022 – including other types of recycled content, bio-based raw materials, and carbon negative additives,” said new business development manager, Jonathan Plisco.