Oct. 10, 2025
How to choose recycled plastics without compromising technical performance
Sustainability and circular economy in material selection
Recycling plastics has become a priority for the circular economy and industrial sustainability. While polymers such as HDPE, PP, and PC are already successfully recovered, the challenge lies with engineering polymers used in complex applications: these often contain reinforcements, pigments, and additives that make direct reuse difficult.
For designers and R&D managers, the key question is clear: how can recycled plastics be used without sacrificing mechanical strength, thermal stability, or electrical reliability?
Chemical vs Mechanical Recycling: Differences and Applications
What is chemical recycling?
Chemical recycling breaks down plastic waste into raw materials that can be used to recreate the original polymer.
- The result is a material identical to virgin resin in chemical composition, structure, and properties.
- Compounds made with chemically regenerated polymers deliver mechanical, thermal, and chemical performance equivalent to standard grades.
- Batch-to-batch variability is minimal, ensuring consistent quality.
What is mechanical recycling?
In mechanical recycling, plastic waste is ground and reprocessed to generate new granules.
- Grinding damages the polymer chains.
- Resulting compounds have lower performance than virgin materials.
- To achieve satisfactory results, the formulation must be optimized by balancing recycled content with additives and reinforcements.
Comparing virgin and recycled performance
Designers should evaluate at least three key parameters when selecting recycled compounds:
- Mechanical performance: stiffness, tensile and impact strength.
- Thermal properties: heat deflection temperature, heat stability.
- Electrical behavior: insulation, tracking resistance.
- Chemically recycled polymers show values nearly identical to standard materials.
- Mechanically recycled polymers depend on recovery quality and compounder know-how.
The compounder’s role: the LATI and LATIECO case
The key to maintaining performance is partnering with an experienced compounder.
- LATI, with its LATIECO line, offers solutions combining sustainability and technical reliability.
- Compounds are optimized to ensure:
- Mechanical strength comparable to standard materials,
- Thermal stability under prolonged heat exposure,
- Tested flame retardancy.
- Properties are validated through rigorous testing, with slightly broader tolerances than virgin materials.
[Discover the new Schneider Electric MCBs made with LATIECO 62 CR H2 G/20-V2HF]
FAQ: Choosing Recycled Plastic Compounds
Are recycled compounds always inferior to virgin materials?
No. Chemically recycled compounds have equivalent properties to standard ones. Mechanical recycling requires optimization, but performance can be very close.
Which industries can use recycled compounds?
Electronics, automotive, household appliances, construction, and industrial goods are currently the most active fields.
What are the concrete advantages?
- Lower environmental impact.
- Contribution to ESG and decarbonization goals.
- Possibility of certifications related to recycled content.
Conclusion: Sustainability without compromise
Choosing recycled plastics does not mean compromising between sustainability and performance. Understanding the difference between chemical and mechanical recycling, and relying on expert suppliers like LATI, enables the development of reliable, safe products that meet regulatory requirements while reducing environmental impact.
