Plastics Industry Association names Re|focus Sustainability Innovation Awards winners

Dell, Tarkett and Circular Polymers/Broadview Group have been recognized by the Plastics Industry Association (Plastics), Washington, receiving the association’s first-ever Re|focus Sustainability Innovation Awards. The three awards categories recognize the best in materials, design and end-of-life innovations, all of which were assessed by a panel of experts in recycling and sustainability from members of Plastics and Bethel, Connecticut-based SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers) Sustainability Division.

In the Materials category, Dell, Round Rock, Texas, was recognized for its Latitude 5000, which contains a structural material for the notebook computer housing that is 50 percent recycled content by weight and still meets the toughest durability requirements.

In the Design category, Paris-based Tarkett was recognized for its Ethos Modular Carpet Tile with Omnicoat Technology, which was created using recycled material from windshields and safety glass.

In the End-Of-Life category, Circular Polymers/Broadview Group, Wilmette, Illinois, and Brook Park, Ohio, were recognized for their rotary impact separator, which disassembles postconsumer carpet into clean face fiber, clean backing fiber and a limestone granulate.

Plastics says it received 39 submissions from 11 industry sectors and nine countries around the world for the Re|focus Sustainability Innovation Awards.

“The winners of the 2019 Sustainability Innovation Awards provide inspiration to our industry by bringing sustainability to the forefront of their business,” says Vice President of Sustainability Kim Holmes. “The submissions received were creative, and these particular innovations display real promise in commercial applications that show how we can scale these new technologies.” 

In addition to the three defined award categories, the Leadership in Innovation Award—determined by a judging panel—and a People’s Choice Award—determined by Re|focus attendees—will be announced at the summit May 21 during the opening plenary session.

The Re|focus Summit is May 20-22 at the DeVos Place Grand Rapids Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More information on the conference is available at www.refocussummit.org.