Husky Wins Major Bioplastics Innovation Award

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) named Husky Technologies (Husky) winner of PLASTICS’ 2023 Innovation in Bioplastics Award. The October 4 announcement came as part of PLASTICS’ eighth annual, online #BioplasticsWeek awareness and education event.

Husky won the award for its hot runner system, UltraMelt, which is engineered for the efficient and sustainable injection molding of bioresins aka biopolymers. Made in whole or in part from renewable biological resources, biopolymers present unique challenges in injection molding.

According to Husky, UltraMelt specifically addresses these challenges with non-reactive surfaces and stainless-steel components to preserve the sensitive chemistry of biopolymer materials and minimize degradation. After rigorous testing and optimization, UltraMelt was introduced to the marketplace in 2022, becoming a pioneering solution for biopolymer melt delivery.

Patrick Krieger, PLASTICS’ vice president of sustainability, says “This is the first time PLASTICS has awarded an equipment company and their original technology for using more bioplastics, and I congratulate Husky on this achievement. Equipment design is complex and takes significant investment. The time and resources Husky spent on this technology speaks to the importance and potential of bioplastics in the plastics industry.”

“On behalf of the Husky team I would like to thank you, the Plastics Industry Association, for this prestigious honor,” responds John Galt, CEO of Husky. “Bioplastics, together with advancements in circular polymer processing, are key parts of Husky’s sustainability strategy. We are convinced that by working together as an industry we will turn challenges into opportunities. We will demonstrate that the circular economy is not just a buzzword but a reality. Polymers preserve and protect more effectively than any other substrate. They can be formed into an infinite number of shapes and sizes. They are lightweight and unbreakable. They have the lowest overall environment footprint. They keep consumer costs down. Investing and working together to building truly circular solutions is good for our industry, for our children and the planet.”

A formal presentation of the Bioplastics Innovation Award will be made on the Sustainability Stage at NPE2024: The Plastics Show, which will take place from May 6-10, 2024, in Orlando, FL.

PLASTICS member companies interested in submitting innovations for consideration in the 2024 Innovation in Bioplastics Award competition can look forward to the opening of the submission window in May of 2024.