From regrind to renewal: How Plastic Bubbles gives Plastic a second life.
In today’s manufacturing landscape, sustainability is no longer a “nice to have”… it is a responsibility. At Plastic Bubbles, sustainability is embedded into every stage of our operation, from product design and responsible sourcing to manufacturing and recycling.
For more than 50 years, Plastic Bubbles has built a reputation as an industry leader in injection moulding, producing superior plastic solutions for leading brands locally and globally. As a proudly South African company, we source all our raw materials locally and manufacture within our FSSC 22000 certified factory.
But one of the most important parts of our story happens after production.
What happens to defective or rejected products?
In any manufacturing environment, products that do not meet our strict quality standards are never simply discarded – they become part of our circular production system.
What does not get approved as an end-product is weighed and sent for regrind. Regrind is the process where plastic material is broken down into pallets, allowing it to be reused. From here, the regrind material is either reprocessed into our virgin raw material to make new product or sold to recyclers who will repurpose it instead of ending up in landfill sites.
This forms part of our broader Zero Waste policy and commitment to responsible manufacturing.
Partnering with Experts in Recycling
To ensure that our regrind is responsibly processed, we partner with CNF Recycling, who recycle the plastic grades of polymer used at our plant – LDPE, HDPE and PP.
CNF Recycling provides safe disposal documentation confirming the safe and responsible recycling of our regrind material. Through this partnership, plastic waste is transformed into practical everyday products, namely:
• Basins
• Baby chairs
• Clothing hangers
• Plates
• Bed feet
This means that material that was once considered waste, is now given a completely new purpose, supporting a circular economy where resources are continuously reused.
Sustainability beyond recycling
Our environmental commitment extends far beyond regrind recycling.
We continuously seek ways to reduce our environmental footprint by:
• Reducing resource consumption during manufacturing
• Exploring biodegradable, compostable and bio-based materials
• Recycling excess paper, oil, and scrap metal through downstream partners
• Treating and recirculating water used within our manufacturing plant
• Investing in renewable energy solutions
One of our proudest sustainability achievements is our solar energy installation. With over 700 solar panels generating approximately 440 MWh, we have reduced our daily electricity consumption by around 25%.
We are also proud members of Polyco through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme, contributing recycling fees for all converted materials and supporting South Africa’s recycling economy.
Turning plastic into mobility
Our commitment to sustainability further extends into the communities we serve.
Plastic Bubbles recently joined forces with the Sweethearts Foundation, alongside Rynfield Primary School, Clean Projects Benoni and BDS Plastico, to support a meaningful recycling initiative – turning bottle caps collections into hope for people in need of wheelchairs.
Plastic Bubbles contributed 4,445 kg of plastic bottle caps – enough to fund 9 wheelchairs for people in need.
This initiative demonstrates how recycling can directly improve lives while reducing environmental waste.
A shared responsibility
Sustainability at Plastic Bubbles is not a once-off initiative. It is an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, responsible manufacturing and environmental stewardship.
Every kilogram of plastic recycled, every product repurposed and every process improved contributes to a greener future.
At Plastic Bubbles:
“We are doing our best to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastic waste at home, at work and in our surrounding communities. Join us in helping to make this a greener world.”
