
The living hinge is a common design for many items that has caused issues with creating cost-effective, ecofriendly containers within a single injection molded package. Used by healthcare, medical device, food service ware, and other such industries, the living hinge needs to be very thin, flexible, and able to withstand repeated usage. This has led to the standardized usage of polypropylene in such containers.
This year at PACK EXPO, Green Dot Bioplastics—a manufacturer of resins and bioplastics in the flexible packaging, thermoforming, and single-use disposable packaging industries—showcased its expanded line of Terratek® BD compostable resins. Tested to withstand 100 uses, the containers produce the same malleability and durability as their plastic counterparts. New injection molding grades allow for higher heat performance and enhanced processibility, or lower cycle times.