Tubing manufacturer implements another sustainable practice

NewAge Industries, a manufacturer of plastic and silicone tubing, has announced the ability to recycle its silicone tubing waste.

Tubing scrap is created at the beginning and end of the extrusion process as technicians adjust the equipment for proper tubing dimensions. That tubing, and any other that does not meet the company’s strict quality standards, is collected and stored in bulk containers. The containers are then shipped to ECO USA, a company that specialises in reclaiming silicone oil.

ECO USA has a silicone recycling plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Following transport to the facility, silicone is ground into small pieces, mixed with catalysts and heated to break down its chemical bonds. Liquids from this stage are filtered, refined, polymerised into silicone oils, and filtered again. The final product is silicone oil that is comparable to virgin silicone oil manufactured from silicon dioxide. The oil is used in industrial applications such as lubricants, sealants, and automotive dressing.

Matt Bauer, production manager, commented: “We’re always looking for ways to reduce manufacturing waste. We’ve been recycling our plastic scrap for years, but recycling silicone can be complicated. Producing silicone oil from silicone tubing is a multi-step reclamation process that few companies are doing.”

He added: “The amount of silicone scrap generated adds up to tens of thousands of pounds.

“Between NewAge’s silicone products and those from our AdvantaPure high purity group, we’re making over a dozen different types of silicone tubing and reinforced hose. We also mould silicone, and that generates scrap as well.”

Sustainability has always been a key focus for NewAge, and the main facility has used solar power for over nine years alongside other eco-friendly practices such as e-waste recycling, replacing windows and lighting, and the addition of an electric vehicle charging station.