What is microplastic pollution?

Microplastic pollution refers to the accumulation of small plastic particles (typically defined as less than 5mm) in natural environments including soil, water, and air. These particles result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, or from materials that fragment without fully reintegrating. Microplastics can persist for long periods and are found across ecosystems. Not all materials that fragment produce microplastics, this depends on the composition of the material and how it degrades. Solinatra materials are assessed specifically against the criterion that they do not produce persistent microplastics.

What materials break down naturally?

Materials derived from natural sources can break down through biological processes depending on composition and environmental conditions. Breakdown does not always mean safe reintegration into natural systems.

Are biodegradable plastics safe for the environment?

Biodegradable plastics are not automatically safe for the environment. Their behaviour after use depends on composition, environmental conditions, and whether they fully break down or fragment into persistent particles. Some biodegradable plastics degrade safely under the right conditions. Others may leave residues or require industrial composting to break down at all. The classification biodegradable describes a characteristic, not an outcome.

Is it scalable for industrial use?

Solinatra materials are developed for industrial scalability. They are compatible with standard manufacturing processes like injection moulding, extrusion, and thermoforming, and are designed to integrate into existing production lines without requiring significant infrastructure changes. Scalability depends on application requirements and production volume. Solinatra is already in use across multiple industries and processing environments.

Contact us to discuss capacity and supply requirements for your operation.

Is it more expensive than plastic?

Material cost depends on application, production scale, and system requirements. Cost comparison with conventional plastics varies depending on volume, performance requirements, and supply chain conditions. Pricing should be evaluated in the context of full material behaviour rather than unit cost alone.

For pricing relevance to your applications and volumes, contact our sales team here.

Is Solinatra as strong as plastic?

Solinatra materials are engineered to meet the performance requirements of specific applications. Mechanical properties like tensile strength, rigidity, flexibility are matched to the intended use, and in many applications Solinatra achieves performance comparable to conventional plastic. Performance depends on material grade and application. 

Solinatra materials are designed to perform during use and reintegrating safely to the natural systems after use. Contact us or request our TDS to review performance data for your specific application.

Is it safe for food contact?

Food contact safety is assessed against applicable regulatory standards, which vary by region. Solinatra offers specific grades of natural engineered materials developed for food contact applications including packaging and food service items. Our materials can be customized to meet the specific food-safety and regulatory mandates of each region where they are used.

Can Solinatra be used in existing machines?

Yes, Solinatra materials are designed for compatibility with existing industrial processes. This includes injection moulding, extrusion, and thermoforming. Compatibility depends on specific material grades and application requirements, with the aim of enabling use without significant changes to equipment.

Discover our materials to find the right grade for you process.