Adopting the Safe and Sustainable by Design approach

How can we include the safe and sustainable by design approach into the plating on plastics process?

The following examples can contribute to enforcing the safe and sustainable by design approach on the plating on plastics process and mitigating the environmental and safety concerns associated with this process.

• Selection of plating materials that are free of hazardous chemicals or reducing the usage of hazardous chemicals. For instance, chromium can be substituted in the plating process by non-hazardous or low-hazard chemicals, such as trivalent chromium plating or non-chromium technologies, leading to reduced environmental and health impacts.
• Design of plastic components for plating that are optimized for sustainability, such as designing them for disassembly and recyclability, can make the process more sustainable. This can include the use of recycled or bio-based plastics, and designing components that are easily separated from the plating material.
• Optimizing the use of materials, energy, and water in the plating process can make it more efficient and sustainable. This can include the use of closed-loop water systems, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and reducing the amount of waste generated during the plating process.
• Conducting a life cycle assessment of the plating on plastics process can help identify areas where the process can be made more sustainable and safe. This can include identifying areas where material and energy inputs can be reduced, and where the environmental and health impacts of the process can be minimized.
• Ensuring that the plating on plastics process complies with relevant regulations and standards can help reduce the environmental and health impacts of the process. This can include compliance with REACH and RoHS regulations, and ensuring that the plating process meets local environmental regulations.