ejector is made of pure metocene polypropylene and is 100% recyclable without the need for prior separation. ejector uses significantly less energy in the entire process chain - from granulate production to recycling - and creates noticeably less emissions as compared to conventional disc packaging, as verified by an environmental balance sheet prepared by the Lippe Fachhochschule (Technical High School).

Environmental Balance Sheet

A comprehensive Environmental Balance Sheet Study (January 1999), prepared by the Lippe Fachhochschule and pursuant to ISO 14040, compared the environmental burden created by plastic CD packaging made of conventional polystrol (PS) with the new polypropylene (PP) packaging. For the study, the energy used, as well as emitted contaminants in air and water, were tested with regard to the entire process chain from raw material production to recycling. The following modules were included: granulate production, injection moulding, assemblers/CD-packaging units, trade chain, end users, recycling, and the transport between the individual modules. In line with the study, particular emphasis was placed on the three modules of granulate production, transportation and injection moulding, for each of which a life cycle inventory analysis were carried out, i.e. a listing of mass flows of individual components into the environment. The subsequent effects analysis showed the environmental effects classified into different effect categories (greenhouse gases, acidity potential, over-fertilisation potential, ozone creation). The results shown below are based on 1 million CD sales packaging units (taking into account rejects during production and transport).

Energy consumption

Transportation chain: [Receiving, via carrier/truck] approx. 30% in diesel fuel savings! [Decisive advantage: PP packaging is 29% lighter with 33% less volume, i.e. requires less stacking space] Injection moulding: energy savings of approximately 6%

Contaminant emissions into air and water

Emissions of contaminants for all relevant contaminants [except hydrogen sulphide] were significantly lower for PP granulate production than for PS production. Furthermore, transportation of the new CD packaging also emits significantly fewer contaminants. Emission values for injection moulding are also lower.

Reduction of environmental burden with PP packaging Information for the entire process chain as compared to PS packaging Greenhouse gases: 51% Acidity potential: 67% Over-fertilisation potential: 69% Ozone creation: 66% Overall it can be seen that the new CD packaging, made of pure polypropylene, is decidedly more environmentally friendly than conventional PS packaging throughout the entire process chain, both in terms of energy used as well as the total emitted contaminants.