塑膠永續創新獎揭曉：SnapSlide 藥品瓶蓋與回收技術引領未來

塑膠永續創新獎揭曉：兒童防拆瓶蓋新設計、回收添加劑與 AI 廢棄物分揀技術獲肯定

美國塑膠工業協會（Plastics Industry Association）於近日公布了2025年「塑膠永續創新獎」（Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards）得獎名單，涵蓋了創新設計、回收技術、材料創新等多個領域。其中，來自賓州的創新公司SnapSlide LLC憑藉其一款兼具環保與包容性的藥品瓶蓋設計，成功贏得「人氣獎」（People’s Choice Award）。這款瓶蓋不僅讓年長或行動不便的人群能更容易開瓶，還大幅減少了塑膠使用量，成為本屆獎項的亮點之一。

Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards Announced: New Child-Resistant Bottle Cap Design, Recycling Additives, and AI Waste Sorting Technology Recognized

The Plastics Industry Association recently announced the winners of the 2025 Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards, recognizing achievements in design innovation, recycling technologies, and material innovations. Among the winners, Pennsylvania-based startup SnapSlide LLC earned the People’s Choice Award for its environmentally friendly and inclusive drug bottle cap design. This cap not only makes it easier for elderly or mobility-impaired individuals to open bottles but also significantly reduces plastic usage, making it one of the highlights of this year’s awards.

單手開瓶、減塑 25%：SnapSlide 獲人氣獎

One-Handed Bottle Opening, 25% Less Plastic: SnapSlide Wins People's Choice Award

SnapSlide 的CEO Rocky Batzel表示，這款瓶蓋設計的靈感來自他祖母在開藥瓶時的困難。許多傳統藥品瓶蓋需要雙手操作，一隻手固定瓶子，另一隻手用力轉開，但SnapSlide的創新設計只需單手按壓與滑動，即可輕鬆開啟。這種設計不僅方便了年長者或身體不便的人群，同時也保持了兒童防拆的安全性。

SnapSlide CEO Rocky Batzel explained that the inspiration for the bottle cap design came from his grandmother's struggles with opening medicine bottles. Many traditional caps require two hands: one to hold the bottle and the other to twist the cap open. The SnapSlide design, however, only requires a single hand to press and slide, making it easier for older people or those with limited mobility. Importantly, it maintains the child-resistant safety feature.

Furthermore, the cap is made with 25% less plastic than traditional caps. SnapSlide estimates that if adopted across the pharmaceutical industry, this design could reduce plastic usage by 21 million pounds (approximately 9,500 tons) annually, significantly decreasing plastic waste and carbon footprints.

更為重要的是，這款瓶蓋在材料使用上進行了創新，較傳統瓶蓋少使用25%的塑膠。SnapSlide預計，若整個藥品行業採用此設計，每年可減少2,100萬磅（約9,500公噸）塑膠的使用量，這對於減少塑膠浪費和碳足跡具有深遠意義。

四大類別創新獲獎：回收材料與碳轉化技術加速推動環保

除了SnapSlide外，本屆塑膠永續創新獎還表彰了其他四項在永續領域有所突破的創新技術，涵蓋了從材料設計、回收技術到碳轉化創新的各種應用：

財務長年度人物談世代接棒：肯定 Z 世代的潛力與創新思維

在企業財務管理與領導力方面，《Plastics News》也宣布Plastek Group的CFO Frank Pogson為2025年度「財務長楷模」（CFO of the Year）。Pogson在談到企業對未來的投資時表示，「我們的社會責任不僅在於為當代創造價值，更應該將目光放在未來世代的領袖上。」他強調，儘管當前的勞動力市場面臨一定的短缺，但他對即將進入職場的Z世代充滿信心，「他們將以自己的方式，帶來創新與突破。」

Four Major Categories of Innovation Recognized: Recycled Materials and Carbon Conversion Technologies Drive Environmental Progress

In addition to SnapSlide, four other groundbreaking innovations in the sustainability field were recognized at the awards:

CFO of the Year Talks Generational Transition: Acknowledging the Potential and Innovative Thinking of Gen Z

In corporate financial management and leadership, Plastics News announced Frank Pogson, CFO of Plastek Group, as the 2025 CFO of the Year. When discussing future investments, Pogson stated, “Our social responsibility lies not only in creating value for today but also in focusing on the leaders of future generations.” He expressed confidence in Gen Z, despite current labor market shortages, saying, “They will bring innovation and breakthroughs in their own way.”

汽車照明循環再利用：Covestro 推出 50% 回收料 PC 材料

在車用塑膠領域，Covestro公司也進行了創新探索，推出了一種由報廢車輛回收聚碳酸酯（PC）材料製成的汽車頭燈。該產品含有50%的消費後回收材料（PCR），在保持高質量的同時，能有效降低碳足跡，並幫助車廠應對日益嚴格的環保法規。

Automotive Lighting Recycled: Covestro Launches 50% Recycled PC Material

In the automotive plastics sector, Covestro has made strides by introducing a car headlamp made from recycled polycarbonate (PC) material sourced from end-of-life vehicles. The product contains 50% post-consumer recycled materials (PCR), maintaining high quality while significantly lowering the carbon footprint and helping automotive manufacturers comply with increasingly strict environmental regulations.

Covestro工程塑膠事業群全球負責人Lily Wang表示：「我們透過回收報廢車輛頭燈所產生的高品質材料，幫助客戶實現更為嚴格的環保要求，同時促進汽車塑膠的封閉式回收循環。」目前，德國的福斯汽車（Volkswagen）和中國的電動車品牌蔚來（NIO）均已開始測試這些回收材料在汽車照明系統中的應用。

Lily Wang, Head of Covestro’s Engineering Plastics Division, said, “By using high-quality materials recycled from discarded car headlamps, we are helping customers meet stricter environmental requirements while promoting the closed-loop recycling of automotive plastics.” Currently, Volkswagen in Germany and NIO, an electric vehicle brand in China, are testing these recycled materials in their automotive lighting systems.

以創新推動行業永續發展

Driving Industry Sustainability with Innovation

這些創新技術的獲獎顯示出塑膠行業在追求環保與可持續發展方面的積極努力。從新的包裝設計到回收技術的突破，這些創新不僅促進了行業內部的可持續變革，也為全球減碳目標的實現貢獻了力量。隨著各大企業在生產過程中越來越重視減少碳排放與資源回收，我們可以預見，未來塑膠行業將迎來更加綠色、環保的發展道路。

These award-winning innovations demonstrate the plastics industry's active efforts toward environmental protection and sustainable development. From new packaging designs to breakthroughs in recycling technologies, these innovations not only promote internal industry transformation but also contribute to the global carbon reduction goals. As more companies focus on reducing carbon emissions and enhancing resource recycling in their production processes, we can expect the plastics industry to embark on a greener and more environmentally friendly development path in the future.