plastversioner

Plastversioner is a term used in the plastics industry and product lifecycle management to describe the systematic versioning of plastic materials, formulations, and processing parameters across design, production, and end-of-life stages. Each version documents resin type, additives, colorants, fillers, stabilizers, and processing conditions, as well as regulatory compliance requirements. The goal is to provide traceability and comparability between material versions as products evolve.

Purpose and scope: Plastversioner supports change management, quality control, lifecycle assessment, and end-of-life decisions by allowing teams to track differences between versions and to communicate material properties to suppliers, manufacturers, and recyclers. It is particularly important when recycled content or alternate suppliers are used, as formulation changes can affect mechanical performance, color, compatibility with additives, and recyclability.

Implementation and data: In practice, plastversioning relies on a bill of materials, change-control procedures, and supplier material data sheets, complemented by material passports or data records in PLM systems. Digital tools may link plastversion records to designs, process parameters, and recycling streams, enabling end-to-end traceability from resin supplier to final product. Standards and best practices for material data management and product passports inform these activities, though approaches vary by industry and region.

Applications and challenges: Industries such as automotive, packaging, and electronics use plastversioning to manage complex supply chains and evolving sustainability goals. Challenges include data accuracy, patent protections around formulations, and achieving standardization across suppliers and manufacturers.