Sustainable SWG spacers go biodegradable - European Sealing Association

As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing plastic waste and advancing sustainability in the sealing industry, ESA has been exploring innovative alternatives to traditional plastic components used in gasket packaging and handling.

Rethinking the SWG spacer

Plastic spacers play a small but vital role—protecting the delicate graphite surfaces of spiral wound gaskets during storage and transport. However, their single-use nature contributes to unnecessary plastic waste. To address this, ESA launched a collaborative effort to identify renewable, circular, and eco-friendly material solutions.

Partnering for a greener future

Our search led to a promising collaboration with BIOPLASMAR GmbH, a materials engineering company pioneering biodegradable bio-composites made from organic green waste. This innovation exemplifies the circular economy in action—transforming waste into high-performance materials that can replace conventional plastics across multiple industries, including horticulture, agriculture, construction, food, and packaging.

Key advantages of Bioplasmar’s biodegradable bio-composite

• Sustainably Sourced: Converts green waste into biodegradable pellets.
• Eco-Friendly Decomposition: Fully decomposes in soil within 20–30 weeks (depending on conditions), enriching the soil while reducing CO₂ emissions and plastic waste. TÜV-Austria certified.
• Durable & Practical: Offers a shelf life of several years, suitable for both short- and long-term use.
• Regulatory Ready: Complies with EU 2030 targets requiring all plastic packaging to be recyclable and include recycled content.
• Easy Integration: Fully compatible with existing injection moulding equipment—no major production changes required.

From prototype to production

Working with REMA Kunststoffteile GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), injection-moulded spacer samples were successfully produced (500 pieces) and shared with ESA members for evaluation. Following positive feedback, ESA is concluding this development phase and recommending interested members to contact Bioplasmar directly for collaboration opportunities.

Bioplasmar’s experts can tailor material properties to suit specific product needs—enhancing sustainability without compromising performance or manufacturability.

Contact information

Mr. Daniel Rasenberg
Sales Director
📧 daniel@bioplasmar.com
📞 +49 (0) 9147 9599595 |  | 🇩🇪 +49 160 2943841| NL +31 627 0033 28

Ms. Sophie Tuviahu
Chief Business Development Officer
📧 sophie@bioplasmar.com
📞 +972 52 6446936

Bioplasmar GmbH
Hauptstraße 6a | 91790 Bergen-Thalmannsfeld | Germany

Sandy Van den Broeck,
ESG Director, ESA