The first man-made plastic—created in 1862 as a substitute for the ivory used to make billiard balls—was a bioplastic. Over the last 156 years, the plastics industry has continued to innovate with bioplastics, expanding their properties and the feedstocks from which they come. 

As the appliance industry becomes increasingly competitive, refrigerator and freezer original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are challenged with changing energy standards, as well as the need to maximize quality and efficiency in their manufacturing facilities.

The ever-increasing use of plastics in the manufacture of household appliances, compact consumer electronics, medical devices, and many other applications presents opportunities for designers to reduce the weight of assemblies and enhance end-product performance.