Sustainable Reusable Cotton Swabs: Kraiburg TPE Compound Powers LastSwab’s Eco‑Friendly Innovation

A medical‑grade TPE compound supplied by Kraiburg TPE (U.S. office in Duluth, Ga.) has become the cornerstone of a successful Kickstarter campaign that delivers reusable, hygienic, and reliable alternatives to everyday single‑use cotton swabs. Danish company LastObject has already shipped more than 500,000 LastSwabs worldwide, underscoring the product’s global appeal. The company’s mission is to advance the “zero waste” movement and actively support the EU Directive 2019/904, which bans single‑use plastic items effective mid‑2021.

The design of LastSwab focuses on durability and effortless cleaning. Each swab is engineered for up to 1,000 uses while remaining gentle on skin, ensuring no irritation during repeated contact.

In Denmark, Kraiburg TPE works closely with Teknisk Agentur, a trusted local distributor, to produce the flexible, soft tip. The tip is made from the Thermolast M series compound, which outperforms competitors in processing flexibility, adhesion, and appearance. Key material properties include 40 Shore A hardness, 8.0 MPa tensile strength, 800 % elongation at break, and 11.5 N/mm tear resistance.

The compound delivers strong adhesion to PP and PE, high abrasion resistance, and excellent weldability. The rigid PP stick is extruded, while the Thermolast M tips are injection‑molded. The tips are fabricated from recycled ocean waste plastic (OWP) sourced from Zeaplast, a Danish company that collects plastic from oceans and rivers in Southeast Asia and recycles it. The entire product is molded by AMP, a reputable Danish injection molder.