Bioplastic ballistics: Beyond Plastic and Eco Shot develop sustainable shotgun wads

In Colorado, Beyond Plastic and Eco Shot have developed a biobased material to replace petroleum-based polyethylene and polypropylene in shotgun wads.

Wads are a critical component of shotgun shells and are discharged before separating from the rest of shell. They are often not retrievable, meaning hunters contribute to plastics waste in water and hunting preserves. Such wads have also been found in the stomachs of wildlife.

Eco Shot’s new wads are based on polyhydroxyalkanoates, a bioplastic manufactured by California’s Beyond Plastic. The material is 100% biodegradable.

 “With Beyond Plastic’s PHA filament, we’re able to conduct rapid prototyping for our designs, which allows us to increase our offerings and meet the needs of a broader range of hunting activities,” Eco Shot founder Andrew Thomas told Canadian Plastics. “This next generation of shotgun wads is going to bolster the hunting community’s focus on improving environmental practices and ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation.”