Method for producing a clinical waste container by injection moulding with a cooled mould

A method for producing a clinical waste container (100) from a bio-composite material, the clinical waste container (100) having a reduced carbon footprint compared to a corresponding clinical waste container made from plastic, the clinical waste container (100) being associated, in an upright operating orientation of the clinical waste container (100), with an upwards axial direction (A), an outwards radial direction (R) and an angular direction (V), the clinical waste container (100) comprising:

• a lower basket part (110) having an upper basket opening (111);
• and
• an upper lid part (120), arranged to be fastened to the lower basket part (110) so as to cover the upper basket opening (111), the upper lid part (120) comprising a first cylindrical part (121) having an upper lid opening (122) arranged to receive clinical waste through the upper lid opening (122) into the lower basket part (110),
• wherein the method comprises:
• providing a metal mold (220) and a heated nozzle (210);
• injecting a blended molten plastic material comprising at least 30% by volume wooden fibers via the heated nozzle into the metal mold (220);
• allowing the molten plastic material to harden by cooling to form the upper lid part (120), wherein the cooling is accomplished by actively and continuously cooling the metal mold (220), using a cooling fluid circulating in channels through the metal mold (220), during the hardening of the molten plastic material to a constant temperature of at least 30° C.;
• removing the upper lid part (120) from the metal mold (220);
• and
• providing the lower basket part (110),
• wherein the upper lid part (120) contains a lower share of wooden fibers compared to the lower basket part (110), thereby optimizing an overall use of non-fibrous material and reducing the carbon footprint of the clinical waste container (100), while meeting safety requirements for clinical waste containers.