bioplastics MAGAZINE Issue 04/2010

A kick-off event in Stuttgart/Germany in July marked the start of the ‘Automotive Bioplastics Design Challenge (abdc)‘. Bioplastics producers and automobile manufacturers, their suppliers as well as development and design offices working in the automobile sector are all invited to participate.

What is compounding? Wikipedia says, “Compounding consists of preparing plastic formulations by mixing or/and blending polymers and additives in a molten state. There are different critical criteria to achieve a homogenous blend of the different raw materials“ [1].

Recent revelations in the New Zealand media about the fate of consumer recycling have raised concerns about all the packaging material used in consumer products.

Dow Wire & Cable, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, recently signaled a groundbreaking advance in sustainable chemistry by launching DOW ECOLIBRIUM™ Bio-Based Plasticizers, a new family of phthalate-free plasticizers for use in PVC compounds for wire insulation and jacketing that are made from nearly 100% renewable feedstocks.

For the third time at this triennial exhibition the interpack bioplastics trade fair will be staging a group exhibit. With just under a year to go until the event gets under way a total of 39 companies have already registered for the event, which is now fully booked.

Sant’Anna di Vinadio mineral water from the Italian mineral water company Fonti di Vinadio Spa, has now been available in Ingeo™ PLA bottles for about two years now.

Bormioli Rocco, from Italy, a leading European supplier of glass and plastic bottles for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries, has been steadily gaining expertise with its Ingeo™ PLA bio bottle initiative.

“Believe it or not, summer is upon us“, wrote the BBC in their online news a week or so ago. And indeed, after the biggest bioplastics MAGAZINE ever the new summer issue is significantly thinner. But nevertheless we have tried to fill it with interesting news items and applications, as well as a number of articles covering our two editorial focus topics.

DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers recently announced the winners in the 22nd DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation. Among the numerous winners from a wide array of geographies and market segments two products from the bioplastics arena were awarded as Gold Winners for Innovation and Sustainability or Innovation and Cost/Waste Reduction.

KEE Plastics AB from Norrköping, Sweden, one of the world’s leading producers of piping bags, introduces the world’s first truly biodegradable and compostable piping bag made from FKuR’s bioresins.

Greendiamz Biotech Pvt. Ltd. in association with its partner Limagrain, France brings the first fully biodegradable and compostable bioplastic material to India. Branded as ‘Truegreen’ the bioplastic film is made from Biolice® raw material by Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI). The first dedicated factory to make biodegradable/compostable films in India is now up and running in Ahmedabad.

The Spanish golf ball supplier Albus Golf S.L. has developed a ball that is – according to the company – 100% biodegradable and non-toxic.

End of last year the Dow Chemical Company launched a new generation PARALOID™ BPM-515 Acrylic Impact Modifier formulated to impart toughness and maintain clarity to PLA.

Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. and Teijin Limited recently announced in Tokyo, Japan their joint development of a highly heat-resistant PLA moulding compound made 80% from plant-based renewable feedstock and providing significantly reduced moulding cycle time of around half that of conventional PLA compounds.

Bringing to market a new generation of polymers and composites requires developments that meet corporate specifications.

New masterbatches from Clariant, Muttenz, Switzerland have been formulated for use in biopolymer applications requiring compliance with European and US standards governing compostability and ecotoxicity, including the harmonised EN 13432:2000 standard.

Teknor Apex Company from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, has developed three new additive masterbatch series for enhancing the processing and end-use performance of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics, as the Bioplastics Division recently announced.

Foamed plastics produced from fossil based polymers are found in many applications, for example as shock-absorbent packaging or as thermal insulating material.

Have you ever heard of aviãozinhos? Probably not, as you probably do not live in the favelas - the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

In today’s increasingly green marketplace, bioplastics can provide a strategic market advantage to brand owners by combining the environmental benefits of bioplastics (in this case, PHA) with the physical properties of conventional polymers.

The continuing replacement of metal and glass packaging has lead to a constant increase in the use of plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for packaging.

The France-based company Roquette, one of Europe’s largest and one of the world’s most advanced starch and starch-derivatives businesses too offers a phtalate free bio-based plasticizer for PVC. POLYSORB® ID 37 is a composition of isosorbide diesters produced from fatty acids of vegetable origin and isosorbide obtained by simple modification (dehydration) of a derivative of glucose, sorbitol.

BASF’s polyamide 610 is being joined by additional grades. Four new glass fiber-reinforced materials now complement the unreinforced grade Ultramid S3K Balance.

Shiseido, a major Japanese and international cosmetics company, offers its URARA branded shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and other personal care products packaged in new Ingeo™ natural plastic bottles now in China.

Pebax® Rnew, a bio-sourced elastomer produced by Arkema, France has been selected by Sony for a new original soccer ball.

Royal DSM N.V., a dutch Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, and Roquette Frères, a french starch and starch-derivatives company, announced that they have signed a joint venture agreement for the production, commercialization and market development of bio-based succinic acid, subject to regulatory approvals and notifications.

Lately, methods for determining the renewable content of bio-based materials and products have been the subject of debate.

Prima™ Water - wait a minute - bioplastics MAGAZINE reported about Primo Water from Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2008 and 2009 … but Prima?

NatureWorks LLC and Trevira GmbH jointly announced that Trevira of Bobingen, Germany, one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality branded polyester fibers and filament yarns, now holds a master license to manufacture Ingeo™ PLA fibers.