bioplastics MAGAZINE Issue 02/2011

By now every reader should have discovered the secret of this issue’s unusual cover. bioplastics MAGAZINE is celebrating its 5th birthday.

“Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI) are also celebrating five years – their five-year involvement with bioplastics,” explains Nathalie Gorce, Marketing Manager for biolice at LCI.

Biodegradable plastic bags represent one way to a hygienic and energetically sensible disposal of bio-waste.

BASF has started operations at its expanded plant for the production of the biodegradable plastic Ecoflex®.

Bio4Pack from Haaksbergen, The Netherlands, is proud to present a new generation of bio-packaging.

APINAT® is an innovative family of recyclable biopolymers with a certified level of biodegradability and a verified content of renewable resources.

Zoë b Organic, a distributor of BPA-free, organic products for babies and kids from Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA has selected Mirel™ bioplastic for America’s first line of biodegradable beach toys.

Compostable bottles present an increasingly attractive alternative to recycled PET for beverage companies, according to a new Drinks Biopackaging report from leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International.

The products from Biopla factory are made from an annually renewable resource – PLA, which is made from corn.

OKI Data Corporation, an OKI Group company specializing in the printer business, recently announced it will introduce a bioplastic part consisting of at least 25% (by weight) of plant-based renewable biomass resources in all its printers and MFPs.

BIOSPHERE is a company specializing in bioplastic resins. Falling oil reserves and growing demands for a greener environment are opening the door to the new potential provided by biomass-produced plastics.

In line with their strategic vision of becoming the world leader in sustainable chemicals by 2020, Brasilian company Braskem will present at Interpack its line of I’m green™ biopolymers.

This was a motto of the traditional ‘Rose Monday Parade’ in Cologne, Germany a carnival parade which attracts more than a million people every year.

Nowadays, many countries request the manufacturers not only to consider the products‘ function and cost, but also to bear the responsibility of the environmental impact brought about by the products.

Modifier that reduces brittleness, quiets film noise and reduces processing cost combats major growth restraints of the bio-based polymer

European Bioplastics, in general, supports the idea of creating a logo for bioplastics for use in the US market.

The main objective of the European ECOBIONET project is the market introduction of new products for the packaging of fresh food with the added advantages of biodegradability and environmental sustainability.

Every 3 years the packaging industry packs its bags and arrives in Düsseldorf for the largest packaging show in the World – INTERPACK.

And the winner is Zelfo...

Reef Interests, an innovative provider of home aquarium systems located in the Netherlands, is launching a biodegradable product based on Telles’ Mirel™ DP9002 for managing waste generated in aquariums and marine environments.

In a continued effort to provide a healthier alternative for babies and a cleaner, safer world for them to grow up in, Earth’s Best® proudly introduces Earth’s Best TenderCare® environmentally friendly disposable diapers.

For interpack 2011, European Bioplastics teams up with strong partners and co-exhibitors from the bioplastics industry to create an experienceable industry representation.

The Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) is promoting the use of agricultural resources on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV).

Tectubes from Åstorp, Sweden introduces the world’s first truly biodegradable toothpaste tube made from FKuR’s bioresins.

FKuR has launched a new transparent, flexible biopolymer.

Folienwerk Wolfen GmbH (FWG), Germany, as a manufacturer of custom-made rigid polyester films started manufacturing PLA (polylactic acid) films as early as in 2003.

Based on the findings of the Best Practices research, Frost & Sullivan presents the Award in Starch Polymers Market to BIOP.

Grace Biotech Corporation will introduce its GRABIO range of product lines.

With a variety of over 1000 different vacuum cleaner models worldwide, finding the right dust bag has been a challenge for consumers for many decades.

World Centric, a leading manufacturer of compostable food service products, recently revamped its line of biodegradable utensils to ensure full compostability.

One field of application for bioplastics is thermoformed rigid packaging. Plantic® is a high-amylose starch-based material, introduced onto the market by Australian Plantic Technologies Limited in 2003.

Headquartered in Finland, Huhtamaki is the first company to launch a complete range of compostable foodservice packaging under the trade name BioWare.

The market for bio-based plastics and composites continues to grow at double-figure rates and has now gained true international status.

Research Furthers Potential for Biobased Plastics and Chemicals in Non-Food Bioenergy Crops

Innovia Films is a major international producer with production sites in the UK, USA, Belgium and Australia.

KINGFA SCI. & TECH. CO., LTD is Asia’s largest and first stock-market listed company in the modified plastics industry.

MANN+HUMMEL ProTec will present the latest, most up-to-date technologies and systems in the areas of material drying, crystallization and condensate separation in the drying process.

Minima Technology Co. Ltd. has built its research and development centre to include a broad range of mechanical options which give prospective clients flexibility when discussing environmental options.

Beginning in October 2010, global organic yogurt leader Stonyfield Farm (headquartered in Londonderry, New Hampshire, USA), replaced all of its petroleum-based multipack yogurt cups with cups made from Ingeo™ PLA, giving consumers a yogurt cup they can feel as good about as they do the yogurt inside.

NatureWorks will showcase a host of packaging and other products made from Ingeo™ biopolymer.

Telles, Lowell, Massachussetts, USA recently announced that Lakeside Plastics Ltd., an innovative film converter headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, will be launching a compostable bag product line based on Mvera™ B5002, a compostable film product made from a proprietary blend with Mirel™ bioplastics.

Propper from Rain am Lech, Germany recently introduced a new line of kitchen utensils made from the fully degradable bioplastic PROGANIC® again proving the versatility and heat stability of this much talked about bioplastic.

This year is looking even greener for Odwalla Inc., a company of the Coca-Cola group based in Halfmoon Bay, California, USA.

Are you familiar with the problem of tiny clippings of hair falling onto your face when you go to the hairdresser?

Novamont, the leading Italian company in the bioplastics sector will present at interpack its innovative applications in Mater-Bi, the completely biodegradable and naturally compostable bioplastic.

Plastiroll, Ylöjärvi, Finland premieres new, multilayer biodegradable films at interpack, which open a new era of bio-films for instance for fresh food packaging.

PolyOne’s polymer solutions expertise allows them expand the potential for biopolymers into application areas formerly out of reach.

bioMat® by Pro-Tech and natura packaging stand for a sustainable relationship with their environment and for the conservation of resources.

Rodenburg Biopolymers, Oosterhout, The Netherlands, will be present on the Interpack show demonstrating the third generation of the patented bioplastic Solanyl®.

Polylactide (PLA) and Polycaprolactone (PCL) biopolymer material supplier Shenzhen Brightchina Industrial Co. Ltd founded in 2002, started research, production and sales of PLA and PCL.

Sidaplax is an innovative, international film manufacturer and distributor with over 60 years of experience in the plastic film industry.

Add ultimate functionality to your extruded thin and rigid PLA films and molded PLA parts with Sukano’s innovative biobased masterbatches and polymer alloys.

Taghleef Industries, the worldwide leader in bi-oriented polypropylene films, believes in responsible packaging and considers this as part of its DNA.

“My heart is in eco-plastics” says Markus Swoboda, mechanical engineer who one year ago had the confidence to found another company besides his well-established engineering enterprise.

PepsiCo, headquartered in Purchase, New York, USA, announced in mid march it has developed the world‘s first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based, fully renewable resources, enabling the company to manufacture a beverage container with a significantly reduced carbon footprint, thus again building upon its heritage as an innovator and leader in environmental sustainability.

Xylophane is an efficient barrier against oxygen, grease and odour. A thin layer of Xylophane in the packaging material can prolong the shelf life of many foods and industrial products.

Developed by NEC, the ‘Nucycle’ plant based formulation illustrates the NEC Group’s unique material development technology and capabilities.