bioplastics MAGAZINE Issue 05/2012

bioplastics MAGAZINE is proud to present the five finalists for the 7th Bioplastics Award. Five judges from the academic world, the press and industry associations from America, Europa and Asia have reviewed the proposals so that we can now present details of the five most promising submissions.

The Swedish airline Malmö Aviation has recently launched new breakfast boxes made of Invercote Bio, a bioplastics-coated paperboard. The boxes save space on board, simplify handling and have a lower environmental impact than their plastic-based predecessors. In addition the bioplastic coated paperboard exhibits a very good structural stiffness compared to any pure plastics (or bioplastics) solution.

The German Fourmotors racing team, famous for its biodiesel driven Bioconcept Car (see for example bM 01/2007, 01/2010 and 01/2012), and now closely cooperating with IfBB (Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, Hanover University, Germany) have proudly announced the next step in their joint development.

Thermoplastic elastomers present a unique challenge for safety and sustainability.

Presently, acrylic acid is produced by the oxidation of propylene derived from the refining of crude oil. BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany), Cargill (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) and Novozymes (Copenhagen, Denmark) signed an agreement in mid-August to develop bio-based technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable feedstocks.

Yparex B.V. (Enschede, The Netherlands) recently announced that it is the first supplier in the packaging industry to develop and commercialize an adhesive tie layer for multilayer packaging films that is to a great extent bio-based.

FRISETTA Kunststoff GmbH (based in Schönau, Germany) recently introduced their new monte-bianco NATURE, a toothbrush with a replaceable head for adults. The handle and head are made from plastic which is biodegradable according to EU 13432/EN and US ASTM D6400 standards, and has natural bristles.

Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (Ennezat, France) has just launched its industrial project to build a biolice bioplastic granules factory in Pato Branco, Brazil. These granules are made from corn flour and are biodegradable/compostable, with the project being carried out in conjunction with the Guerra family, which is already working with Limagrain in corn seeds in Brazil.

Starbucks Corporation, coffee giant headquartedered in Seattle, Washington, USA is trying to improve ways to handle their waste streams. One important step is the cooperation with biorefinery scientists to transform food waste from their stores into succinic acid, a key ingredient for making plastics and other useful products. This food waste could for example be the huge amount of stale bakery goods worldwide not only from Starbucks that might otherwise be wasted.

The API Institute (Emmen, The Netherlands) is an independent institute dedicated to research into high-end applications of polymers. In recent years investigations related to the use of bioplastics have become an increasing part of the portfolio. Among other projects API is currently developing products for which the biodegradation behaviour offers an advantage.

Jiaxing Runzhi Wenhua Chuangxiang Co Ltd is located in the Zhejiang province of China. The company recently developed a series of Ingeo™ PLA based products including underwear, camisoles, t-shirts, and infant’s wear, all of which are destined for the Chinese domestic market and sold under the YUSIRUN brand name.

False or misleading communication of environmental product properties is a widespread problem in the marketplace.

Carbon dioxide is one of the most discussed molecules in the popular press, due to its role as greenhouse gas (GHG) and the increase in temperature on our planet, a phenomenon known as global warming.

The 36 month ANIMPOL project (‘Biotechnological conversion of carbon-containing wastes for eco-efficient production of high added value products’) funded by the EU was launched in 2010.

NMC, headquartered in Eynatten, Belgium recently presented NOMAPACK® Green, the first packaging profile that is certified as biosourced, made using renewable materials and 100% recyclable.

The nova-Institute (Hürth, Germany) recently published the first results of a multi-client market survey covering the international bioplastics market.

A peer-reviewed article appearing in the journal of Polymer Degradation and Stability concludes that Ingeo™ PLA is essentially stable in landfills with no statistically significant quantity of methane released. This conclusion was reached after a series of tests to ASTM D5526 and D5511 standards that simulated a century’s worth of landfill conditions.

Versalis to partner with Genomatica and Novamont

Metabolix, Inc. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA), announced end of July that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Antibióticos S.A. for production of Mirel™ biopolymer resin (PHA) at its manufacturing facility in Leon, Spain.

Sulzer Chemtech (Winterthur, Switzerland) has shipped proprietary production equipment to NatureWorks (Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA) facility in Blair, Nebraska that will enable NatureWorks to increase production of Ingeo™ PLA biopolymer and produce new, high-performance resins and lactides.

President Packaging (Tainan City, Taiwan) has been offering PLA coated paper cups with great success for two years now. A new insulated hot cup from this company is Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified and warm to the touch, not hot, when filled with a hot beverage.

Toray introduces High Plant Content Grade ECODEAR

The emotional debate about our future in the face of increasingly serious environmental problems has left its mark. The consumer is sensitized and willing to contribute his or her share.

Uhde Inventa-Fischer, based in Berlin, Germany and Domat/Ems, Switzerland, can look back on over 50 years of history serving the polymer industry. During this time more than 400 plants for the production of polyesters such as PET and PBT, as well as polyamides like PA 6 and PA 6.6, have been successfully built and commissioned worldwide. Years of experience and intensive research and development work have enabled the company to launch and successfully establish a multitude of innovative technologies and concepts on the market.

Jiangsu Danmao Textile Co., Ltd., an eco-conscious company with manufacturing facilities in Jiangsu Province, China, specializes in producing wool fabrics for high-end fashion. The company recently developed a new range of wool fabrics blended with Ingeo™ PLA fibers.

The Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF) of the University of Freiburg, jointly with Volkswagen, has developed novel families of 100% renewable resource based polyurethanes derived from natural terpene oils and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2).

Jiangsu Jinlong-CAS Chemical Co., Ltd., a Chinese company focusing on the reuse of carbon dioxide emissions to create new chemical materials, has developed a highly efficient catalytic system and innovative technology to produce biodegradable aliphatic polypropylene carbonate polyol (PPC polyol) by copolymerizing CO2 with propylene oxide (PO).

Evonik Industries (Essen, Germany) has developed and launched on the market a novel combination of bio-based high-performance polyamides and bio-based high-performance fibers.

Bio-based succinic acid has emerged as one of the most competitive of the new bio-based chemicals. As a platform chemical, bio-based succinic acid has a wide range of applications, including in polyurethanes, coatings, adhesives and sealants, personal care, flavours and food.

As part of the project ‘CO2 as a polymer building block’, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, scientists from Siemens Corporate Technology, together with their project partners from BASF, the Technical University of Munich and the University of Hamburg, have been seeking an alternative for the standard plastics ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PS (polystyrene).

A new innovation platform for designers, researchers and users

BASF’s biodegradable plastic Ecovio® FS Paper took center stage in a pilot project involving disposable and biodegradable tableware during the ADAC Masters Weekend motorsport event (August 24 to 26) at the German race track Lausitzring. During the weekend, the Polster Catering company (Lichtenstein, Germany) only used cardboard trays and paper plates that were compostable. Cups will follow suit next season.

Dr John Williams, Head of Materials at bioeconomy consultants NNFCC and adviser to the London Organising Committee to the Olympic Games (LOCOG) discusses the role of sustainable packaging at the Games and asks: “Where do we go from here?”