bioplastics MAGAZINE Issue 02/2016

Recent reports indicate an emerging market trend toward sustainable packaging options due to environmental awareness among consumers for alternatives with improved biodegradability. For instance, the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s 2015 Trends Report found that there was an increasing focus on compostable packaging and the expectation is that more companies will need to address the demand for sustainable packaging applications in the near future.

BASF and Avantium announced in mid-March that they have signed a letter of intent and entered into exclusive negotiations to establish a joint venture (JV) for the production and marketing of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), as well as marketing of polyethylenefuranoate (PEF), based on this new chemical building block.

Toray Plastics (America), Inc., the only United States manufacturer of polypropylene, polyester, metallized, and bio-based films, has developed a bio-based bi-axially oriented polyester film for use in the manufacture of solar control window films for commercial and residential applications.

Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (MCI), headquartered in Toyko, Japan has developed MR-60™, a plant-based high refractive index lens material for standard eyeglasses, by using a biomass-derived industrial isocyanate and a biomass-derived polythiol as well as a non-metallic catalyst for polymerization.

In JELUPLAST®, the German company JELU-WERK presents a novel and versatile material for furniture making.

In the recent years there have been many developments worldwide in the field of bioplastics, both in biodegradable polymers and in biobased polymers and of course combinations of both. Many new exciting applications have been launched and the forecasts for biobased applications are looking extremely positive.

Applying the principles of a circular economy from the onset to the design stage of bioplastic materials and packaging solutions offers a competitive edge for the bioplastics industry.

Inspired by a panel discussion during the 10th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin last November, bioplastics MAGAZINE is now starting a new series, titled Brand-Owner’s perspective on bioplastics and how to unleash its full potential.

Upon signing the Agriculture Act of 2014, US President Barack Obama said that it was an innovation bill. Among the myriad provisions in the bill, which encourages growth in the increasingly large biobased market, was an update to the USDA BioPreferred® program’s guidelines concerning biobased content testing for complex assemblies.

CHINAPLAS, recognized as Asia’s No. 1 and theworld’s No. 2 plastics and rubber trade fair by the industry, will hold its 30th edition in 2016 in Shanghai. To celebrate the reach of the milestone, there will be more attractions and celebration activities at the show for all to join!

Stanford scientists have discovered a novel way to make PEF from carbon dioxide (CO2) and inedible plant material, such as agricultural waste and grasses as a low-carbon alternative to PET.

CPMC will present new eco-friendly solutions, targeted at synthetic leather and related industries.

Corbion has announced in early March that after completing the pre-engineering stage of its proposed 75,000 tonnes per year PLA polymerization plant in Thailand on schedule, the project is now moving into the basic engineering phase.

The first focus topic in this issue is Marine Pollution / Marine Degradation.

Plastic recycling not only plays a vital role in increasing resource efficiency, it is essential for the transition to a circular economy.

The Problem The issue of plastics and microplastics leaking into the oceans is the subject of much discussion and concern [1].

Doill WPC (Wood-Plastic Composites) compounds are new eco-friendly materials in pellet form which are manufactured with a special binding technique using wood flour and thermoplastic polymers (PP, PE, ABS, ASA, PS, SAN, PMMA, PLA, etc).

Bodega Matarromera (Valladolid, Spain) has successfully completed the development of a new sustainable bottle for their wines.

The compounder and plastics distributor FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Willich, Germany, the film manufacturer Oerlemans Plastics BV, Genderen, the Netherlands, and the specialist foodstuffs packaging distributor BK Pac AB, Kristianstad, Sweden, are closely working together on expanding the possibilities for using bio-based plastics for sustainable foodstuffs film packaging.

European Bioplastics (EUBP), the association representing the bioplastics industry in Europe, welcomes the approval of the French implementation decree on single-use plastic bags, which was published by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy last week on 1 February 2016.

800,000 tonnes: That’s how much waste in the form of chicory roots is generated during the production of chicory salad in Europe per year. Currently, after harvesting the chicory salad, the roots are disposed of in composting or biogas plants. What a waste, thought two researchers of the University of Hohenheim, Germany.

Engineers at Iowa State University have found a way to combine a genetically engineered strain of yeast and an electrocatalyst to efficiently convert sugar into a new type of nylon.

IKEA SUPPLY AG and Newlight Technologies have announced that they have entered into a supply collaboration, and technology license agreement that will supply IKEA with AirCarbon from Newlight’s commercial-scale production facilities and enable IKEA to produce AirCarbon thermoplastic under a technology license.

Looking for eco-friendlier packaging, the Swedish furniture and retail giant Ikea has recently announced their intention to use an organic, mushroom-based packaging for its flat-pack furniture and thus to move away from polystyrene foams.

JinHui ZhaoLong High Technology Co. Ltd is one of the largest biodegradable plastic enterprises in China with a 20,000 tonnes/annum PBAT production line.

Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co. Ltd., established in 1993 and headquartered in Guangzhou, is a global leader in high performance modified plastic industry.

From 3D printer filaments to new ultra-high barrier film, NatureWorks showcase Ingeo™ polylactide.

The new USD 1 million 771 m² (8,300 sqft) laboratory at NatureWorks world headquarters (Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA) is the latest milestone in the company’s multi-year program to commercialize a fermentation process for transforming methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into lactic acid, the building block of Ingeo PLA biopolymer. It includes the hiring of six scientists to staff the new facility.

And finally there are a number of companies offering oxo-fragmentable plastics such as EnerPlastics (N3K01) or Rajiv Plastic Industries (C11F41).

Most packaging will far outlast the useful life of any of the products they protect, causing a growing concern for packaging disposal due to the shortage of space for landfi lls. Furthermore, burning is not a sustainable option in many countries since some traditional plastics can create toxic fumes which cause damage to people’s health and the environment.

Bioplastics: facts and perceptions After 25 years on the market, we ought to know a lot about bioplastics. Standardisation has exacted definitions for the term, testing methods have validated their proper recovery and, above all, industry has established a clear purpose for their intended use.

In March 2016, Dr. Harald Kaeb says:

Executive summary While the Open-­Bio consortium generally appreciates the UNEP report (cf. pp. 24 in this issue of bM) for its contributions to explaining and clarifying many aspects concerning the relation between different plastic materials and marine plastic litter, several aspects are criticized as well.

The bio-PET bottle is now followed by a bio-PET T-shirt

The growing trend of consumer awareness towards the impact of their actions on the environment has seen Plantic Technologies Ltd (Altona, Victora, Australia), a part of the Kuraray group, successful in supplying some of the world’s largest retailers and produces high barrier rigid bioplastic materials.

If gravity would not exist Trash is mobile. Certainly plastic items are usually very light and are transported by rivers and winds. Gravity brings garbage down to the sea level. If gravity would not exist, the floating trash islands at sea would not have grown to such vast extensions.

The Polymer Division of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG focuses on the development, engineering and construction of efficient plant concepts and processes in the fields of monomers, intermediates, polymers and machinery.

In November 2015 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a report, entitled “Biodegradable Plastics and Marine Litter. Misconceptions, Concerns and Impacts on Marine Environments”.

Wuhan Huali will present PSM® biodegradable & biobased plastics materials and finished products during Chinaplas 2016.