bioplastics MAGAZINE Issue 06/2020

B reak free of the design and performance constraints of aluminium and steel. Next generation (partly biobased) plastics can provide the perfect solution for personal care and household products.

Application News

This section highlights recent IP (patent) activity that is relevant to the field of bioplastics. The information offered is intended to acquaint the reader with a sampling of know-how being developed to enable growth of the bioplastics and bio-additives markets

„Hochland is making great efforts to reduce the ecological footprint of our packaging and to reduce waste by constantly optimizing our packaging. To this end we work closely with our suppliers and experts in the field of packaging development. Part of our packaging materials for your semihard cheese products, for example, already consists of 30% recycled plastic.

Biotechnological solutions for degradation and recycling of plastics

It is November, and the Corona crisis still holds many parts of the world in an iron grip. The infection rates in many countries are higher than ever, with the so-called second wave forcing many of us to stay at home. Trade shows and conferences are digital, proper business meetings next to impossible.

When talking about bioplastics, every now and then the term eutrophication or eutrophication potential is heard. This article will try to explain the term. The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines eutrophication as “the process by which a body of water becomes enriched in dissolved nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates) that stimulate the growth of aquatic plant life usually resulting in the depletion of dissolved oxygen” [1].

H aving previously discussed the legal and regulatory scheme in the US that applies to bioplastics used in food-contact applications [1], we turn now to the scheme in place in the EU. Although the two schemes share some similarities, there are important differences that warrant a separate discussion of the EU system. Therefore, this article summarizes the applicable requirements in the EU to establish a suitable legal status for a bioplastic intended for use in food-contact applications [2].

INGRAIN will use available residual waste streams from agriculture, food-processing and textile industries

SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), a global leader in the chemical industry, recently announced its partnership with Elkamet Kunststofftechnik (Biedenkopf, Germany), an industry leader in the plastics processing industry. Elkamet will be using Sabic’s LEXAN™ polycarbonate (PC) resin based on certified renewable feedstock in several end applications for the lighting industry.

Fabbri Group (Vignola, Italy) is pursuing a strategy, based on offering complete and effective packaging systems thanks to the most complete synergy of machines and films specific for different applications. Recently their Nature Fresh project received the historic Italian Award Packaging Oscar for the Technological Innovation category.

CABAMIX is a family-owned company specializing in mineral compounding for the plastics industry. Installed in 2013 in the South of France, close to a quarry of great purity CaCO3, it exports its products to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America. The first range of products was for conventional applications, particularly in the plastic film sector.

They seem not to biodegrade plastics – however more research needed

News

To meet a growing demand for sustainable fashion options, Eastman (Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) and DuPont Biomaterials (headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, USA) announced in late September the launch of a fabric collection made with sustainable, biobased materials. The collaboration blends Naia™ from Eastman and DuPont Sorona® fibers to create garments with exceptional stretch and recovery, luxurious drape and a smooth, soft hand feel [1].

Highlights of in-depth psychological market research on bio-based products

Citrates enable PHBV blown film extrusion without affecting degradability

What every brand should know

A ccording to the UNEP [1], the fashion industry makes up for 10 % of global greenhouse gas emissions - more than international flights and shipping combined. Many footwear producers all around the globe are working hard to make their products more sustainable by using more biobased materials in the production of their shoes. The innovations range from replacing materials in parts of the outsole to more sustainable alternatives to whole closed-loop concepts. However, while sustainability is getting more and more important, quality is still the most important factor of the industry and none of the below- mentioned companies is sacrificing the performance of their shoes in the process to become more sustainable. It is rather the opposite, the need for both high-quality products and sustainability is what drives innovation.

UPM Biocomposites (Lahti, Finland) and Mysoda (Helsinki, Finland) have collaborated to create a range of sparkling water makers made almost entirely out of renewable materials. Traditionally, small kitchen appliances are made out of fossil-based plastics, so this innovation takes the sustainability of this type of product to a completely new level by substantially reducing the carbon footprint of the product.

How to use waste in the plastic industry?