Bioplastics News from Europe

First compostable adhesive gains certification

As producer of Epotal ® Eco, BASF shall forthwith be able to offer the first compostable water-based adhesive certified by the German Technical Inspection Agency TÜV. “Biologically degradable adhesives will play a decisive role in the future when it comes to developing compostable packaging materials,” says Cornelis Beyers from Marketing Industrial Adhesives. Epotal Eco is particularly suitable for the production of multi-layer films for flexible packaging materials based on biodegradable plastics. Possible applications are bags for potato chips or chocolate bar wrappings.

Trend towards biodegradable packaging
There is growing demand for efficient and at the same time sustainable raw materials in the packaging industry. “In the past, we received, again and again, inquiries for biodegradable adhesives but were unable to satisfy them,” confirms Merle Dardat, Product Manager at DIN Certco, a certification company of the TÜV Rhineland Group and of the German Standard Institute (Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. / DIN). DIN Certco has now issued the registration notice for Epotal P100 Eco certifying the product as a biodegradable additive.

Feed for microorganisms
According to the European EN 13432 standard, substances are considered as fully biodegradable if at least 90 percent of the organic carbon contained in them is converted into CO2 within a testing period of no more than 180 days. The rotting test in composted earth showed that after 70 days only, 90 percent of Epotal Eco is broken down. The molecule structure of the product resembles the one of naturally occurring polymers. Microorganisms are able to convert them into carbon dioxide, water and biomass with the help of enzymes. The best results are achieved in industrial composting facilities since they offer ideal conditions for microorganisms. After the decomposition process, Epotal Eco leaves no toxic residuals und shows no negative impact on the environment.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:37

BASF begins biodegradable plastic production at its Ludwigshafen plant

Expansion of the existing plant in Ludwigshafen will increase production capacity for Ecoflex from 14,000 to 74,000 metric tons per year. At the same time, BASF will ramp up compounding capacity for Ecovio®, a derivative of Ecoflex.

“We are already successful in the market with our biodegradable polyester Ecoflex and the related innovation, Ecovio. The larger production capacities will enhance our position significantly,” said Dr. Wolfgang Hapke, president of BASF’s Performance Polymers division. “The capacity expansion will also enable us to respond even more effectively to our customers’ wishes.”

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:34

Poland may become an important bioplastics market

California-based manufacturer Cereplast has announced an agreement with BioWorks Pl to supply bioplastic resins to the Polish market.

“In 2011, Poland has the potential to become a multi-million dollar bioplastics market and this partnership enables us to capture substantial marketshare,” Frederic Scheer, founder, chairman and CEO of Cereplast, said in a statement.

Bioplastic resins are used to produce bio-based plastic, an increasingly popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic among European industries and consumers.

According to the European Bioplastics association, annual growth of the bioplastics sector is considerably higher than 20 percent and could potentially comprise between five to 10 percent of the total European plastics market.

Poland is seen an important partner in helping to meet this demand.

“The Western European market for bioplastics continues to grow at a strong pace and Poland plays a critical role in this growth,” said Norbert Zimnik, chairman of BioWorks Pl.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:30

Cereplast signs distribution agreement with ColorTec to bring bioplastics to Southern Italy and Slov

Cereplast, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, compostable and sustainable plastics, announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Italy-based ColorTec S.r.l. to supply bioplastic resin to the Southern Italian and Slovenian markets. This partnership reflects Cereplast's continued commitment to working with local partners throughout Europe to bring bioplastic materials to the continent for the manufacturing of products and packaging. Manufacturers, in Italy in particular, are increasingly seeking out plastic alternatives to comply with legislation that go into effect in 2011.

"Recent environmental legislation, such as the plastic bag ban that went into effect this year in Italy, is driving demand for bioplastics, which are non-petroleum-based products," said Mr. Frederic Scheer, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, Inc. "We are confident that demand will continue to rise in Europe as stores in Italy alone use approximately 20-24 billion plastic bags a year, which accounts for one-fifth of all European use. This is the equivalent of a potential $1 billion bioplastics market in Italy as plastic bag manufacturers now have to replace traditional plastic with environmentally-friendly materials."

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:25

More than 170 companies at 5th European Bioplastics Conference in Düsseldorf

This year, European Bioplastics organised its industry conference already for the fifth time. On 1 and 2 December, over 360 experts from all around the globe came together in Düsseldorf to exchange information and insights about new bioplastic materials and products. Hence, European Bioplastics was able to tie in with the success of last year’s record-breaking event.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 08.12.2010. 05:20