Purac and Indorama Ventures PLC (IVL) are in discussions to set up a Polylactic acid (PLA) manufacturing facility in Thailand,
CSM's subsidiary Purac and Indorama Ventures PLC (IVL) are in discussions to set up a Polylactic acid (PLA) manufacturing facility in Thailand, with an initial capacity of 10,000 tons per annum being raised to 100,000 tons per annum after developing application specific grades. This product would be based on high purity (GMO free) Lactides produced by Purac. The Lactide monomers for the production of PLA will be sourced from Purac's Lactides production plant in Rayong, Thailand as well as from other Purac sites.
This PLA is GMO-free, natural, and a biodegradable material that is a sustainable alternative to oil-based polymers. PLA has a lower carbon footprint than most other polymers and can be marketed as a green alternative for packaging materials, fibres and non-woven textiles. The products would be marketed by IVL through its existing global marketing and sales network.
The product made by the combination of unique Lactide raw materials and unique PLA production process is able to deliver a quality that is stable at much higher temperature ranges than other bioplastics. The properties of this polymer allow this to be used for many textile and packaging applications which have not been possible with other bio-based products so far and will thus open a large latent demand. PLA has many uses, like upholstery, disposable garments, awnings, food packaging, and disposable tableware.
"This collaboration with IVL is an important step in the market development for PLA because in addition to being the largest polyester producer in the world, IVL is a leading manufacturer of raw materials for textiles and packaging" says Gerard Hoetmer, Chief Executive Officer of CSM. "This partnership will widen the scope of such biodegradable applications and accelerate our market development of PLA. It will be another milestone on the way towards providing an important role for bioplastics in the fast-growing packaging and materials space."
"We strongly believe in creating superior value for our customers by investing in sustainable products and technology." says Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures. "Purac gives us an opportunity to enter the space for a new generation of highly sustainable, biodegradable, low carbon footprint materials."
Source: http://www.purac.com/
INTERTAPE POLYMER GROUP® RECEIVES INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION FOR OXO-BIODEGRADABLE STRETCH FILMS
Intertape Polymer Group® Inc.
("Intertape", “IPG” or the "Company") is pleased to announce that their OXO-Biodegradable stretch films have officially received certification from Biosystems Atlanta, an independent testing facility. The certification process proves that IPG OXO-Biodegradable stretch films meet the criteria set forth by ASTM.
Biosystems Atlanta tested all three OXO-Biodegradable Stretch Films that are available from IPG including Genesys®, ProLite™ and Handwrap IV. The test methods employed to validate that the films safely OXObiodegrade as claimed include Tier 1 Oxidative Degradation, Tier 2 Biodegradation and Tier 3 Ecotoxicology.
All three films passed according to the applicable ASTM Machine Film, available in 50 gauge and 63 gauge, offers the highest load retention of any performance film available today. Better load retention translates into better product protection. Genesys® films will stretch over 275% reducing the cost per pallet wrapped and reduces that amount of film consumed.
Superflex™ ProLite™ OXO-Biodegradable High Performance Hand Wrap will securely wrap any load at a lower cost than standard duty films. Smooth and quiet application make this product the film of choice for any hand wrapping application. StretchFlex® Handwrap IV is a hand wrap product available in an OXOBiodegradable formula offering standard performance characteristics.
The products’ polyethylene film contains an additive that initiates chemical breakdown more quickly and completely in the presence of oxygen and UV light. IPG’s OXO-biodegradable films are fully recyclable and offer identical performance, as well as an environmental advantage, by allowing customers to use up to 47% ess film to perform the same job as standard duty films.
“Recycling stretch film should always be the first disposal option,” states Chuck Meyer, IPG’s Product anager of Stretch Films. “Unfortunately, a significant portion of used film is disposed of improperly with ome ending up along the roadsides and in bodies of water. Using OXO-biodegradable stretch products will llow this film to safely and completely biodegrade providing customers with an environmentally preferable
option when they cannot ensure proper disposal of the film.”
or more information regarding IPG’s OXO-biodegradable stretch film products, contact Chuck Meyer at meyer@itape.com.
About Intertape Polymer Group® Inc.
Intertape Polymer Group® Inc. is a recognized leader in the development and manufacture of specialized polyolefin plastic and paper based packaging products and complementary packaging systems for industrial and retail use. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida, the Company employs approximately 2,000 employees with operations in 16 locations, including 12 manufacturing facilities in North America and one in Europe.
Source: http://intertapepolymer.com
Masterbatch for Use in PLA for Film and Sheet Increases Impact Strength 10 to 20 Times while Providing Excellent Clarity
FDA-Accepted for Loadings up to 20%, Terraloy™ 90000 Series Masterbatch Can Be Used for Flexible and Thermoformed Packaging, Extrusion Coating, and Food Service Disposables.
A clear impact modifier masterbatch for use with polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics
Terraloy™ 90000 Series masterbatches are formulated with Biostrength® impact modifier from Arkema, Inc. and carrier polymers consisting of Ingeo® PLA from NatureWorks LLC. Teknor Apex recommends adding the masterbatch to PLA resins at 5 to 10% levels. The Terraloy 90000 Series is in compliance with U.S. Food & Drug Administration requirements for food-contact applications at loadings up to 20%.
In one series of standard tests with 2-mil thick cast film tape, Terraloy 90000 Series masterbatch at 5 and 10% loadings increased Gardner impact strength 9- and 16-fold, respectively, in comparison with unmodified or “neat” PLA. At the same time, haze levels increased from 4.1% to only 4.5 and 6.5%, respectively.
“Terraloy 90000 Series masterbatch increases the toughness and reduces the brittleness of PLA, expanding the value of this key bioplastic in a wide range of packaging applications where clarity is essential,” said Edwin Tam, manager of new strategic initiatives. “As a custom compounder, Teknor Apex is prepared to tailor masterbatch formulations to customer needs by, for example, varying the grade of NatureWorks’ Ingeo resin used as the carrier.”
Biostrength® is a registered trademark of Arkema Inc. For more information about Biostrength products, visit www.additives-arkema.com.
Ingeo® is a registered trademark of NatureWorks LLC. For more information about these PLA resins, visit http://www.natureworksllc.com.
Source: www.teknorapex.com
Nanocellulose - for the first time on a large scale
The world's first pilot plant to produce nanocellulose was inaugurated yesterday by research company Innventia in Stockholm. The facility makes it possible to produced nanocellulose on a large scale for the first time and is an important step towards the industrialisation of a new energy efficient manufacturing process.
“ With larger volumes, we can study the use of nanocellulose in applications that require more material, "says Michael Ankerfors a Research Manager at Innventia.
Nano Cellulose is a material derived from wood fibres. It has exceptional strength characteristics of the class with Kevlar, a light weight material. However, in contrast to Kevlar and other materials based on fossil fuels, nanocellulose is completely renewable.
Previously, the production process was much too energy-consuming, for the commercialisation of nanocellulose to be conceivable, but due to the process developments carried out by Innventia, the energy consumption has been reduced by a total of 98%, representing a saving of 29 000 kWh per tonne. To give a comparison, the heating of a normal sized house takes approximately 18,000 kWh per year.
“For a long time, there’s been a great deal of interest from the industry in utilising nanocellulose as a strengthening component in other materials, such as paper, composites and plastics,” relates Mikael Ankerfors. We can also create new, more efficient and renewable barrier films for food packaging.
In order to develop applications, such as paper and composite materials, the raw material produced in a lab is not sufficient. The new pilot plant is designed for a production at 100 kg per day.
“ We can now make runs at our pilot paper machine. We now also have the opportunity to continue the development of the process and to show interested parties how it could work in reality. “
All sub-steps are now in place in the process and last week the production began.
“As the only company in the world, we’re extremely proud to be able to offer the industry real opportunities to participate in this field, which is so important for the future,” concludes Mikael. “Now we begin to work towards the next step: the installation of a full scale process with a partner in the industry.”
The inauguration was attended by representatives from the industry as well as, public funders and participants in research related to nanocellulose. Besides looking at the new facility opportunity was offered to take a closer look at samples of nanocellulose and various examples of applications such as barrier films, textile fibers and nano-foams made from nano-cellulose.
Source: www.innventia.com
Braskem-Idesa selects Lupotech T technology for plant in Mexico
Braskem-Idesa, a joint venture between the Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem and the Mexican group Idesa, took another important step towards the development of the Ethylene XXI project in Mexico. The JV selected the Lupotech T process technology of the Dutch company LyondellBasell for the 300 kt LDPE (low density polyethylene) plant, which is one of the three polyethylene plants of the Mexico project, with start up slated for 2015. The industrial unit will be built in the region of the Coatzacoalcos/Nanchital Petrochemical Complexes in the state of Veracruz.
Braskem-Idesa believes the choice will provide important benefits for the project, since Lupotech T technology allows for the production of a wide range of polyethylene with various melt flow indexes and provides excellent optical and mechanical properties. "The Lupotech T process technology will enable us to be a strong competitor in the U.S. market. With this technology, we will be the leader in terms of production costs and offer a more extensive product portfolio," said Braskem-Idesa’s CEO Roberto Bischoff.
The Lupotech T technology is owned by the Dutch company LyondellBasell and is the most widely used process in high-pressure units, which will guarantee the best possible performance for the investment. This will be the first license for a tubular LDPE plant in Mexico and the Americas in over 20 years.
With the definition of this phase of the process, Braskem-Idesa concludes the selection of the polyethylene technologies for the project, which will feature one 300 kt/year LDPE plant and two HDPE (high density polyethylene) plants using INEOS technology with combined capacity of 750 kt/year. The plants will be fully integrated with an ethylene production using ethane gas as feedstock that has production capacity of 10,500 kt/year. The basic engineering works for the LDPE plant were initiated early this month in Germany and Italy, and when it enters into operations, the plant will be the largest of its type in the Americas.
Source: www.braskem.com.br
How Plant – Bottle is made
The key difference between PlantBottle packaging and traditional PET plastic bottles is that instead of using petroleum and other fossil fuels to produce a key ingredient in the plastic, PlantBottle packaging uses materials that are up to 30% plants-based. In essence, we are trading fossil fuels for plant-based material without sacrificing performance or recyclability
In some markets, we will use both recycled content as well as plant-based material in our PlantBottle packaging. For bottles that use recycled material, the recycled content plus plant-based material should enhance the environmental benefit associated with PlantBottle packaging by further reducing the use of virgin petroleum-based material in producing that package.
Products & Markets
PlantBottle packaging is available in nine countries with launches planned for many additional markets in 2011 and beyond.
- Denmark - Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola Zero
- Western US - Dasani , Coca-Cola, glaceau vitaminwater, Sokenbicha
- Western Canada - Dasani , Coca-Cola, Diet Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Sprite, Fresca, Barqs
- Japan – Sokenbicha, iLOHAS
- Brazil – Coca-Cola
- Mexico – Coca-Cola
- Norway - Bonaqua
- Sweden - Bonaqua
- Chile - Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola Zero
PlantBottle packaging was also featured at The Coca-Cola Company pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo in Coca-Cola 200ml bottles.
To date, over 2.5 billion bottles have been produced in PlantBottle packaging, exceeding our stated goal of 2 billion bottles by the end of 2010. We plan to double our use of this innovative package in 2011 and we currently intend over the long-term to transition all of our plastic packaging to PlantBottle packaging or other types of packaging that uses renewable and recycled content materials.
Identifying PlantBottle
A PlantBottle PET bottle feels like traditional PET plastic, it's the same weight as traditional PET plastic, it works just like traditional PET plastic, and it's recyclable just like traditional PET plastic -- because it is PET plastic. So how will you know if the bottle you have is PlantBottle packaging? Look for the PlantBottle logo or messages on the package, and look for sales displays in the store where you shop.
Sustainable Packaging Strategy
Our sustainable packaging goal is to reduce our environmental footprint by reducing our material use, increasing recycling, using more recycled and renewable material in our packaging, and advancing innovative technologies. PlantBottle packaging fits well into that broader strategy by allowing us to reduce our dependence on a nonrenewable resources by being a fully recyclable bottle like conventional PET plastic bottles, and by leaving a lighter footprint on the plant and its scarce resources.
Learn more about our sustainable packaging vision and strategy.
PlantBottle Evolution
At Coca-Cola, sustainable packaging innovation is in our DNA. We’ve consistently been on the leading edge of bringing consumer-driven, environmentally responsible developments to the marketplace – from commissioning the first-ever environmental lifecycle assessment of packaging in 1969 and launching our first PET plastic bottle in 1978, to introducing the first plastic beverage bottle made with recycled material in 1991 and opening the world’s largest bottle-to-bottle PET plastic recycling plant in 2009.
While the launch of PlantBottle™ keeps us on the forefront of plant-based packaging innovation, we continue to strive to make an even better bottle. PlantBottle™ packaging is currently made through a process that converts sugarcane into monoethylene glycol (MEG), which represents 30 percent of the total composition of PET plastic by weight. We are working with our partners to crack the code on plant-based purified terephthalic acid (PTA) – which accounts for the other 70 percent of PET. This will involve breakthrough science, but we’ve got some of the smartest minds in the field focused on it today.
We’re also working with several strategic R&D partners, including researchers at universities and research institutes globally, to advance technologies to extract sugar from plant-based wastes for future generations of PlantBottle™ packaging. So, while we are only using sugarcane today, we expect over the long-term to also be able to use natural resources like stems, fruit peels and bark in the near future. Each of these initiatives has a profound impact on our packaging supply chain, which we are literally rebuilding to accommodate the sustainable production and use of PlantBottle™ packaging.
We want our packaging never to be seen as waste, but rather as a valuable resource for future use. This entails introducing packaging that fuses design, form and function, and uses the most environmentally responsible materials available. Our ultimate long-term goal is a carbon neutral, 100% renewable, responsibly sourced bottle that is fully recyclable – a bottle we can all feel good about. Read about the evolution -- past, present and future -- of our PET plastic bottle.
Heinz Ketchup is Going Green with Coca-Cola
At a press conference this morning, the Coca-Cola Company and H.J. Heinz Company announced a strategic partnership that enables Heinz to produce its ketchup bottles using Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle packaging.
This shift in packaging will be the biggest change to Heinz’s iconic ketchup bottles since the company first introduced plastic in 1983. Heinz plans to convert to PlantBottle globally, beginning with the 20-ounce variety of Heinz Ketchup, which will be rolled out to US consumers this summer. The packaging will be identified by a special logo and on-pack messages.
As you may recall, Coca-Cola first launched the PlantBottle in 2009. The technology has been described as “breakthrough” and “revolutionary” because the PlantBottle:
- looks, feels and functions just like traditional PET plastic,
- is fully recyclable, and yet
- is made from up to 30 percent renewable, sustainably-sourced plant-based material.
The plant-based material is produced through an innovative process that converts natural sugars found in plants into a key component for PET plastic. (See more details about the process in this earlier post.)
“We believe it has the capability to revolutionize food packaging the world-over,” Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, said. “With PlantBottle, we aim to reduce and eventually completely replace the use of non-renewable fossil fuels in plastic packaging.”
Currently, PlantBottle is made using sugarcane ethanol from Brazil, which, as Coca-Cola points out, is the only source widely recognized by thought-leaders globally for its unique environmental and social performance. Kent said that most sugarcane in Brazil is grown on degraded pastures located over 2,000 km from the Amazon, reducing its impact on biodiversity. In addition, Coca-Cola sources from farms which use “effective cultivation processes,” he added, explaining that the sugarcane is predominantly rain-fed and mechanically harvested. (More PlantBottle FAQs are available here.)
Both Coca-Cola and Heinz see sustainable packaging as a key component of their sustainability commitments. Heinz wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste, water consumption and energy usage at least 20 percent by 2015. While at Coca-Cola, the PlantBottle has already had a significant impact. An initial life-cycle analysis conducted by Imperial College London showed that the use of PlantBottle packaging provides a 12-19 percent reduction in carbon impact. The company says that in 2010 alone, PlantBottle packaging eliminated the equivalent of almost 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or approximately 60,000 barrels of oil.
This year, Coca-Cola plans to double its use of PlantBottle; that means the company will use more than 5 billion PlantBottles in 2011. Heinz says it will introduce 120 million PlantBottle packages this year.
This morning, both companies stressed how collaboration is becoming increasingly important to corporate sustainability initiatives.
“This partnership in my view is a win-win for both Coca-Cola and Heinz,” William R. Johnson, Heinz Chairman, President and CEO, said. “It’s a model of collaboration in the food and beverage industry that will make a sustainable difference for the planet while exciting our consumers and our retail trade partners.”
Kent described collaborations like these as part of a “golden triangle of partnerships” between business, government and society.
“We know that the real opportunity lies in pushing innovations like the PlantBottle more broadly through the consumer goods industry,” he said, later adding that one of his dreams is to be able to offer consumers a completely consumable product.
In other words, maybe one day, people will be able to drink a Coke and then eat the bottle –“with ketchup,” he joked.
Source: www.triplepundit.com
Zoë b Organic Selects Mirel Bioplastic for World's First Line of Biodegradable Beach Toys
Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBLX) and Archer Daniels Midland Company, today announced that Zoë b Organic, a distributor of BPA-free, organic products for babies and kids, has selected and contracted Mirel™ bioplastic for the world's first line of biodegradable beach toys. Mirel was the material of choice for Zoë b Organic's new beach pails, cups and shovels for toddlers because it is the only durable bioplastic on the market that is proven to biodegrade in a marine environment.
Made from corn sugar, Mirel bioplastics are biobased and biodegradable in natural soil and water environments, home composting systems and industrial composting facilities, where available. The rate and extent of Mirel's biodegradability will depend on the size and shape of the articles made from it. However, like nearly all bioplastics and organic matter, Mirel is not designed to biodegrade in conventional landfills. When disposed of properly in the appropriate environment, the microbes present in natural soil or water break down the PHA structure of Mirel bioplastics, harmlessly converting the material back into CO2, water and biomass. Mirel combines the expected durability and versatility of traditional petroleum-based plastics such as PVC, PET and PP, with biodegradable properties in certain environments, providing brand owners with a unique material for use in their products.
"Consumers are increasingly seeking more products that fit with their desire for healthier lifestyles, and forward-thinking brand owners, including distributors like Zoë b Organic, are responding by turning to biobased and biodegradable materials that are made from renewable sources," said Bob Engle, Telles general manager. "Mirel's biobased solutions provide an alternative to petroleum-based resins that offers brand owners a way to meet corporate sustainability goals and further differentiate product offerings."
"As a mother of three young children, I am concerned about the number of stray plastic shovels and beach buckets that inadvertently wash up on the shore," said Valerie Lecoeur, president and founder of Zoë b Organic. "Our line of Zoë b Organic beach products made with Mirel represents a cultural shift in toy manufacturing. With Mirel's ability to biodegrade in water and other environments, Zoë b Organic is making smarter beach toys that are healthier for our kids and our planet."
Zoë b Organic beach toys made with Mirel will be available online at www.zoeborganic.com and at select retailers beginning in spring 2011.
About Mirel Bioplastics
Mirel is a family of bioplastic materials that have physical properties comparable to petroleum-based resins, yet are biobased and biodegradable in natural soil and water environments, in home composting systems, and in industrial composting facilities where such facilities are available. The rate and extent of Mirel's biodegradability will depend on the size and shape of the articles made from it. However, like nearly all bioplastics and organic matter, Mirel is not designed to biodegrade in conventional landfills.
Commercial grades of Mirel are available for injection molding, thermoforming, sheet extrusion, and film applications. For more information please visit www.mirelplastics.com.
About Metabolix
Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation-driven bioscience company focused on providing sustainable solutions for the world's needs for plastics, chemicals and energy. The Company is taking a systems approach, from gene to end product, integrating sophisticated biotechnology with advanced industrial practice. Metabolix is now developing and commercializing Mirel™, a family of high performance bioplastics which are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum based plastics, through Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland Company. Metabolix is also developing a proprietary platform technology for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy, from crops such as switchgrass, oilseeds and sugarcane.
For more information, please visit www.metabolix.com. (MBLX-G)
About Zoe B Organic
Zoë b Organic both sells and manufactures sustainable, BPA-free, organic products for babies and kids. They are the exclusive U.S. distributor for Natursutten, the world's #1-selling, all-natural rubber pacifier. They're also the maker of the On-The-Go Sleepy Hat and the creator of Kidishes, kid-friendly glass dishes from Duralex. The company is committed to providing mothers with well-designed options that are both safer for children and healthier for the planet.
For more information, please visit www.zoeborganic.com.
Source: www.metabolix.com/
Lakeside Plastics Selects Telles' Mirel Film Product for New Line of Compostable Bags
Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBLX) and Archer Daniels Midland Company, today 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. Lakeside will purchase Mvera film grade under a supply agreement with Telles, for large-volume applications including yard waste and consumer kitchen compost bags. The specific terms of the contract have not been disclosed.
Lakeside Plastics has been working with Telles to produce compostable trash liners, lawn and leaf, and kitchen compost bags. The new product line of bags will use Mvera B5002 film material, enabling consumer yard waste and organics diversion to industrial composting.
"We are very excited with the superior performance of Mvera B5002 film in terms of strength, rapid composting ability, and that it meets or exceeds ASTM standard D6400 for compostable plastics," said Stuart MacDonald, chief operating officer with Lakeside. "As we commit to manufacturing compostable bags for the burgeoning North American market, we are confident in doing so with Mvera B5002, that our product line will have wide appeal to the consumer and industrial compost bag segments alike."
"Through Lakeside, we are bringing a tough and faster composting film material to the market," explained Bob Engle, Telles general manager. "Mvera B5002 film for compost bags has the strength that consumers are asking for. With the rapid composting and D6400 certification to a thickness of 288 µm (11 mil), Mvera is an excellent material choice for both consumer and commercial organic waste diversion needs."
The global market for bioplastic packaging demand is forecast to achieve a 24.9 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2010-15 according to a new report from PIRA International. The report forecasts that flexible packaging will take a growing share of bioplastics segment up to 2020.
About Lakeside Plastics Ltd.
Headquartered in Salmon Arm in BC, Lakeside Plastics has offices in Fort Worth, TX and Denver CO. With over 30 years of manufacturing flexible packaging, Lakeside services the retail, produce, horticulture and mining sectors with custom manufactured bags. Contact: smacdonald@lakesidepackaging.net
About Mirel Bioplastics
Mirel is a family of bioplastic materials that have physical properties comparable to petroleum-based resins, yet are biobased and biodegradable in natural soil and water environments, in home composting systems, and in industrial composting facilities where such facilities are available. The rate and extent of Mirel's biodegradability will depend on the size and shape of the articles made from it. However, like nearly all bioplastics and organic matter, Mirel is not designed to biodegrade in conventional landfills.
Commercial grades of Mirel are available for injection molding, thermoforming, sheet extrusion, and film applications. For more information please visit www.mirelplastics.com.
About Metabolix
Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation-driven bioscience company focused on providing sustainable solutions for the world's needs for plastics, chemicals and energy. The Company is taking a systems approach, from gene to end product, integrating sophisticated biotechnology with advanced industrial practice. Metabolix is now developing and commercializing Mirel™, a family of high performance bioplastics which are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum based plastics, through Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland Company. Metabolix is also developing a proprietary platform technology for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy, from crops such as switchgrass, oilseeds and sugarcane.
Source: www.metabolix.com.
Myriant Technologies and Davy Process Technology join forces to integrate the Myriant bio-based Succinic Acid and Davy Butanediol technologies to offer a renewable and bio-based Butanediol product.
Myriant Technologies (Myriant) and Davy Process Technology (Davy), a Johnson Matthey company, announce that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering the use of succinic acid as a bio-derived feedstock for the production of butanediol, tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone.
The MoU covers two areas of co-operation between Myriant and Davy, first the non-exclusive testing and approval of Myriant’s product succinic acid as a feedstock to the Davy process and second an exclusive Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with the purpose of integrating the Myriant bio succinic acid technology with the Davy butanediol technology to minimise the cost of recovery and purification of the succinic acid for the production of bio Butanediol.
Myriant, a leading industrial biotechnology developer is in the process of constructing the world’s first commercial bio-based Succinic Acid plant in Lake Providence, Louisiana.
"This agreement is an important step towards providing renewable feedstocks for 1,4 Butanediol producers and end users. Bio Succinic Acid produced by Myriant Technologies from renewable feedstocks should prove to be a valuable substitute for petroleum based maleic anhydride in the production of Butanediol. Current and future Davy Butanediol licensees will be able to take advantage of this opportunity" said Dr. Cenan Ozmeral, Chief Operating Officer of Myriant Technologies.
Davy developed its butanediol technology based on maleic anhydride feed and has licensed more than half a million tons of annual production capacity of varying mixtures of butanediol, tetrahydrofuran and gamma butyrolactone over the last 15 years.
Antoine Bordet, Managing Director of Davy Process Technology said “We have a strong belief that bio-butanediol has an important place in the butanediol and derivatives market. We look forward to working with Myriant on the integration of our two technologies which we believe will provide further benefits in the production of bio-renewable butanediol from bio-succinic acid.”
With a world-renowned team of molecular biologists, engineers and chemists, Myriant utilizes proprietary technology to advance the development of low-cost cellulosic sugars for the sustainable commercialization of high-value specialty chemicals. The company’s D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Details are available at www.myriant.com.
Davy Process Technology, a Johnson Matthey Company, has a global business in petrochemicals technology development and technology licensing. The company has its headquarters in London and has a Technology Centre in Stockton-on-Tees. It licenses a range of proprietary process technologies such as Methanol, Fischer Tropsch, SNG, Butanediol, Detergent Alcohols, Oxo Alcohols, PTA, Industrial Amines, Ethyl Acetate and Propylene Glycol.
More information about Davy Process Technology can be found at www.davyprotech.com.
Source: www.myriant.com
Eco solutions for films introduced to reduce pollution
DSM Engineering Plastics, one of the world's leading suppliers of engineering thermoplastics, has introduced a number of innovative Eco packaging solutions that anticipate and proactively address market demands. These include a new solution for reducing lactam pollution in BOPA film production and in co-extrusion of PA6 outer layer(s), and a breathable, cost-effective film to replace highly polluting cellulose in smoked meat applications.
Low Oligomer Polyamide (LOPA) for flexible packaging
DSM Engineering Plastics has introduced a low oligomer polyamide (LOPA), following successful trials that showed a marked reduction in lactam pollution. LOPA is an upgraded polyamide (PA) material with a lower C1 monomer count. Compared to conventional PA6 at a viscosity of RSV 3.0, which has a C1 level of about 0.18 percent, LOPA has a significantly lower level of about 0.10 percent. DSM launched LOPA in June 2010.
Production of bi-axial oriented polyamide (BOPA) film using conventional polyamide 6 (PA6) resins leads to significant pollution by lactams, which are internal (cyclic) amides. Lactams evaporate and condense in the form of a fine, white powder that adheres to equipment, walls and ceilings, and is easily transported through the air where it can be inhaled by workers. The cause of this evaporation is high C1 (caprolactam) content in the PA6 resin.
BOPA film is used for flexible packaging, particularly food packaging, because it provides excellent protection from deterioration. A typical BOPA film line can produce up to 15 tons of lactams per year. This ubiquitous powder requires frequent cleaning of stretching ovens and the overall production facility, which is costly and disruptive. More importantly, it may pose a health risk to workers due to ongoing inhalation of the material into the lungs. Finally, production of lactams has a negative impact on air quality and can contribute to overall environmental degradation.
While many BOPA converters had become resigned to lactams as an inconvenientbut unavoidable byproduct of film production, DSM Engineering Plastics took the initiative to develop a better polyamide material that could reduce lactams and solve a latent industry need.
According to customers’ feedback during DSM film event in June 2010, BOPA converters are impressed that DSM took a proactive approach to a chronic industry problem and was able to engineer a high-performance material with a lower environmental impact.”
Arnitel/Akulon blend for smokable meat casings
The casings used to produce sausage, ham, cheese and other smoked items must be permeable so that smoke can reach the food to impart flavor and color. Currently, natural gut, collagen and cellulose are the primary materials used for smokable casings. A new smokable casing solution with better environmental performance and a lower price was needed, however, polymeric casings historically have not been used, due to a lack of permeability.
DSM Engineering Plastics has combined its understanding of the specific needs of customers, and applied its expertise, to combine highly breathable Arnitel VT (vapour transmission) with Akulon polyamide 6 (PA6) resin in a patented solution for new smokable casings. These enable customers to avoid the serious environmental issues of cellulose whilst at the same time offering significant cost savings.
The addition of up to 40 percent Arnitel VT increases the permeability of Akulon significantly, enabling smoke to pass through the casing to reach the sausage or ham inside. In some cases, smoked food production can be simplified from three steps to one, with higher quality, due to the excellent smoke transmission of the polymer.
At the same time, Arnitel VT, which is a monolithic technology without micropores or perforations, provides a highly protective barrier against oxygen and other contaminants for safety and long shelf life of the food.
According to Paul Habets, Global Segment Manager DSM Engineering Plastics, several customers have adopted this unique blend of materials to manufacture smokable casings for bacon and sausage: “The Arnitel VT/Akulon solution is helping them provide a more price-competitive casing product and even target new market sectors which were traditionally dominated by cellulose casings.”
Source: www.ceepackaging.com
Bayer starts pilot plant for plastic manufacturing with CO2
Bayer is taking a new direction in the production of high-quality plastics with the help of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the energy sector. A pilot plant has come on stream at Chempark Leverkusen to trial the new process on a technical scale. The plant produces a chemical precursor into which CO2 is incorporated and then processed into polyurethanes that are used in many everyday items. As a result, CO2 – a waste gas and key contributor to climate change – can now be recycled and used as a raw material and substitute for petroleum.
The innovative process is the result of the “Dream Production” project; a collaboration between industry and science. Bayer is working on the project with the energy company RWE, which supplies the CO2 used in the process. Other project partners are RWTH Aachen University and the CAT Catalytic Center, which is run jointly by the university and Bayer. The researchers recently achieved a break-through in laboratory-scale catalysis technology which makes it possible to put CO2 to efficient use, for the first time.
“There is an opportunity to establish Germany as a market leader for these technologies and secure ourselves a leading role in a competitive international environment,” said Bayer Board of Management member Dr. Wolfgang Plischke on Thursday, when he addressed representatives from the media, government and science in Leverkusen. “The inauguration of this pilot plant is another milestone in a long line of Bayer projects that have used innovative technologies to develop sustainable production processes.”
The new process helps to boost sustainability in a number of different ways. For example, carbon dioxide may offer an alternative to petroleum, which has until now been the chemical sector’s main source of the key element carbon. Polyurethanes themselves also help to reduce energy consumption and protect the climate. When used to insulate buildings from cold and heat, they can save approximately 70 times more energy than is used in their production.
In the pilot plant in Leverkusen (f.l.t.r.) Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Rachel from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Innovation, Science and Research, Svenja Schulze, Bayer Board of Management member Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, responsible for innovation, technology and environment.
Support from federal and state authorities
On the occasion of the opening ceremony for the pilot plant, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Innovation, Science and Research, Svenja Schulze, said that the project focused on a “very specific, highly innovative solution that extended from basic research to late-stage testing.” She added that the project is an example of successful cooperation between industry and universities on a central climate policy issue.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is – together with Bayer – supporting the CAT Catalytic Center. The “Dream Production” project is receiving federal funding amounting to approximately EUR 5 million. Including the investment of Bayer and RWE the total budget amounts to some EUR 9 million. If the testing phase goes well, the industrial production of plastics based on CO2 should start in 2015.
Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Rachel from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research spoke of a “revolutionary” approach that could completely change how we view CO2. “The debate on climate change has portrayed CO2 as the villain of the piece in the public eye. Now we are supporting research into alternative solutions that could make good use of CO2 as a raw material.”
Professor Klaus Töpfer, founding director of the new Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, Germany, said that the carbon cycle must be closed: “CO2 should be used as a resource and not disposed of as waste.”
The carbon dioxide used in the project comes from RWE Power’s lignite power plant in Niederaussem outside Cologne, Germany. At its Coal Innovation Center there, the company operates a CO2 scrubber where the carbon dioxide is separated from the flue gas.
At the pilot plant – designed, built and run by Bayer Technology Services – kilograms of the carbon dioxide are used to produce one of the two components essential for the production of polyurethanes. Bayer MaterialScience is testing these materials, which are used primarily to produce soft and rigid foams, at one of its existing plants.
The efficient use of CO2 is only possible because a suitable catalyst, for which experts had been searching for four decades, has finally been discovered. This research breakthrough was made by scientists at Bayer and the CAT as part of the forerunner “Dream Reactions” project, which was also funded in part by the German federal government. During the current “Dream Production” initiative, researchers at the CAT are, among other things, testing the compatibility of the catalyst with CO2 from the power plant. RWTH Aachen University is subjecting all stages of the new process to comprehensive ecological and economic scrutiny, and is also comparing it with conventional processes and products.
Source: http://www.baynews.bayer.de
BIOFACH-VIVANESS 2011: BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS MADE FROM MATER-BI AT THE WORLD ORGANIC TRADE FAIR
All natural products can be found at Biofach/Vivaness: the world organic trade fair will take place from 16th to 19th February 2011 in Nuremberg.
Novamont, the leading Italian company in the bioplastics sector, will be at the fair alongside ICEA, the Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification, exhibiting its full range of biodegradable and compostable products made from Mater-Bi.
Mater-Bi® is the main product developed by Novamont. While providing the same strength and performance as traditional plastics, it contains renewable resources of agricultural origin. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and the consumption of energy and non-renewable resources, thus completing a virtuous circle: the raw materials of natural origin return to the earth through biodegradation and composting processes without releasing pollutants
As well as the ICEA network, Novamont will also participating with three other partners at the Nuremberg fair:
W.I.P. – Wellness Innovation Project
W.I.P., with its range of products under the Naturaè brand, made from sustainable raw materials such as Novamont’s Mater-Bi, provides a sustainable alternative to disposable nappies and sanitary towels traditionally made from fossil fuels. W.I.P. therefore makes products for consumer wellbeing and health while also protecting the environment, demonstrating that an environmentally friendly nappy is financially sustainable and technologically feasible. The company also carries out consumer education initiatives in order to reduce the waste typical of disposable products, and to restore a correct sense of value to health products.
Today the Naturaè brand nappies are the disposable nappy with the highest biodegradability index in the world - on average at least 80%.
Fabbrica Pinze Schio
Under the brand Ecozema, Fabbrica Pinze Schio produces biodegradable and compostable catering products which can be disposed of together with organic waste, thereby reducing the amount of refuse and reducing their environmental impact.
A study by LCA shows that CO2 emissions can be cut by at least 250 g for every kilo of organic waste that is composted instead of being sent for disposal and incineration. In practice, the use of 1,000 sets of cutlery made from Mater-Bi® and the composting of these items achieves a reduction in CO2 emissions of around 38 kg. Use of Mater-Bi also guarantees lower energy consumption thanks to the presence of renewable raw materials.
Sisifo Italia
Under the brand StrategETHIC CommunicACTION, the company develops environmentally friendly campaigns and promotional products including plastic bags and pens made from Mater-Bi. It has also coordinated the creation of the display stand at Nuremberg using sustainable raw materials.
Novamont is also promoting the use of Sacchetico®, (www.sacchetico.it), the new bag made from Mater-Bi produced as a result of the agreement between Novamont and ICEA. Sacchetico® is another tool for producers in agriculture and operators of specialist businesses who are already interested and active in environmental sustainability, in order to spread awareness among customers about environmentally friendly and sustainable behaviour by distributing biodegradable and compostable plastic bags. These bags can be reused for the separate collection of organic matter and thereby reduce environmental impact.
For more information call the freephone number: 800.933394
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Novamont SpA, a subsidiary of Banca Intesa San Paolo and Investitori Associati, a fast-growing company, is the leader in the production of bioplastics manufactured with renewable raw materials of agricultural origin. In 2010, with 200 employees (30% of them working in R&D), it invested over 7% of its total sales (€88 million and $115 million) in Research and Development. It has an overall production capacity of 80,000 tons per year. The company holds a patent portfolio that includes around 90 patent families and 800 internationally registered patents. It is based in Novara and its production sites are in Terni. It operates directly or through its distributors in Germany, France, Benelux, Scandinavia, Denmark, United Kingdom, United States, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Source: www.novamont.com
First Biodegradable Toothpaste Tube
Tectubes introduces the world’s first truly biodegradable toothpaste tube made from
FKuR’s bioresins.
Tectubes injection mould, extrude and print the various parts of the tube. The tube itself stands out due to its excellent mechanical properties. “Using bio resins for such an application was a challenge for us. We needed to have compatibility between the different parts, and match them together with good conversion properties”, says Johan Barkentin, project leader at Tectubes, Sweden. ”By using FKuR’s expertise and range of sustainable bioplastics we were able to reach a very satisfactory solution”, he says.
The result of this development is a toothpaste tube made from natural products.
Allveggie’s Swedish manager Stefan Lundbladh pointed out: ”It is important for us to
emphasize our ecological awareness and send a signal. By using bioplastics we can fulfil our wish to have an overall environmentally friendly solution.“ All of the raw materials which have been used are biodegradable.
Bjarne Högström, FKuR’s sales representative for Scandinavia, stated that “This
development shows the versatility of biopolymers and how far biopolymers have
progressed with respect to processability and final characteristics.” Bioplastics are an own class of polymers, which have properties comparable to conventional polymers, but are made from renewable resources or enable the biodegradability of the products made from this material.
Tectubes is a global partner in tube production. They produce more than 300,000,000
tubes yearly, from their factories in Sweden and North America.
Allveggie produces toothpaste made from natural substances. Also, the product is
considered as Fair Trade and does not exploit nature or people.
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH produces and markets special customized biopolymers under the brand names Bio-Flex® (polylactic acid compound), Biograde® (cellulose ester
compound) and Fibrolon® (natural fibre reinforced polymers). FKuR is one of the leading producers of technical bioplastics. The close cooperation of the company with the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT assures outstanding know-how and quality standards.
Source: http://www.fkur.com
Nobel Biocare's Dental Healing Caps are Molded of Solvay’s Eviva® Polysulfone for Toughness and Biocompatibility
Biomaterial Delivers Exceptional Performance In Dental Implant Applications.
Nobel Biocare, Zurich, Switzerland, a leading supplier of restorative and esthetic dental solutions, has introduced dental healing caps made of Eviva® polysulfone (PSU) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, for excellent biocompatibility, practical toughness, and sterilizability via gamma radiation. Eviva PSU resin is part of Solvay’s Solviva® line of biomaterials that are offered for use in implantable medical devices.
In dental implant applications such as tooth replacements, the dental healing caps must be biocompatible with the gum tissue, according to Steve Hurson, Nobel Biocare chief scientist. Typically, the implant (titanium screw) is screwed into the bone, an abutment is placed into the implant, and a healing cap snaps onto the abutment. When the tissue heals, the cap is removed and a replacement tooth is cemented on. These thimble-like injection molded caps are normally 4 mm to 6 mm in diameter and 4 mm high. Marman Industries Inc., an injection molder based in LaVerne, Calif., manufactures the caps.
Eviva PSU resin is available in either opaque white or transparent natural. Based on biocompatibility testing, it demonstrates no evidence of cytotoxicity, sensitization, irritation, or acute systemic toxicity.
Eviva PSU and the entire line of Solviva Biomaterials are manufactured in compliance with the relevant aspects of ISO 13485 and under the relevant aspects of current Good Manufacturing Practices. Solvay’s biomaterial manufacturing processes are carefully validated and enhanced controls provide product traceability. In addition, all materials are tested in an accredited lab that is ISO 17025 compliant.
Nobel Biocare plans to offer the Eviva PSU healing caps to dentists and surgeons worldwide.
In addition to Eviva PSU, Solvay’s Solviva biomaterials line includes Zeniva® PEEK, which boasts a modulus very close to that of bone plus excellent biocompatibility, toughness, and fatigue resistance; Proniva® self-reinforced polyphenylene (SRP), one of the world’s stiffest and strongest unreinforced thermoplastic that offers exceptional hardness and biocompatibility; and Veriva® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), which provides unsurpassed toughness combined with transparency and excellent biocompatibility. These sterilizable products are available in injection and extrusion grades as well as stock shapes for machined components.
Solvay’s experience as a key materials supplier in the healthcare field spans more than 20 years. The company is a leading manufacturer of high-performance plastics, offering a broad range of materials for healthcare instruments and medical devices. More recently, Solvay has successfully introduced its line of Solviva Biomaterials and offers them for use in a range of implantable devices.
About Nobel Biocare
Nobel Biocare, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is the world leader in restorative and esthetic dental solutions. As a complete solutions provider, Nobel Biocare offers the most comprehensive range of solutions from tooth to root, for single tooth to completely edentulous indications. The solutions portfolio covers dental implants (including the key brands NobelActive™, Branemark System®, and NobelReplace™), individualized prosthetics and equipment (NobelProcera™), guided surgery solutions, and biomaterials. Nobel Biocare has approximately 2400 employees and recorded revenues of EUR 581.4 million in 2009. Production is located at seven sites in Canada, Israel, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S. The company has 35 direct sales organizations.
Source: www.solvayplastics.com
Solvay Achieves ISO Certification for Solviva® Biomaterials
Solvay achieves ISO 13485:2003 certification for the quality system that governs the production of its Solviva® Biomaterials offered for use in implantable medical devices.
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, announced today that it has achieved ISO 13485:2003 certification for the quality system that governs the production of its Solviva Biomaterials offered for use in implantable medical devices. The international quality standard facilitates harmonized medical device regulatory requirements for quality management systems applicable to medical devices and related services.
ISO 13485:2003 is a quality standard that specifies certain quality system requirements to ensure consistent manufacturing, according to Judy Melville, business manager, Solviva products. “This achievement demonstrates our commitment to the medical device industry,” said Melville. “It also reaffirms our position as a reliable supplier that is solidly focused on meeting the quality standards of our customers.” Melville noted that a key element of the ISO quality standard is the use of validation methods to ensure consistent high-quality manufacturing. Solvay Advanced Polymers produces its unique line of biomaterials – featuring exceptional strength, stiffness, and biocompatibility – at a dedicated manufacturing facility in Alpharetta, Ga.
The entire line of Solviva Biomaterials is manufactured in compliance with ISO 13485 and under the relevant aspects of current Good Manufacturing Practices. The company’s biomaterial manufacturing processes are carefully validated and enhanced controls provide product traceability. In addition, all materials are tested in a lab accredited to the ISO 17025:2005 standard.
The Solviva Biomaterials line includes Zeniva® polyetheretherketone (PEEK), one of the most biostable plastics available with high strength and stiffness plus excellent toughness and fatigue resistance; Proniva® self-reinforced polyphenylene (SRP), one of the world’s stiffest and strongest unreinforced thermoplastics that offers exceptional biocompatibility and hardness; Veriva® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), which provides unsurpassed toughness combined with transparency and excellent biocompatibility; and Eviva® polysulfone (PSU), which offers practical toughness in a strong, transparent polymer.
Solviva Biomaterials can be sterilized via all conventional methods including gamma radiation, ethylene oxide, and steam. These products are available in resin for injection molding or extrusion, as well as stock shapes for machined components. Solvay Advanced Polymers is currently in active product trials with several medical device manufacturers using the broad range of Solviva biomaterials.
Solvay’s experience as a key materials supplier in the healthcare field spans more than 20 years. The company has been a leading manufacturer of high-performance plastics, offering its traditional range of materials for medical devices. More recently, Solvay has successfully introduced its line of Solviva Biomaterials for a range of implantable devices. The company is a full-service supplier, providing design, technical service, and application development support for the global healthcare market.
Source: http://www.solvayplastics.com
BASF starts operations at expanded Ecoflex plant
BASF has started operations at its expanded plant for the production of the biodegradable plastic Ecoflex®. 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.”
Ecoflex is a plastic that has the properties of conventional polyethylene but is fully biodegradable under industrial composting conditions in accordance with DIN EN 13432. Ecovio is a derivative of Ecoflex that is also biodegradable and that contains up to 75 percent renewable raw materials. Typical applications are shopping bags, organic waste bags, mulch films for agricultural applications, and food packaging. One of the latest innovations is Ecovio FS Paper, which is used to provide a biodegradable waterproof coating on the interior surfaces of paper cups and cardboard containers.
With Ecovio and Ecoflex, BASF is already one of the world’s leading suppliers of biobased and biodegradable plastics. Both of these properties are increasingly in demand, and the market for biodegradable and biobased plastics is currently growing by more than 20 percent per year.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).
BASF Plant Science set to cultivate Amflora potatoes in Germany and Sweden in 2011
BASF Plant Science has concluded its Amflora cultivation plans for the 2011 season. Amflora, the genetically enhanced potato for use in the starch industry, will this year be cultivated on two hectares of land in Üplingen (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany).
" There are many good reasons for the use of Amflora in Germany, which after all is renowned for growing starch potatoes. Separating the starch components in conventional potatoes for industrial use is not cost-effective or environmentally sound. Amflora is an innovative new variety which produces pure amylopectin starch. It therefore helps to cut down on resources, energy and costs and offers farmers and the starch processing industry real added value," says Peter Eckes, Managing Director of BASF Plant Science.
In addition to Germany, BASF Plant Science will again be planting out Amflora in Sweden during the 2011 season. After receiving approval from the authorities for the majority of the Amflora seed stock, BASF Plant Science will this year be concentrating on propagating seed stock for cultivation in subsequent years. BASF is performing very strict internal quality checks for this purpose and is only using the best quality seed stock.
About Amflora
Amflora is a genetically modified potato variety which produces pure amylopectin starch. Conventional potatoes produce a mixture of amylopectin and amylose starch. In many potato starch applications, for example in the paper, adhesive and food industries, only amylopectin is needed, but separating the two starch components is uneconomical. Amflora produces pure amylopectin starch and thus helps to save resources, energy and costs. Moreover, paper manufactured with amylopectin starch has greater tear resistance, and the addition of amylopectin to concrete and adhesives gives them a longer pot life. In the case of Amflora, BASF Plant Science and its partners in the starch industry decided to focus on industrial applications.
About BASF Plant Science
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. BASF Plant Science – a BASF group company – is one of the world’s leading companies providing innovative plant biotechnology solutions for agriculture. Today, about 700 employees are helping farmers meet the growing demand for improved agricultural productivity and healthier nutrition for humans and animals. BASF Plant Science has developed an unparalleled gene discovery platform focusing on yield and quality traits in crops such as corn, soybean and rice. Jointly with leading partners in the seed industry BASF Plant Science is commercializing its products. Current projects include higher yielding row crops, nutritionally-enhanced corn for animal feed or higher content of Omega-3’s in oil crops for preventing cardiovascular diseases. To find out more about BASF Plant Science, please visit www.basf.com/plantscience.
CARDIA SETS UP SUBSIDARY TO COMMERCIALISE NOVEL CO2 STARCH TECHNOLOGY
Cardia Bioplastics is pleased to announce that is has established a 100% subsidiary “CO2STARCH Pty Ltd”. This vehicle will be used to commercialise the company’s patented novel CO?polymer-starch blending technology.
CO2STARCH Pty Ltd will hold all the intellectual property and patents and will serve as the platform for the development and commercialization of a family of CO2based polymers.
Cardia launched the world's first CO2+Starch biodegradable carrier bag (made using CO2 emissions) in October 2010 and has since received interest in the technology from several major international organizations including petrochemical companies. The breakthrough technology allows PPC (polypropylene carbonate) to be blended
with starch.
In simple terms, CO2 emissions are captured and used as a substitute for oil and then further blended with starch as an additional substitute for oil to create a renewable and sustainable bioplastics that rely less on fossil fuels.
