Natural Plastics

Altuglas International, a subsidiary of Arkema group, with its Plexiglas® and Altuglas® acrylic resins (Americas and Rest of World, respectively) and NatureWorks, a leader in the bio-plastics market with its Ingeo™ biopolymers derived from plants, have signed a global co-marketing agreement. The agreement is designed to deliver a range of newly formulated bio-based, high performance alloys based on polymethylmethacrylate and Ingeo.

The new materials will be marketed by Altuglas International as Plexiglas®/Altuglas® Rnew biopolymer alloys. Primary co-marketing efforts for these materials will be for durable goods applications, where the Plexiglas®/Altuglas® brand is synonymous with high performance, durability and clarity.

The agreement grew out of the overwhelming response the two companies experienced during the National Plastics Exposition (NPE) last April, during which they jointly displayed examples of molded and thermoformed products made with their collaborative technologies for the durable goods market.

This unique range of resins affords customizable formulating latitude providing exceptional impact- and chemical-resistance properties. In addition, the resins offer a significantly reduced carbon footprint due to the Ingeo biopolymer content. These biopolymer alloys also feature lower processing temperatures and greater melt flow properties without compromising the optics, scratch resistance, color acceptance or surface aesthetics for which the Plexiglas® and Altuglas® brands are known.

The collaboration offers a compelling combination of properties designed to open new doors in the market, including significant opportunities for durable applications such as signage, lighting, consumer products, transportation, cosmetic packaging and large and small appliances.

"What makes this agreement so exciting is that two renowned, pioneering organizations are joining forces to combine some of the best in technology and market knowledge to foster new, high performing, yet sustainable, bio-based products," said Christophe Villain, Altuglas International president. "The agreement between these two leading companies will provide transparent, sustainable materials that meet durable application performance requirements. Altuglas International will compound and sell the Rnew portfolio, incorporating Ingeo, directly into the market."

Marc Verbruggen, NatureWorks president and chief executive officer said, “By combining our respective reputations and strengths in biopolymers and acrylics, NatureWorks and Altuglas International will co-market clear materials that offer a complete package of innovative product performance. This is exactly what Ingeo was designed to offer.”

Through the collaboration, Altuglas International and NatureWorks will pool resources to accelerate the introduction of these new high performance biopolymer alloys into the market.

Source:  http://www.natureworksllc.com

$1.2 million per annum contract to supply Cardia’s Biohybrid™ renewable kitchen waste bags to Shanghai Pudong City District • Contract represents 20% of Pudong’s households with potential to expand rollout • Opens up significant opportunity to secure additional City Councils in China • Continues momentum of growth and expansion of Cardia’s product base .

Cardia Bioplastics Limited has announced an exclusive annual supply contract with the Shanghai Pudong City District in China. The agreement is to supply an estimated $1.2 million per annum of Cardia’s Biohybrid™ renewable kitchen waste bags to approximately 20% of householders in this region. Cardia's renewable Biohybrid™ kitchen bags are made with Cardia's proprietary Biohybrid™ technology that uses less oil and a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional plastics. This contract win follows the successful six-month trial of Cardia’s products in this region earlier this year. Pudong is one of four City Councils in China that has conducted waste management trials using Cardia products. The other three Councils in trial phase are Nanjing, Hangzhou and Yuhang and Cardia is looking to expand into other provinces of China.

Penetrating into this crucial market opens up significant opportunities for Cardia to grow and expand its global distribution of organic waste management products. Shanghai Pudong is one of China’s highest profile development areas and represents a key financial and commercial hub for the entire country.

There has been a strong focus towards environmental initiatives in the city of Shanghai in recent years. Following the World Expo in 2010, Shanghai implemented an organic waste separation process which targets waste separation at source. In particular, separating plant material and food scraps at the household level, which form a large part of the domestic waste stream in China. Earlier this year, as part of the six-month trial period, Cardia successfully supplied its Biohybrid™ kitchen bags to approximately 5% of Pudong’s households. This supply will now be expanded to 20% of Pudong’s households.

This is a critical step towards efficient management of domestic waste. More importantly, Shanghai Pudong City District has selected Cardia Bioplastics to supply Biohybrid™ renewable kitchen waste bags to households, which are tailored specifically for collection of food waste.

Dr Frank Glatz, Managing Director of Cardia Bioplastics said:

“This marks another important milestone for Cardia. The success of winning this contract is a result of our superior product technology and effective supply capability through our manufacturing plant in Nanjing, China. Through our successful pilot programs, which are already in place in other key districts in China (Nanjing, Hangzhou and Yuhang) we are confident in our corporate strategy of securing additional long term contracts in China.

Importantly, this contract follows the recent announcements of $500,000 per annum sales contracts to both an American hygiene products company and a global consumer products company.  These three contracts combined equate to over $2.2 million of secured revenues contributing to the current financial year. This is significant for the Company and equates to over one half of last financial year’s total reported revenues.

Mr. Jackie Chen, Cardia Director and Head of China Operations said:

“We are delighted with this outcome and we will continue to develop and maintain strong Government relationships to work with China City Councils towards managing household waste sustainability and reducing their environmental footprint.”

In addition, Cardia has a certified compostable offering for its organic waste management business, where trials are underway in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, USA, Brazil and the UK.

About Shanghai Pudong

The city district of Shanghai Pudong is one of China’s high profile development areas and has a population of five million people (2010). Pudong has been developed as a New Open Economic Development Zone since 1990 and has emerged as China's financial and commercial hub. Pudong is home to the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and a skyline that includes the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Building, the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Shanghai Tower (under construction), reflective of Shanghai and China's rapid economic development.

Source: http://www.cardiabioplastics.com/

Piedmont Chemical (Piedmont) announced today a new offering of renewable, sustainable polyester polyols – building-block chemical intermediates used in the production of urethane foams, coatings, adhesives and sealants. Piedmont combines Susterra® propanediol from DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products (DTL) with Bio-Succinic Acid from Myriant Corporation (Myriant) to produce high-purity, 100 percent bio-based polyols that are functionally equal and cost-competitive with petroleum-derived polyols without requiring green-price premiums. The novel polyol formulations, which are made from renewable resources, ultimately enable the production of eco-friendly, sustainable products. The technical specification and polyol samples will be available by year-end for urethane producers looking to utilize "green polyols" for their end-market applications.

The novel polyol formulations combining DTL's Susterra® and Myriant's Bio-Succinic will specifically address the growing global demand for renewable urethanes in industrial applications. According to a 2012 report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc, entitled, "Polyols: A Global Strategic Business Report," the world market for polyols is forecast to reach 4.33 billion pounds by 2017. Renewable polyols, made from various sustainable resources, are witnessing increasing demand as product manufacturers respond to consumers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve natural resources and live more sustainably. Industrial applications, including paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and microcellular elastomers, represent the single largest end-use sector for polyols.

DTL commercially produces Susterra® in Loudon, Tenn., with a capacity of 140 million lbs. per year. The plant has been operational since November 2006. Myriant will begin commercial production of Bio-Succinic Acid in first quarter 2013 in Lake Providence, La., with a capacity of 30 million lbs. per year.

Under a strategic collaboration between Piedmont, DTL and Myriant, the three companies have agreed to an "open innovation" concept by which the polyol formulations will be made available to polyol producers and the urethane industry at large. This means that polyol customers will be able to purchase polyols produced from DTL's Susterra® propanediol and Myriant's Bio-Succinic Acid from Piedmont as well as from other polyol producers. Piedmont will manufacture the initial polyol product samples and will offer commercial supply of the polyol products to the market.

"We have worked with Myriant's and DTL's products for some time now. In deciding on suppliers and collaboration partners it was critical for us to be certain that these renewable chemical building blocks would be available at commercial quantities with the right specification. In the last year, we have become confident that both Myriant and DTL meet these requirements," said Emil Delgado, chief operating officer for Piedmont.

"DTL and Myriant enjoy shared objectives of bringing renewable chemicals to market that offer high performance and cost competitiveness compared to their petroleum-based chemical counterparts," said Steve Hurff, vice president of Marketing and Sales from DTL. "We're looking forward to Piedmont's success in meeting the needs of urethanes producers who are seeking renewable chemical building blocks."

"This is Myriant's second collaboration with DTL and we're proud to team with them again on this opportunity to expand the tool box of renewable building blocks available to polyol producers," said Alif Saleh, vice president, Sales and Marketing for Myriant Corporation. "Myriant is committed to becoming a reliable supplier of Bio Succinic Acid to the polyol producers. By providing open access to the formulations and technical specifications, polyol producers are encouraged to integrate our renewable chemicals for the production of green, cost-competitive polyols."

Myriant utilizes its proprietary technology platform to develop innovative, performance-based, renewable chemicals utilizing low-cost sugars. In December 2010, Myriant broke ground on its flagship 30 million pound commercial bio-succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, La., and anticipates beginning commercial production in early 2013. The company's D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant has agreements with ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH for engineering, Davy Process Technology for the integration of Myriant's bio-succinic acid process with the Davy butanediol process for the production of bio-based butanediol, and PTT Chemical for the commercialization of Myriant's technology in Southeast Asia. Myriant is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Details are available at www.myriant.com.

Piedmont Chemical Industries I, LLC is a subsidiary of Piedmont Chemical Industries Inc., a privately owned chemical manufacturer headquartered in High Point, N.C. Founded in 1938 to support the local textile industry, the corporation has since evolved into 5 different production sites in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee with additional satellite facilities in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia. For more information, visit www.piedmontchemical.com.

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products is a joint venture between DuPont, a global science company, and Tate & Lyle, a world-leading renewable food and industrial ingredients company. DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products provides natural and renewably sourced ingredients that do not compromise product performance. For more information on the company's products, visit www.duponttateandlyle.com.

Susterra® and the circle logo are registered trademarks of DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Company LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

source: http://www.myriant.com

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroaki Ishizuka) has signed an agreement with Faurecia (Head office: Paris, France; CEO:Yann Delabrière) regarding joint research and development of bioplastics used in automotive interior parts. Under this agreement, we will pursue development of a tailor-made biomass poly-butylene succinate (PBS) that is suitable for automotive interior parts by 2014.

Faurecia is the world’s sixth-largest automotive equipment supplier in consolidated net sales and has the world’s leading technologies in automotive interior systems. The company led the way with initiatives on the European automotive industry’s environmental-friendly policies, with its strategic initiative “Bio Attitude” to improve Life Cycle Assessment. Especially, Faurecia aims to use alternative biomass bioplastics in most interior parts.

MCC produces and markets PBS “GS Pla™”, a type of bioplastic, with advanced process technologies developed in the production of petrochemical products and a broad range of applied technologies based on diversified lineup of high-performance polymers. We also develop a biomass PBS using biomass succinic acid as the raw material, and strive to build a powerful position in the PBS field with our portfolio of important patents. Therefore, MCC has formed a joint venture company with PTT Public Company Limited (PTT; Head office: Chatuchak, Thailand; CEO: Pailin Chuchottaworn) with each company holding 50%. The joint venture, PTT MCC Biochem Company Limited (PTTMCC; Head office: Bangkok Thailand; Managing Director: Worawat Pitayasiri), will build a PBS production facility with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons in Thailand, targeting commencement of production by 2015.

Where succinic acid is concerned, MCC and PTTMCC have tied up with BioAmber Inc. (Head office: Montreal, Canada; CEO: Jean Francois Huc), which pioneered the production of biomass succinic acid, with the aim of developing an even more efficient production process. The PBS production facility, which is scheduled to go on line in 2015 with an annual production of 20,000 tons, will use biomass succinic acid as raw material.
The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group, in which MCC is one of four operating companies, set a target to switch about 20% of current petrochemical consumption to biomass alternatives by 2025. Now, the agreement with Faurecia to jointly research and develop bioplastics is a major step towards full-scale practical applications of bioplastics in the automotive industry, further driving us forward in the sustainable resource business.

Source: http://www.m-kagaku.co.jp

Cereplast, Inc. (, today announced that Cereplast Hybrid 651D has won the MATERIALICA Design + Technology 2012 silver award for outstanding innovation in the "Material" category. The awards ceremony took place in Munich, Germany at the 15^th annual trade fair, MATERIALICA—Lightweight Design for New Mobility, on the evening of October 23, 2012.

A distinguished panel of judges scrutinized approximately 100 submissions in consideration for the 10^th MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award. The jury included the following material and design experts: Christian Labonte (Audi), Nina Saller (designaffairs), Prof. Peter Naumann (University Munich), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Reiling (University Landshut), and Dr. Ing. Christoph Konetschny (Materialsgate—Office for Material and Technology Consulting). Cereplast Hybrid 651D was the sole bioplastic material to be nominated for and to win the prestigious MATERIALICA award.

The first EA and starch hybrid resin, Cereplast Hybrid 651D is an innovative solution for applications that require durability, flexibility and toughness. Hybrid 651D is a tough, soft touch, pliable material that is ideal for extrusions and soft injection moldable applications, providing the desirable properties of conventional EA while offering a lower carbon footprint and expanding the range of properties available for durable bioplastic materials. It can be used for the manufacture of consumer goods and packaging, footwear, handbags and other fashion accessories, as well as wire and cable insulation, soft plastic goods such as tubes and hoses and adhesion layers for multi-layer films. Hybrid 651D can be processed on existing, conventional processing equipment.

MATERIALICA is Europe's top event for material-driven and supplier-oriented product innovations. The future-oriented innovative field of "lightweight design" continues to set the course for a new age in electric mobility, aerospace, new energy and automotive industries as well as groundbreaking product developments in the sports and leisure arena. As such, the focus of this year's MATERIALICA Awards was "Lightweight Design Competency for the Next Product Generation."

Source: www.cereplast.com

Purac launches its new range of PURALACT®, special grade Lactides, that offer several benefits for enhancement of coating resins. The main advantage of incorporating PURALACT is a significantly reduced resin viscosity. This provides the opportunity to formulate coatings with higher solid content, lower VOC (volatile organic compounds) and improved 'ease-of-use'. Purac's new PURALACT is 100% biobased, resulting in coating resins with a lower carbon footprint.

PURALACT is thoroughly tested in several coating formulations. Depending on the type of coating and its specific use, the new products enhance coating performance by improving properties, such as; stiffness, adhesion, impact resistance, balance between hardness and flexibility, chemical resistance, gloss and gloss retention, and tuning of drying time. Produced on a large industrial scale by Purac, the new range is commercially available worldwide.

Produced from biobased Lactic Acid, PURALACT has a significantly lower CO2 footprint than the fossil-based building blocks most frequently used to produce coating resins. Replacing these traditional products with PURALACT reduces the carbon footprint of both coating resin and final coating.

Purac's Vice President Chemical & Pharma, Marco Bootz comments: "The use of PURALACT offers significant opportunities to improve coating performance and increases the sustainability of the entire value chain for coatings. PURALACT is the next generation biobased building block for the coating industry."

Source: www.purac.com

Perstorp is committed to meet the strong growing demand for biodegradable plastics with investments in Capa™ Thermoplastics capacity.

Perstorp’s Capa™ Thermoplastics are ideal products for formulating biodegradable plastics thanks to their possibilities to optimize the level of degradability and the mechanical properties of bioplastics. Capa™ Thermoplastics are widely studied and recognized, for their biodegradability as well as for their easy processing and the added performance given in formulations of other plastics. The biodegradability of Capa™ Thermoplastics comes from the unique chemical structure of the Capa™ polymer that allows it to break down very quickly. Capa™ Thermoplastics blend well with many other polymers.

“Perstorp is committed to supporting the growing demand in biodegradable plastics using Capa™ Thermoplastics and has recently invested in making these competitive products available in large volumes,” says Perstorp Market Development Director Håkan Björnberg.

Source: http://www.perstorp.com

In August, Cereplast opened a corporate office in Hyderabad, capital of the Indian state Andhra Pradesh, to service its partners in South Asia and appointed a Technical Services Engineer to provide on-site services. The presence in India along with a full time support team has enabled Cereplast to evaluate new opportunities including working closely with several corporations specialized in plastic durable applications. The first application to be commercialized in India will be safety helmets made of Sustainable Biopropylene H-101.

The resins will be delivered by A.R.M.Y India, Cereplast's partner in Hyderabad who has begun importing resins from Cereplast following the press conference held in early September.

Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, commented "We are excited by the growth opportunities in South Asia, and are committed to supporting our expansion in the region, particularly in India. We are pleased by this first successful order from our partner A.R.M.Y. and we are optimistic that additional orders will follow."

Mr. Scheer continued, "India is a market with a rapidly growing demand for bioplastic alternatives to conventional plastics, and we are poised to take advantage of this opportunity in the second most populous country in the world. We anticipate that this will become a major market for Cereplast."

Source: www.cereplast.com

MGP, a long-established innovator of grain- and other plant-based ingredient solutions, has announced the development of Terratek® BD, a new line of biodegradable composite resins. This newest entry in the company’s portfolio of eco-friendly bioplastic products will be introduced at the Sustainable Packaging Forum slated for Sept. 11-13 in Pittsburg, Penn.

“The launching of Terratek® BD represents another major step in MGP’s ongoing commitment to deliver commercially-viable product offerings that help reduce reliance on conventional petroleum-based plastics,” said Mike Parker, bioplastics product development and sales manager. “It provides an ideal alternative for multiple applications wherein the manufacture of fully compostable products is highly desirable.”

Parker emphasized that “among the most unique aspects and advantages” of Terratek® BD is the product’s “unique ability to serve as a cost effective solution for creating heat-tolerant, bio-based compostable products” compared to similar type resins. “We view this as a significant breakthrough in that it can open new doors for the development of end-user products that maintain their physical integrity under moderate to high heat conditions.”

Applications for Terratek® BD include a variety of injection-molded industrial and consumer products such as disposable packaging materials and containers. “This material can be used in many other injection-molded applications including durable products that can benefit from being compostable at the end of their lifespan,” Parker said.

Terratek® BD is produced at MGP’s facility in Onaga, Kan., from a proprietary blend of wheat- and corn-based products, as well as other compostable materials. Natural components derived from renewable grain sources make up the majority of the resins’ content by weight. The smooth, white, pellet-size resins can be easily processed, shaped and colored by finished goods manufacturers to meet their specific product designs and needs.

“All of the materials used in the production of Terratek® BD meet industry standards for fully compostable products,” said Mark Kocour, bioplastics general manager at MGP. “In addition to the excellent heat tolerance displayed by these new resins, they possess outstanding mechanical qualities, including strength and a rare combination of rigidity and pliability. This bolsters our confidence in their ability to be effectively applied toward the manufacture of a growing range of biodegradable consumer packaged goods that are both highly practical and environmentally-friendly.”

In addition to MGP’s new Terratek® BD line, the company produces and markets Terratek® SC, a starch-based bioplastic, and Terratek® WC, made from a combination of fine wood particles and recycled plastic materials.

Made from up to 65 percent renewable material, Terratek® SC is similar to thermoplastics, and can be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes for the production of both pliable and hard plastic products. This line of resins is also capable of withstanding temperatures beyond boiling point and can be processed into finished products using conventional and existing technologies.

Wood particles used in the production of Terratek® WC are obtained from waste materials generated by the woodworking industry. Processed to produce a consistent filler/reinforcing product, the use of these particles promotes the reclamation of wood waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills, and ensures that no new trees are cut down to make the product. Available in an injection molding grade, as well as an extrusion grade, Terratek® WC can be used in such applications as decking, furniture parts, structural components, toys and indoor and outdoor decorative items.

“All of the products under our Terratek® brand respond to growing interest in renewable sources to address environmental concerns and curtail dependence on non-renewable synthetic materials,” Parker said. “In this way, MGP is helping the industry and consumers make strides toward lowering their carbon footprint.”

Source: http://www.mgpingredients.com

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products today announced that it granted Nam Liong Enterprise Co., Ltd., a license to use its corporate brand with Nam Liong’s Ureamax® Plus TPU films. Ureamax® Plus is used as a membrane in the manufacturing of waterproof and/or breathable textiles and contains a minimum 20 percent by weight of Susterra® biobased propanediol. The brand license can also be used in its Enprotex® Plus waterproof and/or breathable woven fabrics containing at least 20 percent by weight Susterra® content in the TPU or PU-based resin.

Susterra® propanediol is certified 100 percent biobased by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making it attractive for companies seeking to add renewable content to their products. A peer reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates that the production of biobased propanediol offers significant environmental benefits including up to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and 40 percent less non-renewable energy used in its production vs. petroleum-based glycols.

"We are proud to be working with Nam Liong on this exciting new Susterra® application that brings renewably sourced, environmentally friendly, high-performance products to market. Our goals are perfectly aligned; it's a great partnership," said Todd Sutton, president of DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products.

"Innovation from using the Susterra® biobased material for Nam Liong’s Ureamax® Plus TPU membranes and Enprotex® Plus fabrics creates new business development opportunities in more applications such as outdoor jackets and gloves, sport leisure shoes and bags, medical protective wear, life jackets, etc. Nam Liong not only attracts recognition from the leading brands and manufacturers for its innovation but the company also is recognized for its commitment to environmental caring, including energy savings and carbon footprint reduction," commented Ting Kuo, vice general manager of Nam Liong

Nam Liong Enterprise Co., Ltd., based in Taiwan, was established in June 1972. The company manufactures polyurethane and textile materials for sports shoes and apparel. In addition to its Ureamax® Plus brand of waterproof TPU membranes and its Enprotex® Plus waterproof/breathable fabrics, other product lines include Seamate® - neoprene foams and laminations and Armortex® - abrasion resistant, flame retardant and protective products. Nam Liong brings an integrated business offering of material manufacturing and marketing with products sold globally.

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products is a joint venture between DuPont, a global science company, and Tate & Lyle, a world-leading renewable food and industrial ingredients company. DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products provides natural and renewably sourced ingredients that do not compromise product performance. For more information on the company’s products, visit http://www.duponttateandlyle.com.

Zhejiang Forestry Research Institute natural biodegradable bamboo based biological composite plastic project passed through the provincial identification recently.

This project is one of the Zhejiang Provincial Key Science & Technology Projects. It is a result of cooperation between Zhejiang Forestry Research Institute and other companies in Zhejiang province.

The project development process includes bamboo powder hydrophobic modification technology, design of bamboo powder and biodegradable plastic PHBV (poly-hydroxy butyrateco-valerate) mixed components, and bamboo based biological composite plastic extrusion and injection molding process.

The breakthroughs in those key technologies made it possible to develop bamboo based biological composite plastic injection molding products from the raw materials of bamboo processing residues and degradable biological plastic PHBV.

The products cost 25% to 30% less than the pure biological plastic products. And it has the advantages of higher strength, modulus and heat distortion temperature which improved the pure biological plastic high cost, poor heat resistance.

The main performance indicators have reached the national standard requirements.  A 200 tons / year bamboo based biological composite plastic trial production line and an injection molding products trial production line have been built based on this project result.

More information: www.zjforestry.ac.cn

Solegear Bioplastics Inc., a developer of award-winning bioplastic technologies, has teamed up with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to jointly develop new bioplastic using their respective proprietary formulations and technologies.

Since commercializing its initial portfolio of 100% non-toxic, bio-based and compostable bioplastics in 2010, Solegear has focused on creating customized, high-performance bioplastic solutions for some of the world’s leading companies. This has been achieved by collaborating with an international team of scientists, creating partnerships through the full plastics supply chain and consistently developing new technologies that increase the strength, processability and real-world performance of today’s bioplastics.

“The collaboration with NRC builds on the partnership we’ve had since 2007.” says Solegear CEO, and founder Toby Reid, “The Polymer Bioproducts team at the NRC is world-renowned for their understanding and expertise in stabilizing bioplastics, and is a great fit with our technology for modifying specific performance characteristics of bioplastics. This project sets the stage to deliver significant technology breakthroughs that would be otherwise unachievable if we both worked independently. It’s Canadian collaboration and innovation in action.”

“The team at Solegear has done an excellent job to identify key market opportunities in the rapidly growing field of biopolymers. Their technological expertise and their commercialization acumen make them a valuable partner in our efforts to bring these Canadian innovations to the market,” says Nathalie Legros, Group Leader for Polymer Bioproducts at NRC. “We look forward to continued success with Solegear and to helping make Canada a leader in biopolymers and bioproducts.”

About Solegear Bioplastics Inc.
Solegear, based in Vancouver BC, engineers, produces and distributes high-performance bioplastic made from rapidly renewable resources. Founded in 2006, Solegear has developed proprietary bioplastics formulations under the brand name Polysole® – a 100% non-toxic, bio-based and compostable bioplastic. In 2010, Solegear was awarded Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Award recognizing outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development.

Purac will be presenting biobased solutions for high performance Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) at Fakuma 2012, 16 - 20 October in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Fakuma 2012 is one of the most important exhibitions for the plastics processing industry worldwide, and will provide the forum for Purac to present its PURALACT^® Lactide innovations. These innovations open up new possibilities for producers seeking biobased alternatives to current fossil fuel based engineering plastics.

PLA now offers the possibility to replace PS, PP and ABS in those applications where heat resistance is a key requirement. Purac's technology can increase the heat stability of PLA to the range of 80 - 180 degrees Celsius.

Purac's solutions for high performance PLA for the injection molding and thermoforming industries unlock bioplastic potential for high temperature applications, such as microwavable food packaging and hot beverage cups, and also for durable applications in a range of high end markets, such as automotive, carpet, clothing and consumer electronics and appliances. PURALACT L & D based homopolymers - known as PLLA and PDLA - are the key to this improved heat performance and are now commercially available from Purac.

At Fakuma 2012, Purac will demonstrate its capabilities by presenting thin wall, thermoformed hot beverage cups produced from PURALACT based PLA which are able to resist the high temperatures associated with hot beverages like tea or coffee.

Source: http://www.purac.com

Cereplast, Inc.  a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, sustainable bioplastics, today announced that Hybrid 651D has been nominated for the MATERIALICA 2012 award in the "Material" category. Out of approximately one hundred submissions, eight materials, including Cereplast Hybrid 651D, were selected for the "Material" category. Cereplast's Hybrid 651D is the only bioplastic material that was nominated for this year's award. The silver, gold and "best-of" awards will be announced during the awards ceremony on October 23, 2012 at MATERIALICA 2012, the 15^th International Trade Fair for Materials Applications, Surface Technology and Product Engineering, which will take place at the Munich Trade Fair Center.

MATERIALICA is Europe's top event for material-driven and supplier-oriented product innovations. The future-oriented innovative field of "lightweight design" continues to set the course for a new age in electric mobility, aerospace, new energy and automotive industries as well as groundbreaking product developments in the sports and leisure arena. This is why the trade fair MATERIALICA is specifically highlighting Lightweight Design this year. The focus will be on innovative lightweight concepts for the consumer sectors mentioned above.

A new addition to the Cereplast Hybrid Resins^® product line, Hybrid 651D is the first EA and starch hybrid resin. Hybrid 651D is a tough, soft touch, pliable material that is ideal for extrusions and soft injection moldable applications, providing the desirable properties of conventional EA while offering a lower carbon footprint and expanding the range of properties available for durable bioplastic materials. It can be used for the manufacture of consumer goods and packaging, footwear, handbags and other fashion accessories, as well as wire and cable insulation, soft plastic goods such as tubes and hoses and adhesion layers for multi-layer films.

Source: www.cereplast.com

Most plastic application generate scrap and waste in one form or another. Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH has taken advantage of the growing use of bioplastics. Production waste can be melt lumps, sprues and defective parts in injection moulding, parison waste in blow moulding or for example edge trim, cutoffs and off-spec startup material in film and fibre production processes.

NGR has suggested that its new technology can only gain importance for bioplastics, which often cost as much as €3 per kilogram or even more.

The easiest way of recovering these materials is to shred them to chips and re-feed them into the process together with the new material, but as easy as that is, it can lead to process difficulties like:

• Inconsistent feeding performance of the production extruder
• Air inclusions in the melt that lead to defects of the finished products
• No way of removing process materials like printing inks and similar

NGR’s solution involves recycling machines that feed the material to the extruder with an integrated cutter-feeder, which consists of a slow rotating cutter shaft with knives that cut against fixed knives like scissors, and a feeding zone that conveys the material to the extruder without pre-heating it.

The NGR Cutter-Feeder-Extruder can reportedly recycle most of the commonly used bioplastics, such as starch or PLA-based products. The screws, vacuum vent and melt filter can all be tailored to the special requirements of bioplastics, for example low heating of the material or the removing of printing inks.

This method is also sensitive towards monitoring slight changes in the molecular mass distribution resulting from the inevitable heat stress in any polymer processing step.

Source: http://www.observatorioplastico.com

Although attracted initially by environmental benefits, car makers and their suppliers are also asking what added functionality they can get from non-compostable, bio-based materials. One advantage is of course lighter, more cost-effective vehicles. A rule-of-thumb is that 5% less weight means average fuel savings of 3%, according to industry association Plastics Europe.

However, weight advantages are not assured. Some 'classic' bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) have a higher density than their petroleum-based counterparts, the Belgium-based European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) told European Plastics News.

ACEA said soy-based seat foams and upholstery can also be heavier. Ford and Fiat say soy-based seats in their vehicles weigh as much as if made with traditional materials. Natural fibre-reinforced plastic, on the other hand, offers 5% to 15% weight saving, depending on what it replaces.

Bioplastics are not as affected by oil price volatility as petroleum-based materials, an advantage over traditional plastics. "The importance [of bioplastics] will certainly continuously grow with crude oil shortage," said an ACEA spokesperson.

Still, environmental benefits remain important. "Plastics, regardless of the raw material used, are lightweight and cost-efficient materials," said Thomas Bauwens, a spokesman for Plastics Europe. "If, on top of this, bioplastics can further reduce the environmental burden...then car manufacturers will be interested in choosing bioplastics."

And manufacturers certainly interested are interested. Reduced dependence on volatile energy markets is one of the benefits of bioplastics, said John Viera, Ford Motor Company's director of sustainable business strategies.

Ford's use of soy-foam seat cushions has allowed its supply chain to reduce petroleum usage in production by more than 2,300 tonnes annually while lowering carbon dioxide emissions by some 9,000 tonnes, said Viera.

Where Ford cannot save weight through soy-based seats, it uses honeycomb-structured traditional plastics for a 20% weight reduction, which leads to better fuel economy and reduced carbon emissions. These foam seat backs and cushions with up to 24% renewable material appear in all Ford vehicles. Also, 75% of Ford vehicles produced annually contain soy-based foam in headrests, including the 2013 Fusion, F-150, Taurus, and Explorer.

The company is also researching natural fibres, such as rice hulls and coconut reinforcement, for moulded plastic parts. These would reduce petroleum use in manufacturing and make parts lighter and more natural-looking as the long fibres are visible in the plastic.

"The team is researching formulations using up to 30% natural fibres, which would typically replace talc or glass in traditional automotive plastic composite formulations," Viera said.

He hailed the 2010 Ford Flex for the first ever application of wheat straw-reinforced plastic, used for third-row interior storage bins, which offers annual savings of some 9 tonnes in petroleum.

Bioplastics feature in some Ford doors. A 50:50 polyethylene composite with fibre from kenaf, a tropical plant, is replacing oil-based materials for door bolsters in the new Escape. Lignotock -  15% phenol formaldehyde thermoset and 85% wood fibre - provides lighter, better sound-deadening than conventional glass-reinforced thermoplastics.

Toyota Motor Group, another car giant, has reduced CO2 emissions from parts manufacturing by 20% thanks to bioplastics, said its subsidiary Toyota Canada.

Carbon neutrality is achieved over the cycle from raw material to end-of-use, bioplastic car part. Living plants remove CO2 from air while expired parts are recycled in a thermal process re-releasing that CO2.

Toyota claims to have been the first to use sugar cane-based PET in vehicle liners and other interior surfaces. In North America, it combines PLA derived from sweet potato, corn, and sugar beet with other polymers.

Processing methods for bioplastic depend on the car part. For upholstery material on door and luggage area trims, PLA is mixed with PET. For injection moulded parts such as scuff plates and interior trims, finely ground PLA is dispersed in polypropylene (PP).

Many Toyota vehicles have soy-based seat cushions, including the Prius, Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, and Lexus RX 350. The Lexus HS 250 is packed with bio-based parts, including the luggage trim upholstery, cowl side trim, seat cushions, door scuff plate and tool box area. Toyota aims to have 20% of all plastic components in its vehicles made of bioplastics by 2015.

Italian car maker Fiat is also becoming a convert. A spokesperson for Centro Ricerche Fiat, its research company, said: "Use of bioplastics allows us to increase the ecofriendly profile of our products, assuring same or better performances, possibly at same costs."

The company has used castor oil-derived polyamides and soya-derived polyurethanes to replace their crude-oil-derived equivalents in more than one million vehicles and plans to continue this. For context, Fiat Group Automobiles shipped nearly 2.2 million vehicles world-wide in 2011.

Fiat cars for Brazil contain polyurethane seat foams with about 5% soy polyol. It is still seeking improvements; for example, the foam seats cannot contain more than 5% bio-based material or they lose performance in elasticity.

Fiat is also looking to increase the amount of bio-fillers it uses to reinforce some vehicles' plastics and elastomers. In 2011, its use of DuPont's castor oil-based Zytel RS polyamide 1010 in some fuel lines won the Automotive Innovation award in the environmental category from the United States and Europe-based Society of Plastics Engineers.

DuPont's technology and strategic partnerships to create novel methods of manufacturing high-performance materials from renewable resources have featured big name car manufacturers in recent years.

The company's Zytel RS line of bioplastics is a renewably sourced long chain of nylon products, between 60% and 100% bio-material, that can be adapted for temperature resistance. It also provides the Sorona EP line of 20-37% starch-based polymer resins as well as the Hytrel RS line of 20% and 60% non-food biomass based thermoplastic polyester elastomers. Toyota in Japan launched the Prius 'A' alpha car featuring Dupont's Sorona EP in the instrument-panel air-conditioning system outlet.

Japan-based Mazda claims two car industry firsts: a plant-derived content above 80%, for interior fittings in its Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid car; and a 100% plant-derived biofabric for seat covers.

US-based Johnson Controls will meanwhile provide Germany's BMW with door panels combining wood fibres and plastics making them 20% lighter than with traditional materials. These will feature in the new BMW 3 Series of cars, making them more fuel efficient.

Daimler, for the same reasons, mixes kenaf, flax, and sisal in plastics for its door linings. Mercedes-Benz's Biome concept car is envisaged as a vehicle that would be 'grown in a lab' from organic biofibres, stronger than steel but lighter than metal and compostable at the end of its life.

Bioplastics have not yet been used to make external car components. Price is one obstacle, because such external parts cannot yet be manufactured on the same scale as interior components, said John Williams, head of materials for energy and industry at the UK's non-profit National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC).

"[Also] you have the requirements of strength that you don't necessarily have with bioplastics," said Frederic Scheer, CEO and chairman of Cereplast, a US and European based provider of starch-based resin pellets that can be processed in existing equipment to create bonding agents in car manufacturing.

Williams expects more durable bioplastics soon, though. "I've seen mainstream developments not yet launched where these things can be, ultimately, the outside panel," he said.

Williams also expects cost disparities between renewable and traditional plastics to decrease, spurred by continued development and, possibly, rising oil prices.

Thomas Bauwens at Plastics Europe predicts the market for fuel-efficient, lighter vehicles in general will grow as European car manufacturing recovers.

"With the present focus of the European automotive industry on 'green vehicles' the need for plastic materials in cars will probably grow," he added.

Cereplast likewise sees Europe as a growth market. Some 80% of its sales are in European continental markets where it continues to expand, with a new headquarters in Germany and a manufacturing plant in Italy purchased last year.

"We look at Europe as one of our top priorities for 2012, 2013, and going beyond," said Cereplast's Scheer. "Bioplastics will become so sophisticated that they will basically substitute plastics as we see it today."

Source: www.prw.com

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products today announced that Panasonic Corporation Eco Solutions Company has adopted biobased resins made with Susterra® Propanediol for their new line of kitchen and bathroom systems. The new integrated kitchen system, “Living Station,” and bathroom system, “Cococino,” both use biobased resins made with Susterra® and are now available commercially through Panasonic Corporation Eco Solutions Company.

The new kitchen and bathroom systems were developed using Panasonic’s unique technology of compounding plant-derived and petroleum-derived resins. The resins based on plant-derived, Susterra® are used to manufacture the kitchen countertops in the “Living Station” product line and the bathroom ceilings in the “Cococino” product line.

For the first time in the Asia Pacific region, biobased resins were adopted as the building material for wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. The biobased materials also are used for the wash basins and toilets in the Panasonic product line.

“The quality requirement for wet area system materials is very high,” commented Kazumasa Rokushima, director of the General Technology & Products Development Center, Housing Systems Business Group at the Panasonic Eco Solutions Company. “We are delighted to be the first in the industry with a biobased commercialized product offering. This achievement contributes to Panasonic’s sustainability goals as outlined in ‘Green Plan 2018.’ The year 2018 is the 100th anniversary of the Panasonic Company.”

Susterra® propanediol is certified 100 percent biobased by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making it attractive for companies seeking to add renewable content to their products. A peer-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates that the production of biobased propanediol offers significant environmental benefits including up to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and 40 percent less non-renewable energy used in its production vs. petroleum-based glycols.

Panasonic Corporation Eco Solutions Company, formed on January 1, 2012, is part of the Panasonic Group with offices in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. The company is committed to promoting customer solutions that make the most use of a broad range of the Panasonic Group's product lines from energy-related products such as solar power generation systems/storage batteries, and air conditioning/ventilation equipment to food-related systems including cold-chain equipment. The goal of the Panasonic Group is to become the No.1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry in 2018, the 100th anniversary of its founding. As a member of the Group, the Eco Solutions Company will continue practicing its management principle by making the 'environment' central to all of its business activities and providing comfortable yet eco-friendly products and services globally.

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products is a joint venture between DuPont, a global science company, and Tate & Lyle, a world-leading renewable food and industrial ingredients company. DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products provides natural and renewably sourced ingredients that do not compromise product performance. For more information on the company’s products, visit http://www.duponttateandlyle.com.

Source: prweb.com

Giroflex-forma, in partnership with Braskem and Cromex, debuts its first line of seats made from renewable raw materials at the stadium of São Paulo Football Club.

São Paulo, July 2012 - Giroflex-forma, a leading furniture maker in Latin America, has launched Brazil's first seats incorporating plastic made from renewable raw materials, which will be installed in the boxes at Morumbi Stadium in the city of São Paulo. Developed in partnership with Cromex and Braskem, the seats use polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol, a high-value material that is 100% renewable and recyclable.

"The main innovation is the high level of sustainability incorporated into the project's design, with the plastic used in the seats made from ethanol, a renewable energy source that replaces the traditional petroleum-based compound," said Linaldo Vilar, director of new business at giroflex-forma. Over the next three years, the company plans to invest nearly R$6 million in the sports-arena seating market.

Manufactured by Braskem, the world's leading biopolymer producer, the resin in these "sugar seats" is recognized worldwide for maintaining the benefits and properties of traditional plastic, while being more sustainable. The most important advantage is its capacity to help reduce the greenhouse gas effect, since it removes 2.5 tons of carbon gas (CO2) from the atmosphere for every ton produced.

Cromex, the leader in color masterbatches and additives, has developed a new generation of compounds for use in the Green PE seats. These are additives that enhance performance and processing with formulas free of heavy metals and halogen-free flame-retardant properties and that comply with the standards of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Brazilian Association of Technical Norms (ABNT).

About giroflex-forma
The largest Brazilian company in its market segment, giroflex-forma is the leading Brazilian manufacturer of furniture, seats and solutions for workspaces. Its leading position reflects its pioneering nature. It was the first company in Brazil to apply ergonomic concepts to corporate furniture and chair designs. The brand has become a reference in well-being by imparting comfort, flexibility and beauty in work environments. With over 30 stores nationwide, giroflex-forma has nine points of sale in Latin America.

About Braskem
Braskem is the top thermoplastic resins producer in the Americas. With 35 industrial plants in Brazil, the United States and Germany, the company produces over 35 billion pounds of thermoplastic resins and other petrochemicals per year. Braskem is the world's leading biopolymers producer with its 440 million pound green polyethylene plant that produces polyethylene from sugarcane-based ethanol.

About Cromex
Cromex is Brazil's leader in color masterbatches and additives for plastics, with two industrial units (Sao Paulo and Bahia) with production capacity of 132 kton/year and average annual revenue of more than R$400 million. Its two production facilities create more than 500 direct jobs and hold ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications. Cromex has a portfolio of over 13,000 colors and additives developed by its in-house laboratories, which serve 18 different segments in the plastics industry, including toys, packaging and caps for various segments (food, beverages, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning) civil construction plastics, auto industry and agribusiness.

Source: http://www.braskem.com.br

Showa Denko K.K. (SDK), at its Tatsuno Plant in Hyogo Prefecture, has succeeded in producing biodegradable polyester resin Bionolle^TM on a commercial scale using bio-derived succinic acid.  SDK has started providing film-grade samples of this product.

Bionolle^TM, which can be fully decomposed after use into water and carbon dioxide, has been used in compost bags and mulch films.  To reduce CO₂ emissions and better protect the environment, SDK has worked to use bio-derived raw materials.  Specifically, SDK has developed the volume production technology for Bionolle^TM that uses succinic acid made from starches or sugars.  This means that about 50% of main raw materials for Bionolle^TM are now bio-derived.  As for Bionolle Starcla^TM, in which starch is mixed with Bionolle^TM, the ratio can be increased to about 70%. Both of Bionolle^TM and Bionolle Starcla^TM  have been certified compostable by OK Compost and DIN CERTCO according to EN13432.

The product is being test-marketed to some customers, including Natur-Tec®, a division of Northern Technologies International Corp. (NASDAQ: NTIC), a U.S.-based global bioplastics products manufacturer. The company is already using conventional grades of Bionolle^TM for certain high-volume consumer goods packaging applications developed by Harita-NTI Ltd, its joint-venture in India. Vineet Dalal, Vice President and Director of Global Market Development for NTIC’s Natur-Tec® Business Unit, said, "Our customers are increasingly demanding higher biobased carbon content in our materials, in order to reduce the overall carbon footprint of their finished products. We are excited at the possibility of incorporating SDK’s bio-derived Bionolle^TM into our compounds and converted plastic products, to meet this burgeoning market demand.”

In view of the increasing international awareness of the need for environmental protection, SDK aims to expand the sales of Bionolle^TM biodegradable plastic based on bio-derived raw materials.  By the end of this year, SDK will be able to secure the supply of 10,000-20,000 tons a year of bio-derived succinic acid.  The company will therefore step up its activity to meet new demand.

Source:  http://www.sdk.co.jp

The recycling company Plasticos Escanero has signed a collaboration agreement with the Aragon Technological Institute (ITA) in order to research the production of biodegradable materials in their Sariñena (Huesca) recycling facilities.

As stated by the company manager, Angel Escanero, in recent declarations to Europa Press, the aim is the extrusion of organic materials , like wood, hay, wheat straw, barley, rice and other harvest remains, so that to create new products with industrial applications.

To do so, the company will start developing polymers with natural capsulated fibers. Furthermore, the local factory in Huesca has a feasibility research agreement with the Industrial Technological Development Center (CEDET) which allows them the creation of a materials laboratory.

These agreements will allow the company to have the facilities and extrusion team needed dedicated to the research and development of biodegradables, and the initial opportunity of eight new jobs which could be increased up to 15 with the plant working at its full capacity.

Source:  http://www.pesl.es