MATERIALS | BIOPLASTICS
parallel, a ‘control’ compost test was conducted with no packaging added. “The results send a strong signal to governments across Europe to grant certified compostable plastics access to biowaste collection and composting infrastructure,” said Paolo La Scola, public affairs manager at TotalEnergies Corbion. The research, carried out over a four-month period, took place with
real industrial composting condi- tions without forced aeration. Re- searchers from the University of Mont- pellier and AgroParisTech monitored the
Above:
Novamont’s Mater-Bi material is widely used to make products such as
shopping bags
study in collaboration with the industrial com- posting platform of the Syndicat de Centre Héraut in Aspiran.
BOPLA tie-up TotalEnergies Corbion has also teamed up with Changsu Industrial for the market promotion, product development, and research and develop- ment of new technologies and applications of biaxially oriented polylactic acid (BOPLA). “The bioplastic industry in China has seen
tremendous growth with new technological breakthroughs in bio-based materials,” said Mou Qingying, vice president at Changsu Industrial. Changsu is a producer of speciality plastic films.
Right: UPM and Selenis will develop sustainable PETG for applications including heat shrink sleeves
BOPLA is made from bio-based PLA using biaxial stretching technology. One collaboration involves the development of BOPLA-based adhesive tapes made of Changsu’s BiOnly, which will replace conventional material. New regulations have already been announced to encourage the adoption of biodegradable materials in China’s postal service by 2025 – which is where this will be used.
Bio-based PP US-based Citroniq and Mitsui Plastics Inc, part of Japan’s Mitsui group, have signed a letter of intent covering large- scale supply of bio-based PP, which is to be produced by Citroniq using biogenic feedstocks and renewable energy. Citroniq co-founder Mel
Badheka said: “Together, MPI and Citroniq will be able
18 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | July/August 2023
IMAGE: SELENIS
–
to provide customers with global-scale supplies of ‘drop-in’ sustainable resins much faster than the alterna- tives, resulting in meaningful reductions in their carbon footprint, on schedule with their carbon reduction targets.” In a statement announcing the agreement,
Citroniq said its plant at Kansas in the US has more than 360,000 tonnes capacity for green PP and a “highly competitive cost position.” At the same time, Braskem says it is evaluating a US-based project to convert bioethanol into physically segregated bio-based PP. The company is currently exploring partnerships with several clients, brand owners, and suppliers. Braskem, which is already a leader in bio-based
PE, said its bio-based PP would be a drop-in solution offering the same technical properties and recyclability found in its current PP portfolio but with the additional benefit of a negative carbon footprint. The company said the US is home to the largest ethanol industry in the world with ample technol- ogy, infrastructure, and supply availability for the project.
Compounding in China BASF is to establish compounding capacity for its compostable Ecovio polymer in Shanghai, China, with commercial quantities of material expected to be available from mid-2023. The first compound products will include film
grades for applications such as compostable shopping and organic waste bags, soil-biodegrad- able agricultural mulch films, and packaging. Ecovio compostable polymers comprise a blend
of BASF’s petrochemical-based Ecoflex PBAT and renewable polymers such as PLA. They comply with all requirements of both EU and US food contact regulations.
Novamont bought Versalis, a division of Italy- based Eni, has taken full ownership of bioplastics supplier Novamont. The company, which had
a 36% stake, has now bought the remaining 64% that was owned by Mater-Bi – which is controlled by Investitori Associati II and NB Renaissance. The next steps of the deal – and the timing of its closing are subject to approval by the
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