BIOPLASTICS | MATERIALS


of its size. It has a high glass transition temperature, allowing it to stay dry and durable when in contact with boiling hot water. “Few, if any, plastics made from natural resourc- es have this quality,” said Gregory Sotzing of the University of Connecticut, and a co-author of the paper. Polycarbonate is typically made using bisphenol-


A, he said, which is “a known endocrine disruptor”. The researchers hope that cannabidiol (CBD) – the main chemical compound found in the hemp flower – can replace BPA in today’s processed plastics. This CBD can be used to make transparent plastic films, coatings and other products such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is widely used in single-use water bottles, food packaging and substrates for flexible electronics. Sotzing and colleagues developed a hemp- based plastic film and tested the processing parameters that give it the right structure and properties for widespread use. “This polycarbonate has, as a smooth film, a very high contact angle with water,” said Sotzing. “We were not expecting our polyCBD-carbonate to have a higher contact angle than most polyolefins.” The researchers are now studying the products formed when CBD reacts with commercial triphos- gene, a crystalline solid used with hemp to pro- duce the material. The team also wants to develop a version of the hemp-derived plastic with greater mechanical strength – and to pilot a scaled-up version of the manufacturing process.


Scaling up Traceless, a Germany-based bioplastics producer, recently opened its first industrial production facility, in Hamburg. Covering around 4,000 sq m, it brings together


production, sales, product and technology develop- ment, logistics and administration. It has an annual capacity of around 3,000 tonnes of bioplastic. All central areas of the plant have been commis-


sioned, and production will ramp up soon. The company employs around 110 people. The company’s pilot plant, which has run in Buchholz since 2022, will also relocate to the site. Investment for the plant exceeds €20 million. To


further expand capacity in the future, Traceless is already planning a larger industrial plant. The material is based on ‘natural polymers derived from agricultural residues’. Through a patented process, these polymers – such as cellulose and lignin – are extracted, functionalised and granulated to achieve thermoplastic properties. Traceless-Form can be processed on conven-


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tional machines, is compatible with cold- and hot-runner systems and suitable for multi-cavity moulds. Processing temperatures of 110–130°C allow efficient manufacturing and may reduce energy consumption compared to conventional polymers, says the company. The company has also teamed up with Biester-


feld, which will distribute its Traceless-Form injection moulding grades in Europe. “By combining Biesterfeld’s distribution strength with our material innovation, we are taking a decisive step towards bringing bio-based materials from niche applications into industrial reality,” said Anne Lamp, CEO of Traceless.


Biodegradable mulch At the recent Agricultural Films conference, organ- ised by AMI, Vincent Rohart, R&D project leader at Polyexpert, told delegates that biodegradable mulch (BDM) film does not always degrade in soil – and may need industrial composting. The company’s research objectives are to test BDMs in real climates, crops and soil types – and compare key parameters such as resin type, film thickness, colour and weather conditions. In addition, he said there is a range of materials used – which are either bio- or fossil-based, and biode- gradable or non-biodegradable. “We need resins that actually degrade under field conditions, regardless of whether they are bio- or fossil-based,” he said. He described the company’s resins, which are all based on PBAT – a biodegradable though fossil- based material. Three of them (BG-7805, BG-7807 and BG-7887) are all PBAT/PLA blends. “They have different degradation mechanisms and mechanical strengths,” he said. In addition, the film gauge and its colour will also determine its degradation speed. Films have been tested at various US locations including those with strong sun, high rainfall and extreme heat.


July/August 2026 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 15


Above: The UNICO2RN project will use biogenic CO2 as a feedstock for bioplastics


IMAGE: NOVA INSTITUTE


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