NEWS
Bioplastics association disagrees with compostable plastics study
European Bioplastics has taken issue with a recent scientific paper – which claims that “compostable plastics and recycled plastics are more toxic than conventional plastic”. A study by by three research
organisations in Spain – which was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials – analysed the effect of compostable plastic bags, conven- tional plastic bags, and other recycled plastic bags on fish liver cells. In the experiment, the researchers used methanol to extract substances
Sonoco closes plant
US-based packaging manufacturer Sonoco is to close a facility in California, with the loss of more than 300 jobs. The plant, in Exeter, will close in November, according to a report in the local Sun-Gazette newspaper. “We continue to
evaluate our manufactur- ing footprint based on long-term economic viability and the ability to cost effectively serve our customers,” said the company in an email. “Against this backdrop, we have made the difficult decision to close the Exeter facility.” The plant makes rigid plastic packaging for food products and has oper- ated since 2017. �
www.sonoco.com
4
from the samples, which were later analysed. They concluded that “incom- plete photodegradation and compost- ing increases the toxicity of plastics”. European Bioplastics said that using methanol as a solvent was “questionable”, because it was “completely arbitrary”. “What is lacking in the report is the
proof that methanol extraction does not modify the chemical structure of the analysed sample,” it said. “The use of methanol introduces a bias into the study. It is not comparable to a
real-life chemical leakage in the environment or migration in food.” European Bioplastics added that methanol itself is classified as a toxic liquid – while compostable plastics and recycled or virgin plastics are not classified as dangerous substances under EU Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. “The claims that recycled and compostable plastics are more toxic than virgin plastics are not supported by any scientific evidence,” it said. �
www.european-bioplastics.org
Cortec awarded US patent for compostable stretch wrap film
Cortec has been awarded a US patent for its Eco Wrap compostable stretch film technology. Eco Wrap is a speciality wrapping film that meets the EN 13432/ASTM D6400 standards for commercial composting and was certified industrially compostable by TÜV Austria in 2021. It is highly elastic and suited for general machine stretch wrapping applications, where it can replace conventional plastic stretch wrap. Eco Wrap can be used on most automated machines and typically applied by increasing the tension on standard stretch wrapping equip- ment. It has been tested on an orbital wrapping machine without breaking. The product is aimed at stretch film applica- tions in areas such as online retailing, agriculture and the food industry, it says. �
www.cortecvci.com
Tekni-Plex may be up for sale
Private equity firm Genstar Capital is considering selling medical packaging specialist Tekni-Plex, according to a Bloomberg report. The sale, if it goes ahead,
FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | October 2023
could value the company at more than US$4 billion, according to the report – which said Genstar was arranging an auction process. TekniPlex, founded in
1967, employs more than 7,000 people globally across its health-care and consumer businesses. The company was bought by Genstar in 2017. �
www.tekni-plex.com
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: CORTEC
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58
