BIOPLASTICS | MATERIALS


Improving bioplastics to win injection moulders


The use of bioplastics continues to rise and injection moulders have an increasing number of options, from PBS, PLA and PEF to a new cellulose engineering plastic. Mark Holmes reports on recent developments in plastics from renewable resources


The growth in plastics made from sustainable resources continues and an increasing number of suppliers are emerging, manufacturing resins from a wide variety of sources, to meet rising demand. The consumer preference for more sustainable products is a key driver for the growth of the bio-based plastics market, according to Lawrence Theunissen, Global Director Application Development at Reverdia. He highlights a recent report (Brand Perspectives on Biomaterials #WhatBrandsWant, 2017 by Sustainability Consult) that shows 65% of brands perceive consumer demand for environmen- tally-friendly products as a factor for bio-based materials growth. This means that brand owners have to adapt to consumers’ expectations and


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constantly find environmentally superior substitutes for fossil-based products. He cites a second driver being that renewable products can display im- proved performance compared to traditional materials. These performance benefits drive an increased demand from brands. “At Reverdia, we enable bio-based footwear and


environmentally-friendly packaging solutions with enhanced performance,” says Theunissen. “This covers a wide range of packaging types based on Biosuccinium, such as injection moulded or thermoformed recyclable packaging, and also laminated, single-use packaging.” According to recent figures from European Bioplastics, which represents bio-based polymer


Main image: Lego has


launched toy trees and bushes made with bio-based PE supplied by Braskem


March 2018 | INJECTION WORLD 15


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