Bioplastics News: Copenhagen Summit, Novozymes, Braskem, Novomer

Copenhagen summit delegates use Huhtamaki bioplastic cups

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Delegates at the climate change summit in Copenhagen are drinking cold beverages from Huhtamaki cups made from Naturework's Ingeo bioplastic.

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The conference organisers have ordered 285,000 BioWare cups, as well as 12,000 deli containers, for the 15,000 delegates who are expected to attend the two-week summit in the Danish capital.
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Novozymes and Braskem in bioplastic deal

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Novozymes, it seems, is flooding my inbox with lots of news from Copenhagen, but this one is pretty significant for the bioplastic market.

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Novozymes and Brazilian chemical company Braskem announced today that they formed a research partnership to develop large-scale polypropylene production from sugarcane. The sugar-based propylene production will use Novozyme's fermentation technology, although the development is expected to run for at least 5 years.

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Turning CO2 into Plastic Packaging

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A new technology from Novomer promises to use carbon dioxide as a feedstock for producing packaging and coating applications. Novomer says the the process uses half as much energy as traditional plastics manufacturing, reports Plastics Today.

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Novomer, which along with Eastman Kodak intends to commercialize the process, received funding of $400,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, reports The Boston Globe.

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The process could produce bottles and plastic shrink wrap that is used in numerous consumer packaged goods applications. The new plastic also offers an improved oxygen barrier, which will help preserve some sensitive perishable items.

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OK biobased: Vinçotte’s new and unique eco-label

Halfway through the 1990s, Vinçotte developed the OK compost conformity marks for products meeting the European EN 13432 standard, thereby playing a pioneering role during that period of time. Thanks to the new OK biobased certification system manufacturers can officially demonstrate the use of renewable raw materials via the independent OK biobased conformity marks.

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This is the first time an official certification body has launched a similar conformity mark based on exact measurements. Demand rose in particular from the packaging industry, as it is constantly on the look-out for renewable materials, owing to growing pressure on raw material prices and the way environmental regulations are being changed all over the world. The buying public’s growing awareness of environmental concerns is also ensuring an expanding market for these products. What is more, consumers are anxious to have a rock-solid guarantee about the claims found on packaging. Thanks to the new OK biobased eco-label, Vinçotte can offer a completely independent guarantee about the origin of products. In this case, “biobased” refers to products of a biologically renewable rather than a fossil origin.

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Petroplastics versus bioplastics

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The keen interest in bioplastics can be summed up in one concept: carbon footprint. Biobased products help limit our carbon footprint, while making us less dependent on fossil fuels. For several years now a whole host of companies have been marketing bio-resources partly or entirely on the basis of biologically renewable carbon.

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OK biobased certification: clear and straightforward

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Apart from fuels, products (partly) made from bioplastics and/or materials of natural origin are eligible for the OK biobased certification mark. The basic material is assessed in the light of exact analyses for determining the renewable organic carbon content. The same analysis method (C14) is used for dating bones. A straightforward calculation can be used to convert the analysis findings into an exact ‘biobased’ percentage.As a result of promoting correct and documented claims, Vinçotte is making a contribution to the harmonized development of alternative and sustainable technologies.

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One to four stars

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The communication strategy is based on a logo with one to four stars. The principle is quite straightforward: the more stars there are, the higher the biobased carbon content: one star means between 20% and 40% biobased material, two stars between 40% and 60%, three stars between 60% and 80% and four stars over 80%.
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Source

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Packaging of the Week: Feez, milk-based drinks

Via Lovely Package

Designed by HvingtQuatre Country: France

“A range of milk-based drinks with a take-away size in 4 flavours; Strawberry, Blackberry, Blueberry and Raspberry.

The milk adorns the packaging, the tasty fruit is brought out on the milk and on the opening that enables the drinking.”

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Are Biodegradable Bags a Viable Option for Composting?

Industry and governmental groups partnered to launch a campaign in Thailand to test the option of composting as an effective means of waste management for the country, utilizing biodegradable bags in the collection of household organic waste in the process.

The pilot program will also serve as a foundation for developing Thailand’s bioplastics industry, which was initially conceived in 2008. Some estimates put Thailand’s potential fertilizer generation capacity in the range of 6 million tons annually, creating a potential export product for the country.
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As composting programs continue to grow in cities such as San Francisco, broader means of collecting organic waste could be a future challenge.
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The use of bioplastic bags could address this issue, and in Thailand, will “further raise environmental awareness and encourage the use of environmentally friendly products as a new social norm,” according to Suchinda Chotipanich, permanent secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology and chairman of the Bioplastics Industry Development Subcommittee.
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This is the first time the government has initiated measures like this at the community level.

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“In evaluating and developing sustainable options for end-of-life product waste management, we have to remember that landfilling of organic, biodegradable waste generates methane – a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide – and composting helps to reduce emission levels of this harmful green house gases,” said Chotipanich.
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Jens Hamprecht, head of Global Product Management, Biodegradable Polymers for BASF, the company that created the Ecoflex bags utilized in the pilot, is confident that the project will serve as an example for other programs.
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“We believe this project will also be an excellent showcase for other countries in the region which are considering a similar initiative,” he said.

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Source

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Bioplastique : L’Estrie sous la loupe de Novamont

L’Estrie, terre d’accueil d’une usine de bioplastique dérivé de matières premières d’origine agricole?

A Lire aussi :

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Bientôt une usine de fabrication de bioplastique à Sherbrooke?

Les bioplastiques de Novamont convoités par l’Ontario

Nous sommes encore très loin de la coupe aux lèvres, mais la région estrienne fait tout de même partie de la réflexion de l’entreprise italienne Novamont, qui produit le Mater-Bi, une résine faite à partir de matières premières d’origine agricole et d’amidon non modifié génétiquement. Sa production se chiffre maintenant à 60 000 tonnes. Novamont approvisionne l’entreprise sherbrookoise Nova Envirocom, qui sert de cette résine dans la fabrication de ses ustensiles compostables. Le Mater-Bi permet de produire divers objets compostables, comme les ustensiles et les sacs.

Le directeur général de Novamont France, Christophe Doukhi de Boissoudy, est de passage à Sherbrooke ces jours-ci afin de rencontrer plusieurs intervenants, dont des représentants de l’université de Sherbrooke. Il a aussi prononcé une conférence, hier, à l’hôtel Delta, dans le cadre des rencontres maillage d’affaires, en collaboration avec le créneau Bio-industries environnementales de l’Estrie.

Novamont n’est pas encore installée en Amérique, mais elle regarde actuellement les possibilités qui s’offrent à elle.

«Nous souhaitons développer nos usines de production en fonction des bassins d’approvisionnement des matières premières. Nous utilisons des matières premières d’origine végétale, principalement l’amidon », explique M. Doukhi-de Boissoudy, qui est aussi président du Club Bioplastiques, une association française pour le développement des bioplastiques. L’entreprise créée en 1989 utilise aussi l’huile végétale, plus particulièrement l’huile de tournesol, dans ses procédés.

Dans ses critères d’implantation, Novamont s’intéresse aux possibilités de transformation des matières premières et à la proximité des marchés. L’entreprise qui possède deux usines en Italie, dont une bio-raffinerie, veut se développer au niveau mondial.

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« L’incitation politique » influencera aussi la décision des dirigeants de la compagnie. « le développement des bioplastiques et des débouchés agricoles se font lorsqu’il y a un souffle qui est donné par les politiques », commente M. Doukhi-de Boissoudy, en entrevue à La Tribune. Interrogé sur ses volontés, il précise cependant qu’aucune étude de marché n’a été réalisée en Estrie. « nous avons à réfléchir aux endroits stratégiques », répond-il.
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Nova Envirocom qui importe la résine de Novamont, verrait évidemment de très bon œil l’arrivé possible d’une telle usine dans la région. Aux yeux de Pierre Morency, fondateur et président de Nova Envirocom, il est clair que l’Estrie et le Québec, ont été les leaders dans le domaine des bioplastiques. Les conditions préalables pour développer un tel marché sont réunies.
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De plus, selon lui, c’est dans la région que l’on retrouve le plus de terres en friche et la plus forte concentration d’agriculture biologique. Avec les changements climatiques qui augmentent les pertes de culture, M. Morency croit qu’il faut utiliser ces pertes comme matières premières dans la production de bioplastique.
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Selon un document de Nova Envirocom s’appuyant sur des données du chercheur Islem Yezza, l’emballage est l’une des plus grandes sources de pollution et la majorité des emballages disponibles sur le marché québécois sont à base de pétro-plastiques.
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Christophe Doukhi-de Boissoudy estime aussi que l’on pourrait développer une industrie autour de la pellicule servant à la fabrication de sacs, par exemple. Quelque 70% de la production de résine de Novamont sert à fabriquer cette pellicule.
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Source : La Tribune, Isabelle Pion, Sherbrooke, 9 décembre 2009.

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Emballer ou ne pas emballer la banane, telle est la question....pour Del Monte

Del Monte vient de développer un nouvel emballage qui permet de prolonger la durée de vie des bananes. Le nouvel emballage permet de doubler la "shelf life of bananas" à l’air libre, du coup il permet de diminuer le nombre de livraisons et de réduire les déchets.

Encore une fois, on fait face à dilemme : Emballer pour prolonger la durée de conservation et donc réduire la quantité de pertes ou réduire pour ne pas dire éliminer l’emballage et se retrouver avec plus de déchets. Diminuer le nombre de livraisons et réduire les déchets, est à l'évidence un progrès pour améliorer la rentabilité du secteur, mais les bananes ont-elles véritablement besoin d’être emballées ?

Del Monte regarde du côté d’un emballage biodégradable. Disons qu’un emballage compostable pourrait, à la rigueur, être une solution à condition que l’emballage et les pelures soient ensuite réellement destinés au compostage.

Mais une autre question doit tarauder le consommateur et l'amateur de banane : à tenter de prolonger la durée de vie (et donc ralentir le mûrissement de la banane), ne risque t-on pas de dénaturer le goût de la banane?

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Bioplastic: Myriant biobased Succinic

Myriant Technologies LLC (as successor to BioEnergy International), a leading biotech developer and manufacturer of renewable biochemicals, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $50 million for its planned biobased Succinic Acid facility in Louisiana. Notably, among the 19 integrated biorefinery projects that won funding or loan guarantees, Myriant was the only award focused exclusively on biobased chemicals rather than biofuels.

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The DOE and other third-party studies have previously identified biobased Succinic Acid as a priority among the top 12 chemicals by market size that can be derived from biomass. Succinic Acid is used in a wide variety of applications including plastics, fibers, polyesters and pigments.

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Myriant's production of biobased Succinic Acid will utilize both local sorghum and carbon dioxide (CO2) to displace petroleum-based feedstocks, using less energy than its petroleum alternative. In addition to the energy savings, by consuming CO2 rather than producing it via oil refining methods, Myriant's process dramatically reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.

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Read more…

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Lancaster Sun Sport : Stand-up pouch for active and nomadic lifestyle

Consumers’ nomadic life-styles have been captured by an attractive and handy 3D sample sachet for a new sun gel range from Lancaster Sun Sport.

Produced by French contract packer and sachet specialist LCEsa, the convenient stand-up 10ml sachet is made from an alufoil-based multilayer laminate, with a reclosable cap.

Alcan Packaging Montreuil- Bellay, a specialist flexible packaging company for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, printed and laminated the PET/ALU/PE multilayer structure to give the right combination of flexibility and resistance for ease of dispensing. It also protects and preserves the active ingredients of the sun gel, even in extreme climate conditions.

The large decorative surface of the sachet features high quality rotogravure printing in 4-colours, which together with its stand-up position on shelf, provides excellent branding and promotional opportunities for the colour coded range of sun gels.

Another advantage of the 3D sachet is its higher ratio of product quantity to surface of laminate compared with the equivalent flat sachet.

Source (en)
Source (fr)

Bioplastics assist in potential tumor cure

Biodegradable plastics have played a leading role in the first successful elimination of tumors in mammals.

According to a report in the newest issue of Science Translational Medicine journal, bioengineers and immunologists at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. recently used fingernail-sized plastic disks impregnated with a cancer vaccine to kill tumors in laboratory mice. The vaccine inside the disks reprogrammed the mice’s immune systems to attack the tumors, the report said.

The slender implants developed by the group measure 8.5 millimeters in diameter and are made of an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer. Ninety percent air, the disks are highly permeable to immune cells and release so-called cytokines, powerful recruiters of immune-system messengers called dendritic cells.

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Read more…

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Bioplastics News: NatureWorks, Novamont, Teknor Apex

NatureWorks Comes of Age at UN Conference on Climate Change

In support of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, NatureWorks will be involved in a range of activities, including product placement in the main conference hall, new materials for the Nordic Fashion Association’s Copenhagen Fashion Summit, and a unique biotechnology showcase highlighting the latest innovations for everyday life.

NatureWorks, based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is the company behind Ingeo™ fibers and bioplastics — innovative materials based on plants, not oil, which enable the creation of a unique and comprehensive range of consumer products, everything from packaging to electronics and from clothing to baby care. And, as a company with the unique mission of bringing to market a family of low carbon footprint performance biomaterials that offer a more responsible choice to the consumer, NatureWorks sees the Copenhagen summit as a critical platform to showcase those products.
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Novamont increases bio content of Mater-Bi

During the 4th European Bioplastics Conference (Berlin, Nov 10-11, 2009) Novamont, the leading Italian company in the bioplastics sector, presented the 2nd generation of Mater-Bi®, now available on an industrial scale. It is a wide range of grades for technical applications in the sectors of flexible films and coatings characterised by an increase in the content of renewable raw materials, low levels of production of greenhouse gases and less dependence on mineral oil based feedstocks.

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Behind the 2nd generation of Mater-Bi materials are the integration of Novamont’s starch-based technology with the technology of polyesters from vegetable oil, covered by an abundant patent portfolio and a significant investment in new plants and new capacity. Today Novamont’s Biorefinery has a total production capacity of 80,000 tons/year.

Starch compounds improve on previous bioplastics

Teknor Apex’s bioplastics division has developed a new range of compounds based on blends of thermoplastic starch (TPS) with petrochemical polymers, including polypropylene, linear lowdensity polyethylene, and biodegradable copolyester.

The Terraloy compounds are made using a process developed by Cerestech, Inc and licensed to Teknor Apex. The process converts granules of starch from corn, wheat, tapioca, or potatoes into a masterbatch containing TPS and a host polymer. When the blend is with another bioplastic or a biodegradable copolyester, the resulting compound is 100% biodegradable.

The Juice on Bio-Based

Bio-based plastics are often touted as “biodegradable.” But this term has several stipulations behind it. While these products may in fact have components that are capable of degrading, this process only occurs under specific conditions and biodegradable plastics cannot be composted in a backyard compost pile. Because the material requires very high heat, these plastics can only degrade in a commercial composting facility.

But is PLA better than your average PET bottle? According to Keith Christman, senior director Market Advocacy for the American Chemistry Council (ACC), it depends heavily on the product. In fact, in a study of traditional HDPE milk jugs versus glass jugs and PLA jugs, HDPE out-performed both materials.

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