Application News New:
Application News New: Application News Each and every day new products made from bioplastics materials are launched to the market. That’s why bioplastics MAGAZINE is now starting with an new section or rubric: Application News. Here we want to introduce new applications in small ‘News-like’ articles. We can’t and we don’t want to make a claim to be complete. As we can of course not present all new applications that come to the market between two issues, we try to present an interesting choice. We clearly ask all who launch new products to send us a short description and a high resolution photograph. And even if it looks like it on these two pages, this new section is of course not limited to packaging applications. Haigh’s Chocolates Launch White Ballotins Chocolate Box with New Packaging Haigh’s Chocolates, Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate manufacturing retailer, has introduced new biodegradable packaging for their White Ballotins Chocolate Box, made possible through the advanced biopolymer technology of Plantic Technologies Limited. The new 200g White Ballotins chocolate box contains a varied assortment of hand-packaged chocolates specialties. Haigh’s chose the Plantic ® tray inside the box for its unique functional and environmental benefits. The fully biodegradable, water dispersible, and compostable Plantic trays offer anti-static and odour barrier solutions, essential for chocolate packaging. Additionally, Plantic materials – which are made from non-GM corn starch – have a renewable bio-content of approximately 85%. In commenting, Alister Haigh, Joint Manager Director from Haigh’s Chocolates said, “Our decision to incorporate Plantic packaging in the White Ballotins chocolate box has grown from our overarching commitment to sustainability and the environment. As an original signatory to the National Packaging Covenant, we are always looking for ways to improve our environmental footprint.” www.haighschocolates.com.au, www.plantic.com.au Hot Coffee- and Soup Cups Made of PLA coated paper Wei Mon Industry Co. Ltd. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, lately developed their Pland Paper ® hot coffee cups and soup cups based on a paper substrate coated with Ingeo PLA. ‘Pland Paper‘ stands for ‘PLA and Paper’, i.e. paper is coated with 100% Ingeo. The product has been created and mass produced by WeiMon Industry since this August, first products will be introduced to the market shortly. According to the company, this is the first time 100% PLA adheres to paper without any additive. This is definitely a huge advancement and good news for all package manufacturers, as stated by WeiMon. ’Pland Paper’ is not only made from all bio-based and renewable materials, it also offers the same characteristics as PE coated paper. Furthermore the ’Pland Paper’ cups can be used for hot coffee and hot soup without releasing any toxic substances. Since 2002, Wei Mon Industry popularizes PLA in the Taiwanese market. The company also organizes the Taiwan Joint Alliance Group (JA Group) to promote this environmentally friendly material worldwide. Wei Mon Industry not only is a supplier of PLA resin supplier, they also act as a technology supervisor in PLA processing, research and development. Wei Mon Industry offer various properties of PLA modified resins and sheets based on different requirements for injection and thermoforming. The JA Group comprises a number of manufacturers in Taiwan providing cups, containers, plates, bowls and trays. www.plandpaper.com 34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/08] Vol. 3
Application News New Shopping Bag has Luxury Looks and Biodegradability Credentials World Famous Sweets’ Wrappers go Compostable Innovia Films’ renewable and compostable packaging film, NatureFlex has been chosen by Nestlé UK to wrap one of its signature confectionery brands, QUALITY STREET ® . “Reduced or more sustainable packaging is a key priority for Nestlé and we are delighted that the NatureFlex colourfilm range will help QUALITY STREET customers and consumers reduce waste and at the same time ensure consumers are still able to recognise this well-loved brand,” said David Rennie, Marketing Director, Nestlé Confectionery UK. NatureFlex was an obvious solution for the packaging as the film begins life as a natural product – wood - and breaks down in home- and industrial composting within a matter of weeks. It also offers advantages for packing and converting such as inherent deadfold and anti-static properties, high gloss and transparency, resistance to grease and oil, good barrier to gases and aromas and a wide heat-seal range. “Developing a range of coloured films which so closely match the requirements of such a recognised brand and that meet the strict requirements of the composting legislation was a real challenge, which we are delighted to have been able to deliver,” said Andy Sweetman, Innovia Films’ Global Marketing Manager, Sustainable Technologies. Innovia has supplied Nestlé UK for many years with its coloured Cellophane products. Procos, the Munich-based maker of packaging and ribbons for luxury goods, has launched a new line of high quality promotional carry-home shopping bags with biodegradability credentials for the world‘s fashion conscious and environmentally aware shoppers. Available in a range of designs and sizes suitable for uses including fashion retail, fragrances and luxury foods and drinks, the Procos bags feature paper which is a 50/50 blend of recycled and FSC approved virgin material, laminated with Clarifoil biodegradable cellulose film to enhance print appearance and surface quality. The bags distinctive carrying handle ribbons, made by Procos, are also biodegradable. Procos chose Clarifoil‘s full matt film to bestow a luxurious deep matt anti-reflective finish. Distinctive satin and high gloss finishes are also available. Clarifoil is certified as biodegradable and compostable. Used for print lamination, carton windows and special labels, Clarifoil is a woodpulp based film whose principal raw material is sourced exclusively from renewable, managed forestry. Leander Kritikos of Procos said: „We see an exciting market for our new biodegradable offering among retailers whose customers want luxury appearance combined with clear environmental credentials which can be stated on the bag“. www.procos.info www.clarifoil.com www.innoviafilms.com www.nestle.co.uk bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/08] Vol. 3 35
